Elementary Schools in Capitol Region Education Council

Capitol Region Education Council (CREC) operates 9 elementary magnet schools in the Hartford, Connecticut area serving grades PK-5 (with Ana Grace Academy of the Arts extending to grade 8 and Montessori Magnet School to grade 6), enrolling 4,791 students in total. These themed magnet schools — spanning arts, aerospace, international studies, museum studies, Montessori, and Reggio-inspired approaches — serve predominantly low-income families, with free/reduced lunch rates averaging 60.7%. The district itself is ranked 145 out of 153 Connecticut districts, but individual schools vary meaningfully, ranging from the 14th to 41st statewide percentile.

Discovery Academy is the standout performer: it ranks highest among the group at the 41st percentile with a 2-star rating, and it achieved this while spending the least per student ($17,067). University of Hartford Magnet School posted the strongest science scores (50% proficiency in 5th grade science, near the state average) and the lowest chronic absenteeism among higher performers at 19.5%, though it had the highest spending ($22,853). Glastonbury/East Hartford Magnet School showed the most dramatic improvement, jumping from the 16th to 26th percentile with a 28-point gain in 3rd grade ELA. Ana Grace Academy of the Arts faces the greatest challenges: 34.3% chronic absenteeism, 68.3% FRL, and the lowest middle-grades scores in the group.

Chronic absenteeism averages 24.1% across the group — well above the state's 16.4% — and math proficiency declines sharply by 5th grade, where only 24% of students meet the standard versus 33.6% in 3rd grade. Spending and class size do not predict outcomes: Discovery Academy excels with the lowest per-student spending and one of the highest student-teacher ratios, while Ana Grace spends heavily with the lowest ratio yet struggles academically. Montessori Magnet School has excellent attendance (16.7%) but saw its rank collapse from the 34th to 15th percentile due to a sharp drop in 5th grade scores, highlighting how small cohorts can cause volatile year-to-year swings. These nine schools offer distinctive themed programs within a high-poverty context, with Discovery Academy and University of Hartford Magnet School showing the strongest academic results.