Summary:
Horace W. Porter School is the only elementary school in Columbia School District, a single PK-8 school in Columbia, CT, serving 440 students. This school stands out for its strong early-grade academics, excellent science results, and remarkably low chronic absenteeism, while also showing some areas for improvement in upper-grade math.
Overall, Horace W. Porter School is a solid, above-average school. In the most recent year, it ranked 219th out of 491 Connecticut elementary schools, placing it in the 55th percentile with a 3-star rating. Its biggest strengths are in 3rd grade math (71.7% proficient vs. 52.2% statewide) and 5th grade science (69% proficient vs. 52.9% statewide). Chronic absenteeism is just 7.5%, far below the state rate of 16.4%, and the student-teacher ratio is a favorable 9.8 to 1. The school also improved its overall ranking from the 48th percentile in the prior year, showing positive momentum.
However, there are clear areas of concern. Math proficiency drops sharply in 5th grade (41.9%) and 8th grade (40.7%), both below state averages. One cohort that scored 64.1% in 4th grade math fell to 41.9% in 5th grade — a 22-point decline. In contrast, ELA scores are generally closer to or above state averages, and 4th grade ELA remains a weak spot. With just over one in five students qualifying for free/reduced lunch and a low absenteeism rate, the school has a solid foundation, but the middle-grade math decline is worth watching closely.
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