Elementary Schools in Ledyard School District

Ledyard School District in Connecticut is served by three elementary schools—Gallup Hill School (PK–5), Juliet W. Long School (3–5), and Gales Ferry School (K–2)—which together enroll 1,052 students. The district ranks 99th out of 153 Connecticut districts, yet both tested elementary schools earn 3-star ratings and sit near the middle of all Connecticut elementary schools, making the elementary level a relative strength in the district.

Gallup Hill School is the largest elementary school and serves the full PK–5 span. It has shown the clearest upward momentum, improving its state rank from the 44th percentile in 2023–24 to the 53rd percentile in 2025–26 and moving from a 2-star to a 3-star rating. It leads the tested schools in ELA proficiency at 54.6%, and its 5th-grade science proficiency of 68.8% is well above the state average of 52.9%. Juliet W. Long School excels in math and attendance: its average math proficiency of 56.9% is the strongest of the two tested schools, while its chronic absenteeism rate of 5.8% is by far the lowest in the district. Gales Ferry School, serving only K–2, has no state test scores but stands out for the highest per-pupil spending ($17,745) and a low chronic absenteeism rate of 7.7%.

All three schools post chronic absenteeism rates well below the state rate of 16.4%, and science is a major bright spot, with both tested schools scoring about 15 points above the state average. However, small grade-level cohorts at Juliet W. Long School—roughly 85–90 students per grade—can create dramatic year-to-year swings, such as a 20-point drop in 4th-grade ELA proficiency. Per-pupil spending also varies widely, from $9,008 at Juliet W. Long School to $17,745 at Gales Ferry School. The adjacent locations of Gales Ferry School and Juliet W. Long School on Route 12 strongly suggest a feeder relationship, meaning Juliet W. Long School's test scores partly reflect the early academic foundation built at Gales Ferry School.