Summary:
The Manchester School District in Connecticut serves seven elementary-level schools — six K-4 schools plus the PK-K Manchester Preschool Center at Martin — enrolling 2,421 students in a district ranked 128th out of 153 statewide with a 1-star rating. The K-4 schools are Waddell School, Verplanck School, Bowers School, Keeney School, Highland Park School, and Buckley School. This is a high-poverty area: about 62% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, and chronic absenteeism averages roughly 18.3% across the K-4 schools.
The clear standout is Highland Park School, ranked 210th of 491 Connecticut elementary schools (57th percentile) and the only school in the district to exceed state averages in all four SBAC areas — including 64.5% proficiency in 4th-grade math versus 52.1% statewide. Buckley School was the district's top performer in 2024-25 but has declined from the 72nd to the 46th percentile; it still has the lowest poverty rate (52.5% FRL) and low absenteeism (12.4%). Keeney School has the district's best attendance at 12.3%, while Verplanck School has the highest needs — 77.5% FRL and 25.4% absenteeism — though its 4th-grade math jumped from 9.5% to 38.1% proficiency in a single year.
A wide achievement gap persists: 4th-grade math proficiency spans from 64.5% at Highland Park to 32.8% at Keeney, a 30-point spread. Bowers School posts the lowest 3rd-grade scores, while Waddell School shows a strength in 3rd-grade math at 53.5%. Spending varies too — Highland Park spends $20,704 per student with a 10.3 ratio, Verplanck spends $20,479 with weaker results, and Keeney spends the least at $17,710. For parents, the overall picture is mixed: Highland Park and Buckley offer the strongest academics and attendance, while Verplanck, Bowers, and Waddell face greater challenges related to poverty and absenteeism.
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