Summary:
The Naugatuck School District is home to four elementary schools—Maple Hill School, Hop Brook Elementary School, Western School, and Andrew Avenue School—all serving grades K–4. The district ranks in the 18th percentile statewide, but these elementary schools rank between the 33rd and 42nd percentiles, meaning they are relatively stronger than the district’s overall reputation. None reaches the top half of Connecticut schools, though, and all serve majority low-income student populations.
Among the four, Hop Brook Elementary School is the academic leader with the highest state ranking (42nd percentile) and the strongest ELA scores, including 54.1% proficiency in 4th grade ELA. However, it also has the district’s highest chronic absenteeism rate at 20.2%. Maple Hill School is the largest school and stands out for exceptional attendance—just 6.1% chronic absenteeism—and the strongest math results in the district, with 49.5% of 4th graders proficient in math. Andrew Avenue School is the most improved, jumping from the 20th to the 36th percentile in one year with double-digit gains in several subjects, despite having the highest economic need and highest per-student spending. Western School is the most inconsistent, posting the district’s best single-subject score last year (58.5% in 4th grade ELA) before dropping sharply to 45.1%.
For parents, the key takeaways are that math proficiency is a district-wide weakness—no school reaches the state average in any math grade level—and that 4th grade scores are generally stronger than 3rd grade scores across all schools. Attendance and resources don’t tell the whole story: Hop Brook ranks highest despite poor attendance, while Andrew Avenue spends the most and has the smallest classes yet still lags in several subjects, likely reflecting the challenges of serving a higher percentage of economically disadvantaged students. Maple Hill offers the best combination of strong math and excellent attendance.
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