New Fairfield School District

The New Fairfield School District in Connecticut serves about 2,100 students across three public schools—New Fairfield Elementary School (PK–5), New Fairfield Middle School (6–8), and New Fairfield High School (9–12)—and ranks in the 68th percentile of Connecticut districts, making it a solidly above-average district for families in this suburban area.

Among the three schools, New Fairfield Middle School stands out as the academic leader. It has ranked in the 83rd percentile of Connecticut middle schools for three straight years, holds a 4-star rating, and has the district’s lowest student–teacher ratio at 10.0. Its math proficiency rate of 65.5% is a remarkable 22 points above the state average. New Fairfield Elementary School is also strong and stable, earning 4 stars in the 71st percentile, with especially high early-grade math scores and the lowest chronic absenteeism rate in the district (8.2%). New Fairfield High School shines in its 97.6% graduation rate, well above the state average of 91.2%, but its state ranking (67th percentile) lags the other two schools, and its chronic absenteeism rate of 12.8% is the highest in the district.

Families will notice consistent strengths: every tested subject at the elementary and middle schools exceeds state averages by 14 to 22 percentage points, and class sizes are small district-wide (10.0–12.2 students per teacher). The district also has relatively low economic need, with free/reduced lunch rates around 18–20%. The main concerns are a notable drop in 5th grade math and ELA, weakening 7th and 8th grade ELA, and the high school’s elevated absenteeism relative to the other schools. Overall, the district offers a strong academic foundation, particularly in math, with the middle school as the standout and the high school excelling at graduating students—though keeping attendance up in the upper grades is worth watching.