Old Saybrook School District

The Old Saybrook School District serves about 1,028 students across three schools in Old Saybrook, Connecticut, covering grades PK-12 with one elementary school, one middle school, and one high school. Overall, the district ranks in the upper half of Connecticut districts, but performance varies noticeably by school level. Old Saybrook Middle School is the clear standout, ranking in the 88th percentile statewide with 4 stars and showing steady improvement over the past three years. Its 6th grade math proficiency rate of 78.1% far exceeds the state average of 44.4%, and all middle school ELA scores are well above state levels. In contrast, Old Saybrook Senior High School has slipped from the 74th to the 57th percentile in just two years. Graduation remains strong at 94.3%, and SAT ELA is above average, but SAT math proficiency is only 33.3%, and science scores have fallen below the state average.

Kathleen E. Goodwin School sits between the two, ranking in the 67th percentile statewide with a solid 3-star rating. Early grades are a strength: 3rd grade math proficiency is 75.8% and 4th grade ELA is 70.9%, both well above state averages. However, 4th grade math is a clear weak spot at 49.1%, the only elementary subject below the state average in the district. The middle school outperforms the elementary school in most subjects, especially in 6th grade, where math proficiency jumps to 78.1% compared to just 47.2% in 5th grade. This unusual pattern may reflect cohort differences or transition effects, but it is worth noting for parents planning ahead.

Across the district, chronic absenteeism is remarkably low at about 5.7%, well below the state average of 16.4%, and student-teacher ratios are small (between 8.2 and 9.6), which likely supports individualized attention. Free/reduced-price lunch eligibility is consistent across all three schools, ranging from 22% to 25%. Per-student spending is relatively high, from about $20,400 to $22,100. For parents, the middle school is the strongest choice academically, while the high school’s recent declines in math and science make it the key school to watch. The elementary school’s 4th grade math performance is the district’s clearest area for improvement.