Summary:
Regional School District 13, serving Durham and Middlefield, Connecticut, operates two elementary schools: Frederick Brewster School (grades PK–1) and John Lyman School (grades 2–4), with a combined enrollment of 421 students. The district itself ranks 77th out of 153 Connecticut districts, placing it at the 50th percentile with a 3-star rating.
Both schools share similar demographics and resources: free/reduced lunch rates are nearly identical (17.8% at Brewster, 18.4% at Lyman), and per-student spending is close (about $21,200 at each). However, Frederick Brewster School has the lower student-teacher ratio (9.7 vs. 10.7), while John Lyman School is the only one with standardized test data. Attendance is a clear strength: chronic absenteeism is just 4.0% at John Lyman and 5.1% at Frederick Brewster, far below the state average of 16.4%. Academically, John Lyman’s ELA scores are strong—4th grade ELA proficiency is 64.6% versus 50.9% statewide—but 4th grade math lags at 44.8% versus 52.1% statewide, suggesting a math concern that deserves attention.
John Lyman’s school-level ranking has declined over time, from the 76th percentile in 2020–2021 to the 49th percentile in 2025–2026, even as attendance remains excellent. Because Frederick Brewster serves only PK–1 students, it has no SBAC scores or rank history, making the two schools a feeder pipeline rather than direct competitors. Together, they form a small, well-resourced system with low class sizes and strong early-grade attendance. The bottom line: families in Regional School District 13 can expect a stable, well-attended elementary experience, with John Lyman leading in ELA and attendance while struggling slightly in 4th grade math, and Frederick Brewster providing a strong, personalized early-childhood start.
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