Summary:
Regional School District 18 in Connecticut is home to two elementary schools — Mile Creek School (K–5, Old Lyme) and Lyme Consolidated School (PK–5, Lyme) — serving a total of roughly 560 students in a district ranked 22nd out of 153 statewide.
Mile Creek School is the clear standout, carrying a 5-star rating and ranking #50 in Connecticut for both 2024-2025 and 2025-2026, placing it in the top 10% of elementary schools. Its chronic absenteeism rate is just 3.7% — less than a quarter of the state average — and its student-teacher ratio of 12.9 supports strong academics. Mile Creek’s 5th-grade ELA proficiency hit 87.8% in 2025-2026, over 34 points above the state, while its 4th-grade math proficiency reached 83.3%. By contrast, Lyme Consolidated School earns a solid 4-star rating and ranked #56 of 493 in 2024-2025 (89th percentile). It serves a more economically diverse population, with 23.01% free/reduced lunch eligibility versus 9.58% at Mile Creek, yet still posts strong math scores: 77.5% of 3rd graders and 78.8% of 4th graders met proficiency in 2025-2026, both far above state averages.
Both schools dramatically outperform Connecticut as a whole, and even the weakest scores at either school beat state proficiency rates by at least 20 points. Mile Creek’s year-to-year test swings — such as 3rd-grade math dropping from 84.1% to 69.8% — likely reflect different cohorts or small sample sizes rather than a trend. Funding is nearly identical at about $20,900 per student, despite the differing demographics. Lyme Consolidated also offers Pre-K, giving it a wider grade span than Mile Creek. For parents in the area, either school is a strong choice, but Mile Creek’s top-10% ranking, extraordinarily low absenteeism, and exceptional test scores make it the highest-performing option, while Lyme Consolidated delivers impressive results while serving a more diverse student population.
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