Elementary Schools in South Windsor School District

South Windsor School District in Connecticut is home to four elementary schools—Pleasant Valley School (PK–5), Orchard Hill School (K–5), Eli Terry School (K–5), and Philip R. Smith School (K–5)—serving roughly 2,300 students in a highly rated district that ranks 28th out of 153 statewide and earns 4 stars. All four schools also carry 4-star ratings and consistently outperform Connecticut state averages on standardized tests, making this a strong area for elementary education.

Philip R. Smith School is the district's standout performer, holding the highest state ranking (57th of 491), the best composite test average (~76.6% proficient), and the lowest chronic absenteeism at just 5.4%. Its 5th-grade science proficiency of 79% far exceeds the state's 52.9%. Pleasant Valley School excels in math, posting the highest math composite (75.5%) and the strongest 5th-grade math score (75%), while also being the largest school with 736 students and the only one offering pre-K. Eli Terry School stands out for its resources—the highest per-student spending ($17,129) and the lowest student-teacher ratio (11.4:1)—and made a dramatic ranking jump from 138th to 76th. Meanwhile, Orchard Hill School, while still above state averages, is the current laggard with the lowest ranking (126th) and a sharp decline from its previous top-tier position.

Several patterns are worth noting. Every reported 2025–2026 test score in the district exceeded the state average, and 4th grade appears to be a particular strength—Philip R. Smith and Orchard Hill both posted 4th-grade math proficiency above 83%. However, 5th-grade math is a district-wide soft spot, with gaps of up to 28 points between 4th- and 5th-grade math at Orchard Hill. Orchard Hill's overall decline is the biggest story: it fell from the district's top-ranked school (59th) to the lowest (126th) in just three years. Interestingly, spending and class size do not guarantee achievement—Eli Terry spends the most per student yet does not outperform Philip R. Smith, which spends less. For parents, this district offers a range of strong options, with Philip R. Smith leading academically and Orchard Hill as the area needing the most focused support.