Summary:
The Stratford School District is home to 2 high schools serving grades 9–12 — Stratford High School (1,150 students) and Bunnell High School (982 students) — in a district ranked 138 out of 153 in Connecticut, with both schools serving economically diverse populations where nearly half of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.
The two schools present contrasting profiles. Stratford High School outperforms Bunnell High School on state rankings (93rd vs. 101st out of 133 in 2025–2026) and leads in science proficiency, with 39.6% proficient versus Bunnell's 30.0%. However, Bunnell is the stronger school for graduation and attendance: 96.6% of Bunnell students graduate (above the 91.2% state average), compared to 93.4% at Stratford, and Bunnell's chronic absenteeism rate of 23.6% is well below Stratford's 30.7%, though both are above the 16.4% state average. Math proficiency is critically low at both schools — 11.2% at Stratford and 12.2% at Bunnell versus 31.3% statewide — while ELA proficiency hovers around 39–40% at both, roughly 15 points below the state average.
Several findings stand out. Bunnell's high graduation rate coexists with very low math proficiency, suggesting students may be advancing without mastering core material. Stratford experienced sharp single-year test declines, with ELA dropping from 49.8% to 39.0% and science from 48.4% to 39.6% between 2024–2025 and 2025–2026. Stratford's absenteeism crisis likely contributes to these declines and its lower graduation rate. Bunnell, with a lower student-teacher ratio (12.3 vs. 13.8), offers more stability and individualized attention. Ultimately, Stratford High School offers stronger academics but struggles with attendance, while Bunnell High School excels at keeping students engaged and graduating but shows weaker test performance. Both schools remain below Connecticut averages.
Thank you for your feedback!