Thompson School District

Thompson School District, located in North Grosvenordale, CT, serves 805 students across three small schools — Mary R. Fisher Elementary School (PK–4), Thompson Middle School (grades 5–8), and Tourtellotte Memorial High School (grades 9–12) — and ranks in the 21st percentile statewide with a 1-star district rating. The district serves a moderate-to-high poverty population, with free/reduced lunch rates ranging from 40.8% to 48.2%, and spends between $17,634 and $20,904 per student with very low student-teacher ratios (7.8 to 10.5), reflecting small class sizes and substantial per-pupil investment.

Mary R. Fisher Elementary School is the district's clear standout, earning a 3-star rating and ranking in the 55th percentile statewide. Students there exceed state averages in math, with 3rd grade at 62.3% proficient and 4th grade at 70% versus state averages around 52%, and ELA scores are at or slightly above state averages. Chronic absenteeism is just 8.9%, well below the state rate, despite this school having the district's highest free/reduced lunch rate (48.2%). By contrast, Tourtellotte Memorial High School is the biggest concern, with 19.3% chronic absenteeism, only 20.6% SAT math proficiency, and science scores 23 points below the state average. Thompson Middle School also struggles, with math proficiency ranging from 25% to 30.4%, roughly 15–20 points below state averages in every grade.

The clearest pattern is that strong elementary results do not carry into middle and high school. Math proficiency drops sharply after elementary grades, and chronic absenteeism rises steadily with age, from 8.9% at the elementary level to 11.4% in middle school and 19.3% at the high school. Notably, the high school spends the most per student ($20,904) and has the lowest student-teacher ratio (7.8), yet its outcomes trail state averages significantly, suggesting resources alone are not solving the problem. Year-to-year score swings are also large, such as 3rd grade math dropping from 84.6% to 62.3%, which may reflect differences between student cohorts. For parents, the takeaway is that the elementary school offers strong academics, while the secondary schools present real challenges around math achievement and student engagement.