Elm City Montessori School

Elm City Montessori School is a public charter elementary school serving grades PK-8 in the diverse city of New Haven, Connecticut. With a student population that has shifted in recent years, the school has seen a decline in its statewide ranking and rating, but still outperforms many of its nearby district counterparts.

Elm City Montessori School's test scores are generally below the state averages, particularly in mathematics, with only 30% of 3rd graders proficient or better in SBAC Mathematics compared to the state average of 51.3%. However, the school's 5th grade English Language Arts proficiency rate of 60% was higher than the state average of 51.4%. The school also has a relatively high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 39.93% to 43.24% over the past few years, indicating a higher proportion of economically disadvantaged students. Despite these challenges, Elm City Montessori School spends more per student than the state average, with spending of $16,540 per student in 2018-2019, compared to the state average of $15,248.

Interestingly, Elm City Montessori School's performance is generally stronger than many of the nearby New Haven School District public schools, such as Davis Academy for Arts & Design Innovation, which had lower proficiency rates in both 3rd grade English Language Arts and 5th grade Mathematics. The school's diverse student population, with a racial makeup that has shifted over the past few years, is a strength, but also highlights the need to ensure that all students are receiving the support they need to succeed. The school's declining statewide ranking and rating over the past few years is a concern and suggests that the school may need to re-evaluate its instructional practices and support systems to better serve its students.