Capital Preparatory Harbor School

Capital Preparatory Harbor School is an alternative public school serving 775 students in grades K-12 in downtown Bridgeport, CT, operating as its own single-school district, the Capital Preparatory Harbor School District. About 68.5% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch—high, but the lowest rate among its five comparison schools, which range from 70.7% to 78.6%. The school's most distinctive profile combines strong graduation and attendance outcomes with academic proficiency that trails state averages, particularly in math.

Capital Preparatory Harbor School posted a 94.3% graduation rate in 2024-2025, above the state average of 91.2% and ahead of every nearby comparable school, including Achievement First Bridgeport Academy (91.5%), Elm City College Preparatory School (90.7%), and Amistad Academy (83.1%). This represents remarkable growth: the graduation rate was just 67.7% in 2018-2019. Chronic absenteeism is the lowest among peers at 18.9%, compared with 22.1% at Achievement First, 26.4% at Amistad, 27.9% at Highville Charter School, and 30.4% at Elm City. Absenteeism peaked at 35.4% in 2021-2022 before dropping to 13.4% in 2023-2024.

Academically, the picture is mixed. ELA proficiency is stronger, with 7th grade reaching 50.8% in 2025-2026, nearly matching the state's 52.2% and far exceeding Elm City (34.4%) and Amistad (36.8%). Math is the critical weakness—no grade exceeded 28.6% proficiency, and 5th grade math was just 14%, versus the state average of 45.8%. The school achieves its outcomes with less funding than peers ($10,045 per student versus $15,370 at Elm City and $12,250 at Amistad) and a higher student-teacher ratio of 21.2. For parents, this school offers a clear trade-off: weaker math test scores but the best graduation and attendance rates in its comparison group, suggesting strong student engagement and support through to completion.