Reggio Magnet School of the Arts

Reggio Magnet School of the Arts is an elementary magnet school in Avon, CT, serving 511 students in grades PK–5 as part of the Capitol Region Education Council. Despite its Avon address, the school serves a very different population than the affluent suburban schools around it: nearly 60% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, and chronic absenteeism runs at 27.8% — roughly five to ten times higher than nearby schools. Reggio ranks 383rd out of 491 Connecticut elementary schools (22nd percentile), while nearby schools like Roaring Brook School, Pine Grove School, and Tootin' Hills School rank in the 79th to 92nd percentiles.

Academically, proficiency rates trail state averages by 20–30 points and nearby schools by 40–60 points. For example, 3rd grade ELA proficiency is 33.3% at Reggio versus 47.3% statewide and 57–81% at nearby schools; 5th grade math sits at 21.7% versus 45.8% statewide and 71–84% nearby. Chronic absenteeism, a key driver of achievement, has improved from a peak of 41.5% in 2021–2022 but remains nearly double the state average of 16.4%. This is not a resource problem: Reggio spends roughly $17,350 per student with a 13.1 student-teacher ratio, comparable to high-performing neighbors.

There are bright spots. Hispanic students at Reggio rank in the 67th percentile statewide — well above the school's overall standing — and 4th grade math has been a relative strength at 43.3% proficiency. Attendance is trending in the right direction. However, the school's state ranking has declined from the 41st percentile in 2016–2017 to the low 20s today, and 5th grade represents a particular drop-off point. Reggio slightly outperforms its same-district peer Museum Academy, but the surrounding town districts — Avon School District, Simsbury School District, Farmington School District, and West Hartford School District — are among the highest-performing in Connecticut.