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Niantic Center School

Public Grades K-4

16^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 492 Connecticut Elementary Schools

Better than 97% of Connecticut elementary schools

Summary

Niantic Center School is a small K-4 elementary school in Niantic, Connecticut, serving 198 students within the East Lyme School District. The school earned a 5-star rating and ranked 16th of nearly 500 elementary schools statewide in both 2024-2025 and 2025-2026, placing it in the 97th percentile—the highest-ranked school in its immediate area. With a student-teacher ratio of about 10:1 and chronic absenteeism at just 4.4% (versus 16.4% statewide), the school offers a stable, personalized learning environment. About 19% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a relatively low share compared with nearby districts.

Math is the school's standout subject. In 2025-2026, 4th grade math proficiency reached 91.9%, compared with 76.1% for the district and 52.1% for the state. Niantic Center also outpaces its same-district peers: Flanders School posted 77.4% and Lillie B. Haynes School 68.6%, while Mile Creek School in Old Lyme trailed at 83.3%. English language arts is strong too—4th grade ELA hit 81.1% versus a 50.9% state average—though 3rd grade ELA runs closer to district averages, showing more variability than math.

The school's success is a recent surge. After ranking in the middle of the state around 2020-2022, Niantic Center rebounded to a top-20 position and has held it for two straight years, suggesting gains are broad-based rather than tied to a single strong class. Per-student spending of roughly $18,500 is moderate compared with peers like Mile Creek ($20,923) and Great Neck Elementary School ($19,557), yet Niantic Center outperforms nearly all of them—a sign of efficient resource use. The contrast with nearby New London magnet schools is stark: C.B. Jennings International Elementary Magnet and Nathan Hale Arts Magnet School rank near the bottom of the state, though those schools serve predominantly high-poverty populations. Bottom line: Niantic Center is the flagship of the East Lyme School District, delivering elite math results, solid ELA outcomes, and outstanding attendance. The one area to watch is 3rd grade ELA, where the school is good but not as dominant as its math program.

198

Students ?

10.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$26,396

Per pupil spending ?

19.2%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

Not published

Kindergartners with all required vaccines (2025-26)

7 West Main St.
Niantic, CT 06357

(860) 739-3961

District: East Lyme School District

Students who attend Niantic Center School usually attend:

Middle:	East Lyme Middle School
High:	East Lyme High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

81.8%

Hispanic:

7.6%

Two or more races:

6.6%

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At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 93rd percentile in 2012 → 97th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Connecticut average (86% vs 51% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 3% of Connecticut elementary schools

✓Small classes — about 10 students per teacher

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school86%

District avg72%

Connecticut avg51%

16^th of 492

Connecticut public elementary schools ?

Top 3%▲ up 4 pts since 2018

From top 8% (2018) to top 3% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Connecticut Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 3Elementary Schools in the East Lyme School District

36^th of 153East Lyme School District among Connecticut districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2026	92.5	16 of 492	96.7%	★★★★★
2025	92.2	16 of 493	96.8%	★★★★★
2023	83.3	92 of 491	81.3%	★★★★☆
2022	68.5	165 of 490	66.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	73.8	161 of 538	70.1%	★★★★☆
2019	85.9	72 of 522	86.2%	★★★★☆
2018	89.6	41 of 532	92.3%	★★★★★
2015	93.4	9 of 551	98.4%	★★★★★
2013	77.0	136 of 557	75.6%	★★★★☆
2012	82.1	41 of 564	92.7%	★★★★★
2011	85.9	7 of 565	98.8%	★★★★★
2010	83.1	33 of 579	94.3%	★★★★★
2009	85.5	4 of 566	99.3%	★★★★★
2008	85.1	15 of 565	97.3%	★★★★★
2007	85.2	15 of 568	97.4%	★★★★★
2006	84.4	34 of 570	94.0%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2021	76.6	111 of 455	75.6%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2025	83.4	22 of 248	91.1%	★★★★★
2024	73.7	59 of 250	76.4%	★★★★☆
2023	66.8	96 of 262	63.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	46.3	161 of 252	36.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	54.8	159 of 327	51.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	58.2	141 of 295	52.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	82.1	36 of 296	87.8%	★★★★☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

White (2025)91st percentile-6 vs school

Female (2021)76th percentile+6 vs school

By subject vs Connecticut (2025-2026) ?

Mathematics88%+36 vs state

English Language Arts81%+32 vs state

★

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Schools Near Niantic Center School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Vaccination Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				NGSS Science (2026)	SBAC English Language Arts (2026)				SBAC Mathematics (2026)				Vaccination (2025-26)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/reduced lunch (2024-25)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	NGSS Science 5th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 3rd Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 4th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 5th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 6th Grade	SBAC Mathematics 3rd Grade	SBAC Mathematics 4th Grade	SBAC Mathematics 5th Grade	SBAC Mathematics 6th Grade	Vaccination: Kindergartners with all required vaccines	Vaccination: Exemption rate	Total
Niantic Center School	Public	K-4	7 West Main St.	Niantic	06357	Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region	East Lyme School District	No	No	No	Yes	(860) 739-3961	198	19	10.2	19.2%	162 (81.8%)	2 (1.0%)	15 (7.6%)	4 (2.0%)	2 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (6.6%)	92.5	16^th of 492 public elementary schools	96.7%		92.2	16^th of 493 public elementary schools	96.8%			2489.0	81.1			84.2	91.9					$26,396
Lillie B. Haynes School	Public	K-4	29 Society Rd.	Niantic	06357	Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region	East Lyme School District	No	No	No	No	(860) 739-2922	365	33	11.1	31.8%	226 (61.9%)	8 (2.2%)	49 (13.4%)	54 (14.8%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (7.1%)	76.8	136^th of 492 public elementary schools	72.4%		79.7	111^th of 493 public elementary schools	77.5%	25		64.3	67.8			72.9	68.6			98.4%	0%	$22,751
Oswegatchie Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	470 Boston Post Rd.	Waterford	06385	Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region	Waterford School District	No	No	No	Yes	(860) 442-4331	292	30	9.6	32.9%	209 (71.6%)	4 (1.4%)	55 (18.8%)	14 (4.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	9 (3.1%)	70.7	176^th of 492 public elementary schools	64.2%		84.5	70^th of 493 public elementary schools	85.8%	106	501.0	66.0	71.4	53.6		72.3	80.0	50.0		100%	0%	$25,004
Flanders School	Public	K-4	167 Boston Post Rd.	East Lyme	06333	Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region	East Lyme School District	No	No	No	Yes	(860) 739-8475	242	23	10.7	16.9%	175 (72.3%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (8.7%)	18 (7.4%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (11.2%)	73.2	160^th of 492 public elementary schools	67.5%		88.2	43^rd of 493 public elementary schools	91.3%	117		60.4	75.9			54.7	77.4			100%	0%	$24,023
Great Neck Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	165 Great Neck Rd.	Waterford	06385	Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region	Waterford School District	No	No	No	Yes	(860) 442-2593	309	30	10.2	29.1%	220 (71.2%)	4 (1.3%)	51 (16.5%)	5 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.0%)	26 (8.4%)	57	231^st of 492 public elementary schools	53.0%		65.8	199^th of 493 public elementary schools	59.6%	32	503.0		40.6	66.7			54.7	63.3		100%	0%	$25,350
The Friendship School	Public, Magnet	PK-K	24 Rope Ferry Rd.	Waterford	06385	Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region	Learn	No	Yes	No	Yes	(860) 447-4049	460	26	17.6	66.7%	138 (30.0%)	50 (10.9%)	195 (42.4%)	11 (2.4%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	65 (14.1%)								(n/a)										100%	0%	$18,767
Mile Creek School	Public	K-5	205 Mile Creek Rd.	Old Lyme	06371	Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region	Regional School District 18	No	No	No	Yes	(860) 434-2209	334	26	12.9	9.6%	291 (87.1%)	3 (0.9%)	15 (4.5%)	7 (2.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (5.4%)	87.1	50^th of 492 public elementary schools	89.8%		87.4	50^th of 493 public elementary schools	89.9%		79.6	67.9	81.8	87.8		69.8	83.3	2565.0		100%	0%	$21,539
Nathan Hale Arts Magnet School	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	37 Beech Drive	New London	06320	Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region	New London School District	No	Yes	No	Yes	(860) 447-6060	445	56	8.0	77.1%	69 (15.5%)	61 (13.7%)	242 (54.4%)	8 (1.8%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	63 (14.2%)	7.7	453^rd of 492 public elementary schools	7.9%		7	469^th of 493 public elementary schools	4.9%	16	31.4	18.5	17.7	27.5		14.8	2381.0	11.8		100%	0%	$25,644
C.B. Jennings International Elementary Magnet	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	50 Mercer Street	New London	06320	Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region	New London School District	No	Yes	No	Yes	(860) 447-6050	406	43	9.4	91.6%	26 (6.4%)	81 (20.0%)	266 (65.5%)	3 (0.7%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	28 (6.9%)	4.2	488^th of 492 public elementary schools	0.8%		4.6	486^th of 493 public elementary schools	1.4%	2	21.3	11.8	13.6	17.0		10.4	10.6	2394.0		94%	0%	$26,349
Regional Multicultural Magnet School	Public, Magnet	1-6	1 Bulkeley Place	New London	06320	Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region	Learn	No	Yes	No	Yes	(860) 437-7775	469	35	13.5	70.6%	88 (18.8%)	43 (9.2%)	264 (56.3%)	6 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	68 (14.5%)	17.9	384^th of 492 public elementary schools	22.0%		21.8	363^rd of 493 public elementary schools	26.4%	21	31.7	26.6	36.5	41.3	38.3	29.1	24.3	20.6	25.5			$19,820

Frequently Asked Questions about Niantic Center School

How many students attend Niantic Center School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 198 students attended Niantic Center School.

Is Niantic Center School a good school?

Yes! Niantic Center School is one of the best elementary schools in the state. It ranks 16^th of 492 Connecticut elementary schools.

What schools do graduates of Niantic Center School attend?

Students who attend Niantic Center School usually go on to attend:

Middle : East Lyme Middle School
High : East Lyme High School

What is the racial makeup of Niantic Center School?

Students at Niantic Center School are 82% White, 8% Hispanic, 7% Two or more races, 2% Asian, 1% African American, 1% American Indian.

What district is Niantic Center School in?

East Lyme School District

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Latest Connecticut data All new data »

2020–21 through 2023–24 attendance data & graduation rates (updated)NewNov 2, 2026

2019–20 graduation rates (updated)NewNov 1, 2026

2017–18 through 2025–26 immunization rates (updated)Oct 19, 2026

2024–25 through 2025–26 attendance data & graduation ratesAug 31, 2026

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Connecticut Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.