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Essex Elementary School

Q: Is Essex Elementary School a good school?

Essex Elementary School ranks 151 st of 492 Connecticut elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-6

151^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 492 Connecticut Elementary Schools

Better than 69% of Connecticut elementary schools

Summary

Essex Elementary School is a small public school in Centerbrook, CT, serving 307 students in grades PK through 6, and is the sole school in the Essex School District. The school currently ranks 151st out of 491 Connecticut elementary schools (69th percentile, 3 stars), a steady decline from its 79th percentile ranking in 2022–23. Despite this slide, Essex continues to post proficiency rates well above state averages in most grades and subjects, with particularly strong results in early math and 5th grade science.

Parents comparing schools in the region will notice that Essex's overall performance, while above the state average, sits in the middle of the pack locally. For example, its 4th grade ELA proficiency was 58.3% in 2025–26, below Mile Creek School (81.8%), Daisy Ingraham School (71.8%), Kathleen E. Goodwin School (70.9%), Haddam-Killingworth Intermediate School (70.4%), Chester Elementary School (66.7%), and Lewin G. Joel Junior School (64.2%), but above Deep River Elementary School (56.3%). However, Essex's 3rd grade math proficiency (73%) is stronger than most of those same schools, including Chester, Mile Creek, and Daisy Ingraham. The school's 6th grade ELA proficiency of 73.8% is a bright spot, nearly matching Deep River (74.1%) and well above the state's 51.2% average. Math proficiency in later grades has been less consistent, dipping into the mid-60s or low-60s in 5th and 6th grade in some years.

Essex's advantages extend beyond test scores. Chronic absenteeism in the district was just 5.8% in 2025–26, compared to 16.4% statewide, and the student-teacher ratio of 10.3 to 1 is lower than nearby Haddam-Killingworth Intermediate (12.7) and Mile Creek (12.9). Per-pupil spending of $23,127 in 2018–19 was above most neighboring districts. The school serves a relatively mixed population, with about 21% of students eligible for free/reduced lunch. While the steady decline in state ranking over four years is worth noting, Essex remains a solid, above-average choice for families, with strong attendance, generous resources, and academic results that exceed state averages in most areas. For more details, visit the Essex Elementary School page on SchoolDigger.

307

Students ?

10.3

Student/teacher ratio ?

21.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

108 Main St.
Centerbrook, CT 06409

(860) 767-8215

District: Essex School District

Students who attend Essex Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	John Winthrop Middle School
High:	Valley Regional High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

82.7%

Hispanic:

12.1%

Two or more races:

3.6%

See top rated Connecticut elementary schools

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At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 85th percentile in 2016 → 69th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Connecticut average (68% vs 50% meeting standards)

✓Above the Connecticut median (69th percentile)

✓Small classes — about 10 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 16 percentile points since 2016

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school68%

District avg68%

Connecticut avg50%

151^st of 492

Connecticut public elementary schools ?

Top 31%▼ down 15 pts since 2016

From top 15% (2016) to top 31% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Connecticut Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

69^th of 153Essex 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	74.4	151 of 492	69.3%	★★★☆☆
2025	78.4	121 of 493	75.5%	★★★★☆
2024	79.5	115 of 497	76.9%	★★★★☆
2023	82.1	101 of 491	79.4%	★★★★☆
2022	85.1	72 of 490	85.3%	★★★★☆
2021	84.0	94 of 538	82.5%	★★★★☆
2019	87.0	59 of 522	88.7%	★★★★☆
2018	73.7	160 of 532	69.9%	★★★★☆
2017	81.0	116 of 519	77.6%	★★★★☆
2016	85.1	80 of 518	84.6%	★★★★☆
2015	82.6	103 of 551	81.3%	★★★★☆
2013	76.7	142 of 557	74.5%	★★★★☆
2012	75.0	156 of 564	72.3%	★★★★☆
2011	76.5	141 of 565	75.0%	★★★★☆
2010	79.7	96 of 579	83.4%	★★★★☆
2009	78.4	110 of 566	80.6%	★★★★☆
2008	79.9	88 of 565	84.4%	★★★★☆
2007	78.5	111 of 568	80.5%	★★★★☆
2006	74.2	174 of 570	69.5%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2021	85.7	60 of 455	86.8%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2021	89.3	44 of 445	90.1%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2026	51.9	146 of 246	40.7%	★★☆☆☆
2025	57.6	117 of 248	52.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	63.0	106 of 250	57.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	68.6	86 of 262	67.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	76.6	46 of 252	81.7%	★★★★☆
2021	72.6	85 of 327	74.0%	★★★★☆
2019	81.6	34 of 295	88.5%	★★★★☆
2018	61.0	127 of 296	57.1%	★★★☆☆

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)

Male (2021)90th percentile+8 vs school

Female (2021)87th percentile+4 vs school

White (2026)41st percentile-29 vs school

By subject vs Connecticut (2025-2026) ?

Mathematics73%+24 vs state

English Language Arts66%+15 vs state

★

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Schools Near Essex Elementary 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 Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				NGSS Science (2026)	SBAC English Language Arts (2026)				SBAC Mathematics (2026)				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/Discounted Lunch Recipients (2025)	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	Total
Essex Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	108 Main St.	Centerbrook	06409	Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region	Essex School District	No	No	No	Yes	(860) 767-8215	307	0	10.3	21.2%	254 (82.7%)	3 (1.0%)	37 (12.1%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	11 (3.6%)	74.4	151^st of 492 public elementary schools	69.3%		78.4	121^st of 493 public elementary schools	75.5%	30	510.0	2468.0	58.3	64.5	73.8	73.0	2488.0	2537.0	2575.0	$27,228
Deep River Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	12 River St.	Deep River	06417	Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region	Deep River School District	No	No	No	Yes	(860) 526-5319	189	0	9.8	32.3%	165 (87.3%)	1 (0.5%)	19 (10.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.1%)	2 (1.1%)	79.3	113^th of 492 public elementary schools	77.0%		77.2	129^th of 493 public elementary schools	73.8%	16	77.8	69.0	56.3	70.4	74.1	72.4	75.0	70.4	2608.0	$32,856
Chester Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	23 Ridge Rd.	Chester	06412	Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region	Chester School District	No	No	No	Yes	(860) 526-5797	198	0	9.6	28.3%	173 (87.4%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (8.6%)	2 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (3.0%)	82.4	92^nd of 492 public elementary schools	81.3%		81.7	91^st of 493 public elementary schools	81.5%	1	516.0	2467.0	66.7	70.8	2610.0	70.6	2494.0	83.3	74.3	$30,591
Daisy Ingraham School	Public	PK, KG-5	105 Goodspeed Dr.	Westbrook	06498	Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region	Westbrook School District	No	No	No	Yes	(860) 399-7925	292	33	8.7	37.3%	204 (69.9%)	2 (0.7%)	73 (25.0%)	6 (2.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (2.4%)	71.8	172^nd of 492 public elementary schools	65.0%		66.3	194^th of 493 public elementary schools	60.6%	22	70.2	50.0	71.8	63.8		66.7	69.2	63.8		$28,991
Kathleen E. Goodwin School	Public	PK, KG-4	80 Old Boston Post Rd.	Old Saybrook	06475	Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region	Old Saybrook School District	No	No	No	Yes	(860) 395-3165	383	40	9.6	22.5%	291 (76.0%)	4 (1.0%)	59 (15.4%)	15 (3.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (3.7%)	72.9	162^nd of 492 public elementary schools	67.1%		51.5	246^th of 493 public elementary schools	50.1%	84		67.7	70.9			75.8	49.1			$24,723
Lyme Consolidated School	Public	PK, KG-5	478 Hamburg Road	Lyme	06371	Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region	Regional School District 18	No	No	No	Yes	(860) 434-1233	226	18	12.6	23.0%	196 (86.7%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (8.8%)	3 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (3.1%)								(n/a)	528.0	2499.0	2541.0	2607.0		77.5	78.8	2600.0		$24,089
Lewin G. Joel Junior School	Public	PK, KG-4	137A Glenwood Rd.	Clinton	06413	Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region	Clinton School District	No	No	No	Yes	(860) 664-6501	532	53	10.0	38.5%	364 (68.4%)	4 (0.8%)	133 (25.0%)	13 (2.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (3.4%)	67.8	189^th of 492 public elementary schools	61.6%		59.4	217^th of 493 public elementary schools	56.0%	28		56.0	64.2			59.3	69.8			$21,758
Killingworth Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-3	340 Route 81	Higganum	06419	Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region	Regional School District 17	No	No	No	No	(860) 663-1121	257	23	11.1	15.6%	226 (87.9%)	1 (0.4%)	15 (5.8%)	2 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (5.1%)								(n/a)		63.0				57.4				$27,528
Haddam-Killingworth Intermediate School	Public	4-5	451 Route 81	Killingworth	06419	Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region	Regional School District 17	No	No	No	No	(860) 663-1241	280	22	12.7	18.6%	250 (89.3%)	4 (1.4%)	13 (4.6%)	2 (0.7%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (3.6%)	77.3	130^th of 492 public elementary schools	73.6%		73.4	154^th of 493 public elementary schools	68.8%	24	68.8		70.4	72.7			76.8	54.7		$20,736
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		$21,539

Frequently Asked Questions about Essex Elementary School

How many students attend Essex Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 307 students attended Essex Elementary School.

What schools do graduates of Essex Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Essex Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : John Winthrop Middle School
High : Valley Regional High School

What district is Essex Elementary School in?

Essex School District

What is the racial makeup of Essex Elementary School?

Students at Essex Elementary School are 83% White, 12% Hispanic, 4% Two or more races.

Is Essex Elementary School a good school?

Essex Elementary School ranks 151^st of 492 Connecticut elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Rate Essex Elementary School!

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Latest Connecticut data All new data »

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

2025–26 NGSS, SAT & SBAC test scoresAug 31, 2026

2024–25 school spending dataApr 2, 2026

2024–25 attendance dataNov 6, 2025

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.