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Bear Path School

Q: Is Bear Path School a good school?

Bear Path School ranks 288 th of 492 Connecticut elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-6

288^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 492 Connecticut Elementary Schools

Better than 41% of Connecticut elementary schools

Summary

Bear Path School is a PK–6 elementary school in Hamden, CT, serving 385 students as part of the Hamden School District. The school has established itself as one of the stronger elementary schools in the district, typically ranking third among Hamden's eight elementary schools behind Spring Glen School and West Woods School. In the 2025–26 school year, Bear Path School ranked 288th out of 491 elementary schools statewide, placing it in the 41st percentile with a 2-star rating. This represents a notable decline from a decade ago, when the school ranked in the 72nd percentile and earned 4 stars in 2016–17.

Academically, Bear Path outperforms the Hamden district average in every reported grade-level test in ELA, math, and science. The school's biggest strength is 3rd-grade math, where 63.3% of students met proficiency — 20 points above the district average and 11 points above the state. Sixth-grade math and ELA, along with 5th-grade science, also exceed state averages. However, there is a notable 4th-grade dip: math proficiency drops from 63.3% in 3rd grade to just 33.8% in 4th grade, and ELA follows a similar pattern before recovering in 5th and 6th grades. Compared with nearby schools, Bear Path sits well below the North Haven School District's Green Acres Elementary School and Ridge Road Elementary School, which rank in the 90th and 81st percentiles respectively, but it remains a relative bright spot within Hamden.

One of Bear Path's biggest non-academic strengths is attendance. Its chronic absenteeism rate of 12.1% is well below the Hamden district average of 21.5% and the state average of 16.4%, and it is roughly half the rate of nearby schools like Church Street School and Shepherd Glen School. The school also has a remarkable historical record of supporting vulnerable students: in 2020–21, it ranked in the 99th percentile statewide for both special education and low-socioeconomic-status students. Bear Path spends approximately $19,810 per student, which is higher than nearby North Haven schools but lower than several Hamden peers. While the recent decline in statewide rank is worth watching, strong attendance and a track record of success with diverse learners give the school a solid foundation.

385

Students ?

13.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$25,326

Per pupil spending ?

35.1%

Free/discounted lunch ?

10 Kirk Rd.
Hamden, CT 06514

(203) 407-2015

District: Hamden School District

Students who attend Bear Path School usually attend:

Middle:	Hamden Middle School
High:	Hamden High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

39.2%

Hispanic:

25.5%

African American:

21.6%

See top rated Connecticut elementary schools

Compare Bear Path School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 51st percentile in 2016 → 41st in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Connecticut average (45% vs 50% meeting standards)

!Ranking has slipped — down 10 percentile points since 2016

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school45%

District avg38%

Connecticut avg50%

288^th of 492

Connecticut public elementary schools ?

Bottom 41%▼ down 10 pts since 2016

From top 49% (2016) to bottom 41% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Connecticut Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

3^rd of 8Elementary Schools in the Hamden School District

132^nd of 153Hamden 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	40.3	288 of 492	41.5%	★★☆☆☆
2025	39.8	278 of 493	43.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	52.0	241 of 497	51.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	63.5	194 of 491	60.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	59.7	206 of 490	58.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	68.9	183 of 538	66.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	66.8	200 of 522	61.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	70.1	181 of 532	66.0%	★★★☆☆
2017	76.2	143 of 519	72.4%	★★★★☆
2016	51.2	253 of 518	51.2%	★★★☆☆
2015	73.2	183 of 551	66.8%	★★★☆☆
2013	62.6	281 of 557	49.6%	★★☆☆☆
2012	74.6	163 of 564	71.1%	★★★★☆
2011	69.6	224 of 565	60.4%	★★★☆☆
2010	65.2	269 of 579	53.5%	★★★☆☆
2009	66.5	259 of 566	54.2%	★★★☆☆
2008	64.5	268 of 565	52.6%	★★★☆☆
2007	54.4	342 of 568	39.8%	★★☆☆☆
2006	65.7	264 of 570	53.7%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2026	31.6	162 of 228	28.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	22.3	179 of 232	22.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	49.2	136 of 230	40.9%	★★☆☆☆
2021	71.1	138 of 455	69.7%	★★★★☆
2019	73.4	77 of 242	68.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	71.5	88 of 259	66.0%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2021	98.1	2 of 302	99.3%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2026	17.8	190 of 234	18.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	20.2	189 of 239	20.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	55.0	128 of 231	44.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	60.6	182 of 445	59.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	62.1	122 of 247	50.6%	★★★☆☆
2018	57.8	143 of 262	45.4%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2021	97.7	5 of 371	98.7%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2024	41.2	180 of 250	28.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	62.4	112 of 262	57.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	59.1	119 of 252	52.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	58.7	141 of 327	56.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	63.0	119 of 295	59.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	51.2	166 of 296	43.9%	★★☆☆☆

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)

Low Socio Economic Status (2021)99th percentile+33 vs school

Special Education (2021)99th percentile+33 vs school

Female (2026)29th percentile-13 vs school

White (2024)28th percentile-24 vs school

Male (2026)19th percentile-23 vs school

By subject vs Connecticut (2025-2026) ?

Science53%~ state avg

Mathematics44%-4 vs state

English Language Arts43%-8 vs state

4.0

2 ratings · 2 written reviews

5★1

4★0

3★1

2★0

1★0

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What people are saying

by a parent
Monday, May 4, 2015

My kids have been in the HPS system for about 6 years at Bear Path. I have got to say that the school has gone down hill. Don't get me wrong the teachers and the Nurse are great. Its the Principal and the other staff that brings the school down. Bending over backwards and giving in to every complaint. I would have more respect for Him if he had a set of balls and stood up to the ?entitled parents. Close Quote

by a parent on FaceBook
Friday, July 6, 2012

4 of my children attended Bear Path last year. I have been impressed with the teachers and other faculty as well as the parent involvement. Close Quote

Schools Near Bear Path 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
Bear Path School	Public	PK, KG-6	10 Kirk Rd.	Hamden	06514	South Central Connecticut Planning Region	Hamden School District	No	No	No	No	(203) 407-2015	385	29	13.2	35.1%	151 (39.2%)	83 (21.6%)	98 (25.5%)	24 (6.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (7.5%)	40.3	288^th of 492 public elementary schools	41.5%		39.8	278^th of 493 public elementary schools	43.6%	10	53.4	38.8	30.8	50.0	52.7	63.3	33.8	36.2	49.1	$25,326
Shepherd Glen School	Public	PK, KG-6	1 Skiff St. Ext.	Hamden	06514	South Central Connecticut Planning Region	Hamden School District	No	No	No	Yes	(203) 407-2070	303	26	11.6	56.1%	47 (15.5%)	118 (38.9%)	77 (25.4%)	42 (13.9%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (5.9%)	28.5	337^th of 492 public elementary schools	31.5%		23.4	350^th of 493 public elementary schools	29.0%	13	487.0	42.5	18.5	44.4	2506.0	65.0	25.9	39.1	28.3	$25,684
Spring Glen School	Public	PK, KG-6	1908 Whitney Ave.	Hamden	06517	South Central Connecticut Planning Region	Hamden School District	No	No	No	No	(203) 407-2045	347	28	12.6	22.2%	205 (59.1%)	41 (11.8%)	69 (19.9%)	5 (1.4%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (7.2%)	64.4	199^th of 492 public elementary schools	59.6%		68.2	182^nd of 493 public elementary schools	63.1%	17	70.0	62.5	43.5	61.7	74.5	71.9	40.3	58.3	72.3	$26,334
Dunbar Hill School	Public	PK, KG-6	315 Lane St.	Hamden	06514	South Central Connecticut Planning Region	Hamden School District	No	No	No	Yes	(203) 407-2025	271	21	12.9	51.7%	37 (13.7%)	94 (34.7%)	99 (36.5%)	9 (3.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (11.4%)	11.7	419^th of 492 public elementary schools	14.8%		9.4	439^th of 493 public elementary schools	11.0%	20	27.5	16.7	2388.0	30.0	2513.0	2350.0	2401.0	25.0	18.4	$24,654
Ridge Road Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1341 Ridge Rd.	North Haven	06473	South Central Connecticut Planning Region	North Haven School District	No	No	No	No	(203) 248-4050	415	29	14.5	18.6%	260 (62.7%)	31 (7.5%)	65 (15.7%)	29 (7.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (7.0%)	82.4	91^st of 492 public elementary schools	81.5%		83.6	80^th of 493 public elementary schools	83.8%	11	75.0	74.6	60.0	81.7		74.6	72.3	75.0		$18,791
Church Street School	Public	PK, KG-6	95 Church St.	Hamden	06514	South Central Connecticut Planning Region	Hamden School District	No	No	No	Yes	(203) 407-2020	334	22	14.9	60.8%	15 (4.5%)	126 (37.7%)	172 (51.5%)	8 (2.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (3.9%)	8.1	449^th of 492 public elementary schools	8.7%		7.2	464^th of 493 public elementary schools	5.9%	15	17.9	16.7	19.0	2414.0	15.0	2353.0	28.6	15.4	2444.0	$23,579
Helen Street School	Public	PK, KG-6	285 Helen St.	Hamden	06514	South Central Connecticut Planning Region	Hamden School District	No	No	No	Yes	(203) 407-2030	280	24	11.6	55.4%	28 (10.0%)	103 (36.8%)	114 (40.7%)	17 (6.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	17 (6.1%)	22.3	363^rd of 492 public elementary schools	26.2%		19.7	371^st of 493 public elementary schools	24.7%	8	20.0	2435.0	25.6	2399.0	31.3	64.5	33.3	2424.0	20.8	$26,421
West Woods School	Public	PK, KG-6	350 West Todd St.	Hamden	06518	South Central Connecticut Planning Region	Hamden School District	No	No	No	No	(203) 407-2050	317	22	14.4	28.1%	96 (30.3%)	81 (25.6%)	67 (21.1%)	41 (12.9%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	30 (9.5%)	41.9	280^th of 492 public elementary schools	43.1%		58.6	226^th of 493 public elementary schools	54.2%	54	493.0	21.2	50.0	50.0	65.2	18.2	44.6	30.0	60.9	$25,553
Ridge Hill School	Public	PK, KG-6	120 Carew Rd.	Hamden	06517	South Central Connecticut Planning Region	Hamden School District	No	No	No	Yes	(203) 407-2035	321	26	12.3	46.4%	88 (27.4%)	88 (27.4%)	86 (26.8%)	24 (7.5%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	34 (10.6%)	36.3	306^th of 492 public elementary schools	37.8%		26.4	340^th of 493 public elementary schools	31.0%	34	497.0	48.9	26.8	39.0	49.1	44.7	26.8	48.8	43.6	$25,122
Green Acres Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	146 Upper State St.	North Haven	06473	South Central Connecticut Planning Region	North Haven School District	No	No	No	Yes	(203) 239-5387	404	36	11.3	24.0%	267 (66.1%)	22 (5.4%)	55 (13.6%)	36 (8.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (5.9%)	87.9	49^th of 492 public elementary schools	90.0%		86.8	51^st of 493 public elementary schools	89.7%	2	516.0	69.0	80.9	85.5		77.6	80.9	2593.0		$19,844

Frequently Asked Questions about Bear Path School

What district is Bear Path School in?

Hamden School District

How many students attend Bear Path School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 385 students attended Bear Path School.

Is Bear Path School a good school?

Bear Path School ranks 288^th of 492 Connecticut elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What schools do graduates of Bear Path School attend?

Students who attend Bear Path School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Hamden Middle School
High : Hamden High School

What is the racial makeup of Bear Path School?

Students at Bear Path School are 39% White, 25% Hispanic, 22% African American, 8% Two or more races, 6% Asian.

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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.