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Daniel Hand High School

Public Grades 9-12

8^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 135 Connecticut High Schools

Better than 94% of Connecticut high schools

Summary

Daniel Hand High School (DHHS) is a comprehensive public high school serving 751 students in grades 9–12 in Madison, Connecticut, a coastal community along Long Island Sound. The school holds a 5-star rating for the 2025–2026 school year, ranking 8th out of 133 high schools statewide, and its Madison School District ranks 5th out of 153 districts in Connecticut — far ahead of every nearby district.

Academically, DHHS posts proficiency rates roughly 25–35 percentage points above state averages. On the 11th-grade SAT, math proficiency is 66.1% — more than double the state average of 31.3% and well ahead of nearby Guilford High School (53.5%) and Haddam-Killingworth High School (48.8%). Science proficiency is also impressive at 77.3%, up from 61.7% just a few years ago, reflecting a strong STEM emphasis. English Language Arts proficiency sits at 80.2%, with Haddam-Killingworth (85.3%) the only nearby school posting a higher rate. The school's four-year graduation rate reached 98.4% in 2024–2025, well above the state average of 91.2%.

Attendance is another defining strength: DHHS has a chronic absenteeism rate of just 5.2%, the lowest in the region and less than one-third the statewide figure of 16.4%. While the student body is economically advantaged, with only about 5.5% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, the school achieves results that exceed what even that profile would predict. A striking comparison is The Morgan School in nearby Clinton, just 4.5 miles away, where proficiency, attendance, and graduation outcomes are dramatically lower despite the geographic proximity. DHHS also accomplishes these results while spending at or below several lower-performing neighboring districts, making it a model of academic excellence and operational efficiency in the region.

751

Students ?

9.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$28,521

Per pupil spending ?

5.5%

Free/discounted lunch ?

286 Green Hill Rd.
Madison, CT 06443

(203) 245-6350

District: Madison School District

Racial breakdown:

White:

82.0%

Hispanic:

7.1%

Two or more races:

5.3%

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Compare Daniel Hand High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 29th percentile in 2015 → 94th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Connecticut average (75% vs 46% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 6% of Connecticut high schools

✓98% graduate in 4 years — above the Connecticut average (91%)

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school75%

District avg74%

Connecticut avg46%

8^th of 135

Connecticut public high schools ?

Top 6%▼ down 2 pts since 2016

See the entire ranking list of Connecticut High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

5^th of 153Madison 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	91.1	8 of 135	94.1%	★★★★★
2025	89.4	15 of 141	89.4%	★★★★★
2024	91.8	8 of 145	94.5%	★★★★★
2023	89.2	16 of 142	88.7%	★★★★☆
2022	83.0	24 of 139	82.7%	★★★★☆
2021	94.1	5 of 200	97.5%	★★★★★
2018	93.4	8 of 121	93.4%	★★★★★
2017	83.4	27 of 140	80.7%	★★★★☆
2016	92.3	5 of 132	96.2%	★★★★★
2015	34.5	140 of 196	28.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	82.2	6 of 193	96.9%	★★★★★
2012	84.1	3 of 188	98.4%	★★★★★
2011	82.7	8 of 189	95.8%	★★★★★
2010	80.0	18 of 186	90.3%	★★★★★
2009	82.1	7 of 176	96.0%	★★★★★
2008	79.9	18 of 176	89.8%	★★★★★
2007	82.6	3 of 176	98.3%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2026	88.2	10 of 111	91.0%	★★★★★
2024	86.8	16 of 102	84.3%	★★★★☆
2023	78.2	29 of 103	71.8%	★★★★☆
2022	82.9	19 of 106	82.1%	★★★★☆
2021	91.1	13 of 189	93.1%	★★★★★
2019	86.3	12 of 84	85.7%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2026	79.7	28 of 115	75.7%	★★★★☆
2025	91.7	9 of 111	91.9%	★★★★★
2024	82.8	20 of 100	80.0%	★★★★☆
2023	84.3	19 of 100	81.0%	★★★★☆
2022	72.5	40 of 102	60.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	94.1	5 of 182	97.3%	★★★★★
2019	88.6	9 of 80	88.8%	★★★★☆
2018	91.7	6 of 78	92.3%	★★★★★

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2023	70.4	6 of 14	57.1%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2026	81.8	18 of 107	83.2%	★★★★☆
2025	85.0	15 of 116	87.1%	★★★★☆
2024	80.7	18 of 116	84.5%	★★★★☆
2023	70.0	33 of 116	71.6%	★★★★☆
2022	68.6	35 of 117	70.1%	★★★★☆
2021	89.2	11 of 155	92.9%	★★★★★
2019	86.9	15 of 113	86.7%	★★★★☆
2018	89.6	8 of 105	92.4%	★★★★★

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)

Female (2026)91st percentile-3 vs school

White (2026)83rd percentile-11 vs school

Male (2026)76th percentile-18 vs school

Special Education (2023)57th percentile-32 vs school

By subject vs Connecticut (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts80%+25 vs state

Science77%+27 vs state

Math66%+35 vs state

3.7

3 ratings · 2 written reviews

5★2

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★1

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What people are saying

by a parent
Monday, August 15, 2011

I was surprised to read the previous comment. As the parent of three DHHS graduates, we found a very different experience. Students and teacher were supportive of each other. I agree some students can be unkind, but certainly very few.
My children left Hand well prepared to enter college life. Close Quote

by a parent
Thursday, November 18, 2010

I wouldn't recommend moving to Daniel Hand during high school. It's a very odd culture that seems to be cliquish and cruel. My son, who was very popular at his old school, was treated cruelly by many students...to the extent that he "gave up" on trying to make friends. We moved him to a different school after one year. Our family is still perplexed how this could have happened. Our son relayed stories to us about behaviors he witnessed, toward himself and many others,(name calling, obscene gestures, open cruelty, religious persecution, homophobic comments) all in the presence of teachers who did not intervene. The staff needs training on zero tolerance for disrespectful behavior. I'm sure that many students who have been in the system and have established relationships don't face the difficulties my son faced, but the culture needs some serious work.

And don't think this treatment was the result of my son being "different." He is a handsome, intelligent, athletic, heterosexual, protestant, Caucasian male. He is very social and has a wonderful personality...to the extent we call him "Joe Social" in our family. I will never think of Danial Hand High again without feeling anger and disgust. Close Quote

Schools Near Daniel Hand High School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

School	Students/Teachers	Ranking (2026)	Ranking (2025)	NGSS Science (2026)	SAT English Language Arts (2026)	SAT Math (2026)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Daniel Hand High School	Public	9-12	286 Green Hill Rd.	Madison	06443	South Central Connecticut Planning Region	Madison School District	No	No	No	Yes	(203) 245-6350	751	77	9.8	5.5%	616 (82.0%)	7 (0.9%)	53 (7.1%)	27 (3.6%)	3 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	40 (5.3%)	91.1	8^th of 135 public high schools	94.1%	89.4	15^th of 141 public high schools	89.4%	7	77.3	80.2	66.1	$28,521
The Morgan School	Public	9-12	71 Killingworth Tpke.	Clinton	06413	Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region	Clinton School District	No	No	No	No	(860) 664-6504	473	49	9.6	40.0%	322 (68.1%)	5 (1.1%)	118 (24.9%)	18 (3.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (1.9%)	59.5	54^th of 135 public high schools	60.0%	64.5	50^th of 141 public high schools	64.5%	4	56.3	60.6		$26,789
Guilford High School	Public	9-12	605 New England Rd.	Guilford	06437	South Central Connecticut Planning Region	Guilford School District	No	No	No	No	(203) 453-2741	1,008	85	11.8	14.6%	801 (79.5%)	19 (1.9%)	85 (8.4%)	41 (4.1%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.2%)	56 (5.6%)	85.8	20^th of 135 public high schools	85.2%	90.5	12^th of 141 public high schools	91.5%	8	67.5	80.5	53.5	$22,682
Westbrook High School	Public	9-12	156 McVeagh Rd.	Westbrook	06498	Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region	Westbrook School District	No	No	No	No	(860) 399-6214	166	26	6.2	47.0%	107 (64.5%)	1 (0.6%)	56 (33.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.2%)							(n/a)	1097.0	73.0		$42,166
Branford High School	Public	9-12	185 East Main St.	Branford	06405	South Central Connecticut Planning Region	Branford School District	No	No	No	No	(203) 488-7291	738	67	10.9	37.7%	497 (67.3%)	47 (6.4%)	113 (15.3%)	48 (6.5%)	3 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	30 (4.1%)							(n/a)	1107.0			$26,600
North Branford High School	Public	9-12	49 Caputo Rd.	North Branford	06471	South Central Connecticut Planning Region	North Branford School District	No	No	No	No	(203) 484-1465	432	48	8.9	28.2%	352 (81.5%)	10 (2.3%)	52 (12.0%)	11 (2.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (1.6%)	53.9	61^st of 135 public high schools	54.8%	71.4	44^th of 141 public high schools	68.8%	17	43.9	61.4	33.3	$27,210
Valley Regional High School	Public	9-12	256 Kelsey Hill Rd.	Deep River	06417	Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region	Regional School District 04	No	No	No	Yes	(860) 526-5328	429	46	9.3	27.3%	351 (81.8%)	5 (1.2%)	47 (11.0%)	6 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (3.5%)	67.2	45^th of 135 public high schools	66.7%	70.7	45^th of 141 public high schools	68.1%		63.5	68.0	31.1	$31,338
East Haven High School	Public	9-12	35 Wheelbarrow Ln.	East Haven	06513	South Central Connecticut Planning Region	East Haven School District	No	No	No	Yes	(203) 468-3254	879	73	12.0	54.2%	384 (43.7%)	69 (7.8%)	372 (42.3%)	23 (2.6%)	4 (0.5%)	3 (0.3%)	23 (2.6%)	40.8	71^st of 135 public high schools	47.4%	37.9	71^st of 141 public high schools	49.6%		54.2	49.3	15.9	$19,252
Old Saybrook Senior High School	Public	9-12	1111 Boston Post Rd.	Old Saybrook	06475	Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region	Old Saybrook School District	No	No	No	No	(860) 395-3175	338	41	8.2	22.5%	261 (77.2%)	2 (0.6%)	48 (14.2%)	12 (3.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	11 (3.3%)	59.1	56^th of 135 public high schools	58.5%	77.2	35^th of 141 public high schools	75.2%	21	48.4	65.6	33.3	$31,540
Haddam-Killingworth High School	Public	9-12	95 Little City Road	Higganum	06441	Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region	Regional School District 17	No	No	No	No	(860) 345-8541	466	49	9.5	13.7%	409 (87.8%)	6 (1.3%)	23 (4.9%)	10 (2.1%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (3.4%)	88.9	14^th of 135 public high schools	89.6%	88.4	16^th of 141 public high schools	88.7%	2	74.8	85.3		$30,768

Frequently Asked Questions about Daniel Hand High School

How many students attend Daniel Hand High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 751 students attended Daniel Hand High School.

What is the racial makeup of Daniel Hand High School?

Students at Daniel Hand High School are 82% White, 7% Hispanic, 5% Two or more races, 4% Asian.

What schools feed into Daniel Hand High School?

Daniel Hand High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Dr. Robert H. Brown Elementary School
Middle : Walter C. Polson Middle School

Is Daniel Hand High School a good school?

Yes. Daniel Hand High School ranks in the top 5.9% of Connecticut high schools.

What district is Daniel Hand High School in?

Madison School District

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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.

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				NGSS Science (2026)	SAT English Language Arts (2026)	SAT Math (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 11th Grade	SAT English Language Arts 11th Grade	SAT Math 11th Grade	Total
Daniel Hand High School	Public	9-12	286 Green Hill Rd.	Madison	06443	South Central Connecticut Planning Region	Madison School District	No	No	No	Yes	(203) 245-6350	751	77	9.8	5.5%	616 (82.0%)	7 (0.9%)	53 (7.1%)	27 (3.6%)	3 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	40 (5.3%)	91.1	8^th of 135 public high schools	94.1%		89.4	15^th of 141 public high schools	89.4%	7	77.3	80.2	66.1	$28,521
The Morgan School	Public	9-12	71 Killingworth Tpke.	Clinton	06413	Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region	Clinton School District	No	No	No	No	(860) 664-6504	473	49	9.6	40.0%	322 (68.1%)	5 (1.1%)	118 (24.9%)	18 (3.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (1.9%)	59.5	54^th of 135 public high schools	60.0%		64.5	50^th of 141 public high schools	64.5%	4	56.3	60.6		$26,789
Guilford High School	Public	9-12	605 New England Rd.	Guilford	06437	South Central Connecticut Planning Region	Guilford School District	No	No	No	No	(203) 453-2741	1,008	85	11.8	14.6%	801 (79.5%)	19 (1.9%)	85 (8.4%)	41 (4.1%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.2%)	56 (5.6%)	85.8	20^th of 135 public high schools	85.2%		90.5	12^th of 141 public high schools	91.5%	8	67.5	80.5	53.5	$22,682
Westbrook High School	Public	9-12	156 McVeagh Rd.	Westbrook	06498	Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region	Westbrook School District	No	No	No	No	(860) 399-6214	166	26	6.2	47.0%	107 (64.5%)	1 (0.6%)	56 (33.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.2%)								(n/a)	1097.0	73.0		$42,166
Branford High School	Public	9-12	185 East Main St.	Branford	06405	South Central Connecticut Planning Region	Branford School District	No	No	No	No	(203) 488-7291	738	67	10.9	37.7%	497 (67.3%)	47 (6.4%)	113 (15.3%)	48 (6.5%)	3 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	30 (4.1%)								(n/a)	1107.0			$26,600
North Branford High School	Public	9-12	49 Caputo Rd.	North Branford	06471	South Central Connecticut Planning Region	North Branford School District	No	No	No	No	(203) 484-1465	432	48	8.9	28.2%	352 (81.5%)	10 (2.3%)	52 (12.0%)	11 (2.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (1.6%)	53.9	61^st of 135 public high schools	54.8%		71.4	44^th of 141 public high schools	68.8%	17	43.9	61.4	33.3	$27,210
Valley Regional High School	Public	9-12	256 Kelsey Hill Rd.	Deep River	06417	Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region	Regional School District 04	No	No	No	Yes	(860) 526-5328	429	46	9.3	27.3%	351 (81.8%)	5 (1.2%)	47 (11.0%)	6 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (3.5%)	67.2	45^th of 135 public high schools	66.7%		70.7	45^th of 141 public high schools	68.1%		63.5	68.0	31.1	$31,338
East Haven High School	Public	9-12	35 Wheelbarrow Ln.	East Haven	06513	South Central Connecticut Planning Region	East Haven School District	No	No	No	Yes	(203) 468-3254	879	73	12.0	54.2%	384 (43.7%)	69 (7.8%)	372 (42.3%)	23 (2.6%)	4 (0.5%)	3 (0.3%)	23 (2.6%)	40.8	71^st of 135 public high schools	47.4%		37.9	71^st of 141 public high schools	49.6%		54.2	49.3	15.9	$19,252
Old Saybrook Senior High School	Public	9-12	1111 Boston Post Rd.	Old Saybrook	06475	Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region	Old Saybrook School District	No	No	No	No	(860) 395-3175	338	41	8.2	22.5%	261 (77.2%)	2 (0.6%)	48 (14.2%)	12 (3.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	11 (3.3%)	59.1	56^th of 135 public high schools	58.5%		77.2	35^th of 141 public high schools	75.2%	21	48.4	65.6	33.3	$31,540
Haddam-Killingworth High School	Public	9-12	95 Little City Road	Higganum	06441	Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region	Regional School District 17	No	No	No	No	(860) 345-8541	466	49	9.5	13.7%	409 (87.8%)	6 (1.3%)	23 (4.9%)	10 (2.1%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (3.4%)	88.9	14^th of 135 public high schools	89.6%		88.4	16^th of 141 public high schools	88.7%	2	74.8	85.3		$30,768