Mathewson School

Mathewson School is a K-5 elementary school in Milford, CT, serving 327 students within the Milford School District, a solid mid-tier district that ranks 75th out of 153 districts statewide. For parents, Mathewson is best described as a stable, middle-performing school with some clear bright spots and a few areas that need attention. In 2025-2026, it ranked 203rd out of 491 Connecticut elementary schools (59th percentile, 3 stars), and it has hovered in that same 56–64th percentile range for the past decade. That consistency is reassuring, but it also means the school has not shown the upward momentum of some nearby peers.

One of the school's strongest assets is early-grade math. In 2025-2026, 81.1% of Mathewson third graders were proficient in math, far above the state average of 52.2% and well ahead of the district's 67.8%. Attendance is another clear strength: chronic absenteeism sits at just 8.5%, much lower than the district (12.6%) or state (16.4%), and better than several neighboring schools like Pumpkin Delight School (10.6%) and Meadowside School (11.0%). The school also benefits from low poverty levels (23.85% free/reduced lunch) and a favorable 10.5 student-teacher ratio. However, English language arts is uneven, especially in 4th grade, where only 49% of students met proficiency in 2025-2026 — below the state (50.9%) and well behind the district (59.9%). Science scores also trail district averages. Performance can swing noticeably from year to year, suggesting results are highly sensitive to individual cohorts.

Compared with other Milford elementary schools, Mathewson falls in the lower tier. Calf Pen Meadow School outperforms it in nearly every subject and has earned a 5-star rating, while Mathewson remains at 3 stars. It also spends more per student ($20,201) than several better-performing schools, including Calf Pen Meadow ($19,606) and nearby Peck Place School in Orange ($17,866), which boasts scores like 83.6% in 5th grade ELA versus Mathewson's 58.3%. While spending is not a direct measure of quality, the mismatch is notable. For parents, Mathewson offers a caring, well-attended environment with strong early math instruction, but the school could benefit from a sharper focus on upper-grade literacy to compete with Milford's top elementary schools.