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James Hillhouse High School

Public Grades 9-12

136^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 141 Connecticut High Schools

Better than 4% of Connecticut high schools

Summary

James Hillhouse High School is a public high school in New Haven, Connecticut, serving 1,101 students in grades 9-12. The school is part of the New Haven School District, which is ranked 147 out of 156 districts in the state and has a 0-star rating from SchoolDigger.

James Hillhouse High School consistently ranks in the bottom quartile of Connecticut high schools, with proficiency rates in standardized tests significantly lower than the state and district averages. For example, in the 2024-2025 school year, only 17.8% of 11th-grade students were proficient or better in SAT/English Language Arts, compared to the state average of 58% and the district average of 31.8%. The school's four-year graduation rate has also declined, from 88.9% in 2021-2022 to 53.4% in 2022-2023, and it has a high chronic absenteeism rate, ranging from 17.7% to 57.6% in recent years.

Compared to nearby schools, such as Engineering - Science University Magnet School, which ranks in the top 55-59 schools in the state and has significantly higher proficiency rates, James Hillhouse High School faces significant academic and socioeconomic challenges. Despite the school's relatively high per-student spending and favorable student-teacher ratio, these factors alone do not appear to be driving the school's academic outcomes, suggesting the need for a more comprehensive approach to address the underlying issues.

1,124

Students ?

13.3

Student/teacher ratio ?

$21,211

Per pupil spending ?

81.4%

Free/discounted lunch ?

480 Sherman Parkway
New Haven, CT 06511

(475) 220-7500

District: New Haven School District

Feeder schools for James Hillhouse High School:

Elementary:	Augusta Lewis Troup School
	Barnard Environmental Magnet School
	Beecher School
	Brennan Rogers School
	More...
	Davis Academy for Arts & Design Innovation
	Edgewood School
	King/Robinson Magnet School
	Lincoln-Bassett School
	Wexler/Grant Community School

Racial breakdown:

African American:

46.7%

Hispanic:

40.1%

White:

5.9%

See top rated Connecticut high schools

Compare James Hillhouse High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 6th percentile in 2013 → 4th in 2025

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Connecticut average (13% vs 46% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (4th percentile)

!Graduation rate below the Connecticut average (56% vs 89%)

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school13%

District avg22%

Connecticut avg46%

136^th of 141

Connecticut public high schools ?

Bottom 4%▲ up 1 pts since 2015

See the entire ranking list of Connecticut High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

6^th of 6High Schools in the New Haven School District

147^th of 156New Haven 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
2025	7.1	136 of 141	3.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	8.7	132 of 145	9.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	6.5	133 of 142	6.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	6.2	134 of 139	3.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	5.3	191 of 200	4.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	4.1	120 of 121	0.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	5.3	135 of 140	3.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2016	6.0	125 of 132	5.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2015	5.2	191 of 196	2.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2013	2.4	181 of 193	6.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2012	1.7	181 of 188	3.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2011	2.0	180 of 189	4.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2010	2.8	175 of 186	5.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2009	0.8	171 of 176	2.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2008	1.0	170 of 176	3.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2007	1.2	169 of 176	4.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2025	16.0	30 of 31	3.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	10.5	25 of 25	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	19.1	52 of 58	10.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	13.4	11 of 11	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2022	0.0	11 of 17	35.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	0.0	1 of 10	90.0%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2025	10.1	96 of 104	7.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	3.4	101 of 103	1.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	4.5	185 of 189	2.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	3.0	76 of 79	3.8%	☆☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2025	14.0	61 of 63	3.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	7.9	63 of 63	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	16.4	51 of 59	13.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	9.1	100 of 104	3.8%	☆☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2025	8.7	69 of 70	1.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	8.6	69 of 70	1.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	8.3	147 of 155	5.2%	☆☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2025	5.8	109 of 111	1.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	3.8	98 of 100	2.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	6.1	170 of 182	6.6%	☆☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2021	6.9	168 of 175	4.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

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)

English Language Learner (2022)35th percentile+32 vs school

Female (2025)8th percentile+4 vs school

Special Education (2021)4th percentile~ school

African American (2025)3rd percentile~ school

Hispanic (2025)3rd percentile~ school

Male (2025)2nd percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)1st percentile~ school

By subject vs Connecticut (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts18%-40 vs state

Science13%-35 vs state

Math8%-24 vs state

3.0

2 ratings · 2 written reviews

5★1

4★0

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2★0

1★1

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What people are saying

by a student
Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Great!!

by a parent
Saturday, September 15, 2012

The new principal sets a bad example by appearing in the media and using language like: "my momma didn't raise no punk." That some of his athletes had to leave school because of alleged grade tampering is a disgrace. Close Quote

Schools Near James Hillhouse High School

School	Students/Teachers	Ranking (2025)	Ranking (2024)	NGSS Science (2025)	SAT English Language Arts (2025)	SAT Math (2025)	SBAC English Language Arts (2025)	SBAC Mathematics (2025)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
James Hillhouse High School	Public	9-12	480 Sherman Parkway	New Haven	06511	South Central Connecticut Planning Region	New Haven School District	No	No	No	Yes	(475) 220-7500	1,124	84	13.3	81.4%	66 (5.9%)	525 (46.7%)	451 (40.1%)	45 (4.0%)	2 (0.2%)	30 (2.7%)	7.1	136^th of 141 public high schools	3.5%	8.7	132^nd of 145 public high schools	9.0%	4		13.2	17.8	7.5							$21,211
Hill Regional Career High School	Public, Magnet	9-12	140 Legion Ave.	New Haven	06519	South Central Connecticut Planning Region	New Haven School District	No	Yes	No	No	(475) 220-5000	625	55	11.3	82.1%	56 (9.0%)	245 (39.2%)	282 (45.1%)	28 (4.5%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (2.1%)	18.2	109^th of 141 public high schools	22.7%	9.6	130^th of 145 public high schools	10.3%	21		31.0	31.6	14.0							$23,110
New Haven Academy	Public, Magnet	9-12	444 Orange Street	New Haven	06511	South Central Connecticut Planning Region	New Haven School District	No	Yes	No	No	(475) 220-6600	321	24	13.3	63.2%	49 (15.3%)	141 (43.9%)	116 (36.1%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (3.7%)							(n/a)				22.2							$21,333
Cooperative High School - Inter-District Magnet	Public, Magnet	9-12	177 College Street	New Haven	06511	South Central Connecticut Planning Region	New Haven School District	No	Yes	No	No	(475) 220-2400	560	48	11.6	72.3%	69 (12.3%)	239 (42.7%)	219 (39.1%)	9 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (3.6%)	20.5	106^th of 141 public high schools	24.8%	29.3	96^th of 145 public high schools	33.8%	10		20.8	45.7	15.5							$22,452
Eli Whitney Technical High School	Public	9-12	100 Fairview Ave	Hamden	06514	South Central Connecticut Planning Region	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System	No	No	No	Yes	(203) 397-4031	586	57	10.2	70.0%	26 (4.4%)	183 (31.2%)	351 (59.9%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (3.2%)							(n/a)											$34,155
Common Ground High School	Public, Charter	9-12	358 Springside Ave.	New Haven	06515	South Central Connecticut Planning Region	Common Ground High School District	Yes	No	No	Yes	(203) 389-4333	221	22	9.9	64.3%	33 (14.9%)	72 (32.6%)	103 (46.6%)	4 (1.8%)	1 (0.5%)	7 (3.2%)	30.3	87^th of 141 public high schools	38.3%				(n/a)		30.2		22.2							$20,127
High School In The Community	Public, Magnet	9-12	175 Water St.	New Haven	06511	South Central Connecticut Planning Region	New Haven School District	No	Yes	No	Yes	(475) 220-6200	251	25	10.0	80.1%	24 (9.6%)	102 (40.6%)	108 (43.0%)	7 (2.8%)	1 (0.4%)	8 (3.2%)							(n/a)		28.3									$25,371
Wilbur Cross High School	Public	9-12	181 Mitchell Dr.	New Haven	06511	South Central Connecticut Planning Region	New Haven School District	No	No	No	No	(475) 220-7400	1,742	127	13.6	75.7%	157 (9.0%)	333 (19.1%)	1,161 (66.6%)	51 (2.9%)	2 (0.1%)	36 (2.1%)	7.8	135^th of 141 public high schools	4.3%	11.5	126^th of 145 public high schools	13.1%	9		13.8	20.6	8.3							$19,455
Metropolitan Business Academy	Public, Magnet	9-12	115 Water Street	New Haven	06511	South Central Connecticut Planning Region	New Haven School District	No	Yes	No	No	(475) 220-7700	380	33	11.5	80.5%	35 (9.2%)	116 (30.5%)	205 (53.9%)	14 (3.7%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (2.6%)							(n/a)		28.2									$22,391
Engineering - Science University Magnet School	Public, Magnet	6-12	500 Boston Post Road	West Haven	06516	South Central Connecticut Planning Region	New Haven School District	No	Yes	No	No	(475) 220-6000	608	52	11.6	50.8%	165 (27.1%)	177 (29.1%)	151 (24.8%)	64 (10.5%)	2 (0.3%)	49 (8.1%)	61.8	55^th of 141 public high schools	61.0%	60.7	59^th of 145 public high schools	59.3%	4	68.2	44.3	70.4	37.0	52.9	52.9	70.6	36.5	55.2	64.0	$21,492

Frequently Asked Questions about James Hillhouse High School

What schools feed into James Hillhouse High School?

James Hillhouse High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Augusta Lewis Troup School
Elementary : Barnard Environmental Magnet School
Elementary : Beecher School
Elementary : Brennan Rogers School
Elementary : Davis Academy for Arts & Design Innovation
Elementary : Edgewood School
Elementary : King/Robinson Magnet School
Elementary : Lincoln-Bassett School
Elementary : Wexler/Grant Community School

What district is James Hillhouse High School in?

New Haven School District

What is the racial makeup of James Hillhouse High School?

Students at James Hillhouse High School are 47% African American, 40% Hispanic, 6% White, 4% Asian, 3% Two or more races.

Is James Hillhouse High School a good school?

James Hillhouse High School ranks in the bottom 3.5% of Connecticut high schools.

How many students attend James Hillhouse High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,124 students attended James Hillhouse High School.

Rate James Hillhouse High School!

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Schools in New Haven, CT

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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 (2025)				Ranking (2024)				NGSS Science (2025)		SAT English Language Arts (2025)	SAT Math (2025)	SBAC English Language Arts (2025)			SBAC Mathematics (2025)			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	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	NGSS Science 8th Grade	NGSS Science 11th Grade	SAT English Language Arts 11th Grade	SAT Math 11th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 6th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 7th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 8th Grade	SBAC Mathematics 6th Grade	SBAC Mathematics 7th Grade	SBAC Mathematics 8th Grade	Total
James Hillhouse High School	Public	9-12	480 Sherman Parkway	New Haven	06511	South Central Connecticut Planning Region	New Haven School District	No	No	No	Yes	(475) 220-7500	1,124	84	13.3	81.4%	66 (5.9%)	525 (46.7%)	451 (40.1%)	45 (4.0%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	30 (2.7%)	7.1	136^th of 141 public high schools	3.5%		8.7	132^nd of 145 public high schools	9.0%	4		13.2	17.8	7.5							$21,211
Hill Regional Career High School	Public, Magnet	9-12	140 Legion Ave.	New Haven	06519	South Central Connecticut Planning Region	New Haven School District	No	Yes	No	No	(475) 220-5000	625	55	11.3	82.1%	56 (9.0%)	245 (39.2%)	282 (45.1%)	28 (4.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (2.1%)	18.2	109^th of 141 public high schools	22.7%		9.6	130^th of 145 public high schools	10.3%	21		31.0	31.6	14.0							$23,110
New Haven Academy	Public, Magnet	9-12	444 Orange Street	New Haven	06511	South Central Connecticut Planning Region	New Haven School District	No	Yes	No	No	(475) 220-6600	321	24	13.3	63.2%	49 (15.3%)	141 (43.9%)	116 (36.1%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (3.7%)								(n/a)				22.2							$21,333
Cooperative High School - Inter-District Magnet	Public, Magnet	9-12	177 College Street	New Haven	06511	South Central Connecticut Planning Region	New Haven School District	No	Yes	No	No	(475) 220-2400	560	48	11.6	72.3%	69 (12.3%)	239 (42.7%)	219 (39.1%)	9 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (3.6%)	20.5	106^th of 141 public high schools	24.8%		29.3	96^th of 145 public high schools	33.8%	10		20.8	45.7	15.5							$22,452
Eli Whitney Technical High School	Public	9-12	100 Fairview Ave	Hamden	06514	South Central Connecticut Planning Region	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System	No	No	No	Yes	(203) 397-4031	586	57	10.2	70.0%	26 (4.4%)	183 (31.2%)	351 (59.9%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (3.2%)								(n/a)											$34,155
Common Ground High School	Public, Charter	9-12	358 Springside Ave.	New Haven	06515	South Central Connecticut Planning Region	Common Ground High School District	Yes	No	No	Yes	(203) 389-4333	221	22	9.9	64.3%	33 (14.9%)	72 (32.6%)	103 (46.6%)	4 (1.8%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (3.2%)	30.3	87^th of 141 public high schools	38.3%					(n/a)		30.2		22.2							$20,127
High School In The Community	Public, Magnet	9-12	175 Water St.	New Haven	06511	South Central Connecticut Planning Region	New Haven School District	No	Yes	No	Yes	(475) 220-6200	251	25	10.0	80.1%	24 (9.6%)	102 (40.6%)	108 (43.0%)	7 (2.8%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (3.2%)								(n/a)		28.3									$25,371
Wilbur Cross High School	Public	9-12	181 Mitchell Dr.	New Haven	06511	South Central Connecticut Planning Region	New Haven School District	No	No	No	No	(475) 220-7400	1,742	127	13.6	75.7%	157 (9.0%)	333 (19.1%)	1,161 (66.6%)	51 (2.9%)	2 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	36 (2.1%)	7.8	135^th of 141 public high schools	4.3%		11.5	126^th of 145 public high schools	13.1%	9		13.8	20.6	8.3							$19,455
Metropolitan Business Academy	Public, Magnet	9-12	115 Water Street	New Haven	06511	South Central Connecticut Planning Region	New Haven School District	No	Yes	No	No	(475) 220-7700	380	33	11.5	80.5%	35 (9.2%)	116 (30.5%)	205 (53.9%)	14 (3.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (2.6%)								(n/a)		28.2									$22,391
Engineering - Science University Magnet School	Public, Magnet	6-12	500 Boston Post Road	West Haven	06516	South Central Connecticut Planning Region	New Haven School District	No	Yes	No	No	(475) 220-6000	608	52	11.6	50.8%	165 (27.1%)	177 (29.1%)	151 (24.8%)	64 (10.5%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	49 (8.1%)	61.8	55^th of 141 public high schools	61.0%		60.7	59^th of 145 public high schools	59.3%	4	68.2	44.3	70.4	37.0	52.9	52.9	70.6	36.5	55.2	64.0	$21,492