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Sound School

Q: Is Sound School a good school?

Sound School ranks 77 th of 135 Connecticut high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

77^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 135 Connecticut High Schools

Better than 43% of Connecticut high schools

Summary

Sound School is a small public high school in New Haven, CT that serves 332 students in grades 9–12. It is part of the New Haven School District, which ranks in the bottom 10% of Connecticut districts, but Sound School itself performs considerably better, ranking 78th out of 133 high schools statewide (41st percentile). Among nearby public high schools, only the Engineering - Science University Magnet School performs better. This makes Sound School a clear stand-out within a district where many high schools struggle with attendance and completion.

Sound School's most impressive strengths are its graduation rate and attendance. In 2024–2025, the graduation rate was 96.1%, well above the district average of 79.9% and the Connecticut state average of 91.2%. Chronic absenteeism has also improved dramatically, falling from 54.6% in 2021–2022 to just 12.3% in 2025–2026—far better than the district rate of 30.6% and better than every other nearby New Haven high school, most of which report rates above 35%. The school also has the lowest student–teacher ratio (8.3) of any nearby school, which likely supports these strong outcomes. ELA proficiency is solid relative to the district, with 44.6% proficient in 2024–2025 compared to 31.8% for the district, though below the state's 58%.

The main academic weakness is math. Only 17.2% of Sound School students were proficient in math in 2025–2026, well below the state average of 31.3%, though above the district's 13.9%. Science is a notable bright spot, with 41.4% proficiency in 2025–2026—among the highest of any New Haven public high school, behind only the Engineering - Science University Magnet School. Sound School also serves a lower percentage of economically disadvantaged students (54.2%) than district peers like James Hillhouse High School (81.4%) and Wilbur Cross High School (75.7%). Overall, Sound School offers an efficient, supportive environment with strong graduation and attendance outcomes, though families concerned about math should look into the school's approach to that subject. Success varies across different student groups, including White, low-income, and male students, so it's worth asking how the school supports a range of learners.

332

Students ?

8.3

Student/teacher ratio ?

$29,904

Per pupil spending ?

54.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

60 South Water St.
New Haven, CT 06519

(475) 220-2300

District: New Haven School District

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

43.4%

White:

40.7%

African American:

12.0%

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At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 43rd percentile in 2015 → 43rd in 2026

Strengths

✓96% graduate in 4 years — above the Connecticut average (91%)

✓Small classes — about 8 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Connecticut average (29% vs 46% meeting standards)

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

!Math scores 14 pts below the Connecticut average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school29%

District avg24%

Connecticut avg46%

77^th of 135

Connecticut public high schools ?

Bottom 43%▼ down 12 pts since 2016

From top 45% (2016) to bottom 43% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Connecticut High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

2^nd of 7High Schools in the New Haven School District

143^rd of 153New 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
2026	33.6	77 of 135	43.0%	★★☆☆☆
2025	18.5	108 of 141	23.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	36.0	84 of 145	42.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	34.4	89 of 142	37.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	15.2	115 of 139	17.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	19.3	158 of 200	21.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	37.7	81 of 121	33.1%	★★☆☆☆
2017	42.3	74 of 140	47.1%	★★☆☆☆
2016	55.6	59 of 132	55.3%	★★★☆☆
2015	45.2	112 of 196	42.9%	★★☆☆☆
2013	60.4	103 of 193	46.6%	★★☆☆☆
2012	70.8	74 of 188	60.6%	★★★☆☆
2011	56.5	111 of 189	41.3%	★★☆☆☆
2010	57.6	108 of 186	41.9%	★★☆☆☆
2009	48.9	115 of 176	34.7%	★★☆☆☆
2008	30.5	139 of 176	21.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	56.2	111 of 176	36.9%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2023	16.3	83 of 103	19.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	16.4	157 of 189	16.9%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2026	31.2	43 of 67	35.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	59.6	13 of 63	79.4%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2026	18.8	58 of 69	15.9%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2022	5.9	98 of 102	3.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	21.6	147 of 182	19.2%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2025	13.7	104 of 116	10.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	4.9	148 of 155	4.5%	☆☆☆☆☆

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)

Hispanic (2026)36th percentile-7 vs school

Female (2023)19th percentile-18 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)16th percentile-27 vs school

White (2025)10th percentile-13 vs school

Male (2022)4th percentile-13 vs school

By subject vs Connecticut (2025-2026) ?

Science41%-9 vs state

Math17%-14 vs state

★

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Schools Near Sound 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)		SAT English Language Arts (2026)	SAT Math (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 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
Sound School	Public	9-12	60 South Water St.	New Haven	06519	South Central Connecticut Planning Region	New Haven School District	No	No	No	No	(475) 220-2300	332	40	8.3	54.2%	135 (40.7%)	40 (12.0%)	144 (43.4%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	10 (3.0%)	33.6	77^th of 135 public high schools	43.0%		18.5	108^th of 141 public high schools	23.4%	31		41.4		17.2							$29,904
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)		26.2									$25,371
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%)	7.9	131^st of 135 public high schools	3.0%					(n/a)		17.4	26.2								$22,391
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%)	13.2	118^th of 135 public high schools	12.6%		20.5	106^th of 141 public high schools	24.8%	12		16.7	26.4	13.6							$22,452
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%)	27.3	86^th of 135 public high schools	36.3%		18.2	109^th of 141 public high schools	22.7%	23		42.2		8.5							$23,110
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%)	71.4	41^st of 135 public high schools	69.6%		61.8	55^th of 141 public high schools	61.0%	14	62.5	52.6	75.0	41.3	64.0	54.4	63.6	57.5	47.2	51.2	$21,492
West Haven High School	Public	9-12	1 McDonough Plaza	West Haven	06516	South Central Connecticut Planning Region	West Haven School District	No	No	No	No	(203) 937-4360	1,813	116	15.6	52.2%	395 (21.8%)	458 (25.3%)	806 (44.5%)	79 (4.4%)	5 (0.3%)	2 (0.1%)	66 (3.6%)	26.8	89^th of 135 public high schools	34.1%		29.7	89^th of 141 public high schools	36.9%			47.0	35.5	10.0							$17,480
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)		1089.0		20.3							$21,333
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%)	12	122^nd of 135 public high schools	9.6%		7.1	136^th of 141 public high schools	3.5%	14		21.4	19.7	11.6							$21,211
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%)	12.9	119^th of 135 public high schools	11.9%		7.8	135^th of 141 public high schools	4.3%	16		22.0	22.9	12.1							$19,455

Frequently Asked Questions about Sound School

Is Sound School a good school?

Sound School ranks 77^th of 135 Connecticut high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Sound School?

Students at Sound School are 43% Hispanic, 41% White, 12% African American, 3% Two or more races.

What district is Sound School in?

New Haven School District

How many students attend Sound School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 332 students attended Sound 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.