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Engineering - Science University Magnet School

Q: Is Engineering - Science University Magnet School a good school?

Engineering - Science University Magnet School ranks 41 st of 135 Connecticut high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public, Magnet Grades 6-12

41^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 135 Connecticut High Schools

Better than 70% of Connecticut high schools

Summary

Engineering - Science University Magnet School (ESUMS) is a public magnet school in West Haven, CT, serving 608 students in grades 6–12 as part of the New Haven School District. What makes ESUMS remarkable is how sharply it stands out from its district and neighboring schools: while New Haven ranks in the bottom 7% of Connecticut districts, ESUMS ranks 41st out of 133 high schools statewide (69th percentile) with a 4-star rating — its best showing in years.

Academically, ESUMS beats the district and state averages in nearly every subject and grade. On 2025-26 SBAC tests, 6th-grade math proficiency hit 57.5% versus 16.8% for the district and 44.4% for the state; 8th-grade ELA reached 63.6% versus 31.5% for the district and 51.1% for the state. In 11th grade, 75% of students met the SAT ELA benchmark — more than double the district rate and well above the state's 55.3% — while SAT math proficiency (41.3%) nearly tripled the district rate and topped the state average by 10 points. Among nearby schools, ESUMS is the clear leader: it outranks Sound School (78th), Hill Regional Career High School (86th), West Haven High School (89th), and Cooperative High School - Inter-District Magnet (118th).

ESUMS also shines in areas beyond test scores. Its 2024-25 graduation rate was 98.8%, far above the district's 79.9% and the state's 91.2%, and among the highest in the area. Chronic absenteeism sits at just 12.0% — below the state average and a fraction of the district's 30.6%. The school is notably effective for many student groups: African American students ranked 1st in the state in 2022-23, and special education students ranked in the 95th percentile statewide. About half of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, yet outcomes remain strong. Areas to watch include some variability in high school science scores and female student achievement, but overall ESUMS is a highly effective, resilient school that delivers exceptional results in a challenging district context.

608

Students ?

11.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$21,492

Per pupil spending ?

50.8%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

500 Boston Post Road
West Haven, CT 06516

(475) 220-6000

District: New Haven School District

Racial breakdown:

African American:

29.1%

White:

27.1%

Hispanic:

24.8%

See top rated Connecticut high schools

Compare Engineering - Science University Magnet School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Rebounding — 50th percentile in 2019 → 70th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Connecticut average (57% vs 47% meeting standards)

✓99% graduate in 4 years — above the Connecticut average (91%)

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 70th (2026) from a 50th-percentile low (2019)

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school57%

District avg23%

Connecticut avg47%

Middle school

85^th of 258

Connecticut public middle schools ?

Top 33%▲ up 11 pts since 2016

From top 44% (2016) to top 33% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Connecticut Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

High school

41^st of 135

Connecticut public high schools ?

Top 30%▲ up 9 pts since 2016

From top 39% (2016) to top 30% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Connecticut High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st 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)

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2026	68.4	85 of 258	67.1%	★★★☆☆
2025	67.8	85 of 252	66.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	68.8	79 of 250	68.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	69.6	76 of 249	69.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	61.6	92 of 250	63.2%	★★★☆☆
2021	69.0	92 of 275	66.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	67.8	94 of 259	63.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	69.6	87 of 249	65.1%	★★★☆☆
2017	61.5	97 of 250	61.2%	★★★☆☆
2016	56.7	108 of 246	56.1%	★★★☆☆
2015	68.2	96 of 280	65.7%	★★★☆☆
2013	67.2	118 of 278	57.6%	★★★☆☆
2012	60.1	148 of 272	45.6%	★★☆☆☆
2011	54.0	157 of 269	41.6%	★★☆☆☆
2010	54.3	156 of 268	41.8%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2022	67.9	6 of 40	85.0%	★★★★☆
2021	80.4	7 of 80	91.3%	★★★★★
2019	87.1	5 of 38	86.8%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2026	49.7	87 of 164	47.0%	★★☆☆☆
2025	47.5	87 of 164	47.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	50.5	83 of 161	48.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	51.5	80 of 160	50.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	62.1	65 of 166	60.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	74.0	67 of 235	71.5%	★★★★☆
2019	63.7	74 of 169	56.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	56.9	86 of 160	46.3%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2022	56.3	46 of 106	56.6%	★★★☆☆
2021	57.3	87 of 218	60.1%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2026	69.5	55 of 164	66.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	57.2	73 of 158	53.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	55.0	81 of 169	52.1%	★★★☆☆
2021	56.0	91 of 224	59.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	73.3	56 of 167	66.5%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2021	60.8	87 of 244	64.3%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2025	73.7	33 of 153	78.4%	★★★★☆
2024	59.9	66 of 154	57.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	77.9	29 of 158	81.6%	★★★★☆
2021	73.0	39 of 175	77.7%	★★★★☆
2019	88.5	7 of 166	95.8%	★★★★★
2018	84.4	17 of 168	89.9%	★★★★★

High school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2026	71.4	41 of 135	69.6%	★★★★☆
2025	61.8	55 of 141	61.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	60.7	59 of 145	59.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	65.0	54 of 142	62.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	80.4	28 of 139	79.9%	★★★★☆
2021	85.9	30 of 200	85.0%	★★★★☆
2019	59.7	61 of 121	49.6%	★★★☆☆
2017	72.3	46 of 140	67.1%	★★★☆☆
2016	60.6	52 of 132	60.6%	★★★☆☆
2015	81.3	32 of 196	83.7%	★★★★☆
2013	54.1	117 of 193	39.4%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2023	89.9	1 of 25	96.0%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2024	58.9	51 of 102	50.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	74.1	55 of 189	70.9%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2021	86.3	20 of 155	87.1%	★★★★☆
2019	36.0	22 of 37	40.5%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2021	88.6	18 of 182	90.1%	★★★★★

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2021	91.2	9 of 175	94.9%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2023	84.0	16 of 116	86.2%	★★★★☆
2021	94.5	5 of 155	96.8%	★★★★★
2019	84.3	20 of 113	82.3%	★★★★☆

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)

Middle school

African American (2022)85th percentile+22 vs school

White (2025)78th percentile+12 vs school

Male (2026)66th percentile~ school

Special Education (2021)64th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2022)57th percentile-7 vs school

Female (2026)47th percentile-20 vs school

High school

African American (2023)96th percentile+34 vs school

Special Education (2021)95th percentile+10 vs school

Male (2021)90th percentile+5 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2021)87th percentile~ school

White (2023)86th percentile+24 vs school

Female (2024)50th percentile-9 vs school

By subject vs Connecticut (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts61%+9 vs state

Science58%+7 vs state

Mathematics52%+8 vs state

Math41%+10 vs state

5.0

3 ratings · 3 written reviews

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What people are saying

by a parent
Thursday, December 28, 2017

Excellent STEM focus, committed faculty Close Quote

by a parent
Tuesday, April 22, 2014

ESUMS is a phenomenal school! I have two children who attend- one in the middle school and one in the high school. The things these kids are learning and the skills they are developing astound me! I didn't know how to build a robot or design and build an earthquake resistant structure when I was a kid- both things my kids are doing right now! They have advanced math courses and my high schooler has college credits already. The teachers and administrators are dedicated to their jobs and all of them seem to love what they do! Highly recommended! Close Quote

by a parent
Monday, February 11, 2013

My son attends ESUMS. It is an extraordinary school in every way. We are delighted with it. Close Quote

Schools Near Engineering - Science University Magnet 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)	SBAC English Language Arts (2026)	SBAC Mathematics (2026)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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%)							(n/a)		1095.0									$20,127

Frequently Asked Questions about Engineering - Science University Magnet School

How many students attend Engineering - Science University Magnet School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 608 students attended Engineering - Science University Magnet School.

What is the racial makeup of Engineering - Science University Magnet School?

Students at Engineering - Science University Magnet School are 29% African American, 27% White, 25% Hispanic, 11% Asian, 8% Two or more races.

What district is Engineering - Science University Magnet School in?

New Haven School District

Is Engineering - Science University Magnet School a good school?

Engineering - Science University Magnet School ranks 41^st of 135 Connecticut high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Rate Engineering - Science University Magnet 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.

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/reduced lunch (2024-25)	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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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%)								(n/a)		1095.0									$20,127