Summary
Joel Barlow High School, located in Redding, CT, is a public high school serving 698 students in grades 9–12 as part of Regional School District 09, and it currently ranks 2nd among Connecticut high schools with a 5-star rating and a 98th-percentile score. Over the past decade, the school has never ranked below 18th statewide and has earned 5 stars every reported year. With a 97.8% graduation rate, an 11.0 student-teacher ratio, and per-pupil spending of roughly $23,477, this Fairfield County school offers one of the most academically rigorous environments in the state.
Academically, Joel Barlow far outpaces state averages: 89.7% of 11th graders are proficient in ELA, 66.9% in math, and 92.1% in science, compared with statewide rates of 55.3%, 31.3%, and 50.5%. Science is the school's standout subject, essentially tied with Weston High School (92.0%), the only nearby school ranked higher. Joel Barlow also clearly outperforms Newtown High School (80.3% ELA, 55.2% math), Trumbull High School (80.6% ELA, 51.0% math), Masuk High School (72.9% ELA, 48.2% math), and Bethel High School (70.7% ELA, 40.6% math). Math is the relative soft spot when compared to Weston (72.5%), but it remains more than double the state average.
Joel Barlow also stands out for its support of students who often face greater challenges. Low socioeconomic status students ranked 1st out of 70 schools statewide (99th percentile), and disabled students ranked 4th out of 57 schools. This is especially notable because 10.9% of students qualify for free/reduced lunch, a higher share than at Weston (1.7%), Wilton High School (6.3%), or Masuk (4.1%). Chronic absenteeism has improved dramatically from 18.3% in 2021–2022 to 8.9% in 2025–2026, though Wilton (2.2%) and Weston (4.7%) remain lower. One trend worth monitoring is the recent dip in statewide ranking for female students, from 3rd (97th percentile) in 2023–2024 to 18th (83rd percentile) in 2024–2025, though this remains a strong result overall.
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