Summary:
Zip code 06040 in Manchester, CT is home to 8 schools serving approximately 5,311 students from preschool through high school: 4 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 2 high schools. The area serves a predominantly low-income population, with free/reduced-price lunch eligibility spanning 40.5% to 77.5% across schools and a weighted average around 58%. The schools belong to three districts: Manchester School District (ranked 128th of 153 in Connecticut), Connecticut Technical Education and Career System (139th of 153), and Odyssey Community School District (90th of 153).
The academic standout is Odyssey Community School, which ranks in the 53rd percentile of Connecticut elementary schools despite spending the least per student ($13,531). Its chronic absenteeism rate of 9.1% is far below the state average of 16.4%, and students exceed state proficiency benchmarks in 4th grade math (73.7% vs. 52.1% statewide). Among traditional district schools, Highland Park School is the brightest spot, ranking in the 57th percentile after three straight years of improvement and exceeding state proficiency in every reported 3rd and 4th grade subject. At the high school level, Howell Cheney Technical High School has the highest graduation rate (97.4%) but the lowest math scores (6.7% proficient), reflecting its technical and career focus, while Manchester High School shows gradual improvement with SAT scores above district but below state averages.
Middle schools remain a weak point: Elisabeth M. Bennet Academy and Illing Middle School both perform below state averages across nearly every subject. Math and science proficiency are systemic weaknesses throughout the zip code, and chronic absenteeism closely tracks outcomes — Odyssey and Highland Park have the lowest absenteeism rates, while Verplanck School faces the steepest challenges at 25.4% absenteeism and 77.5% FRL eligibility. Encouragingly, Verplanck has improved from the 6th to the 27th percentile, with 4th grade math proficiency jumping from 9.5% to 38.1%. Spending does not predict success: Odyssey spends the least yet achieves the strongest results, while Verplanck spends nearly $20,500 per student. For parents, this zip code offers a tale of two realities — schools that clearly excel and others that continue to struggle — so choosing a school requires looking beyond district rankings.
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