Summary:
Elementary schools in zip code 06040 (Manchester, CT) serve 1,329 students across four schools spanning pre-K through 8th grade: Verplanck School (K-4, 466 students), Odyssey Community School (PK-8, 410 students), Highland Park School (K-4, 300 students), and Manchester Preschool Center at Martin (PK-K, 153 students). Three of these schools belong to Manchester School District, while Odyssey operates under Odyssey Community School District. The majority of students in the area are low-income, with roughly 60% eligible for free or reduced-price lunch.
Highland Park School is the strongest performer in the zip code, ranking 210th out of 491 state elementary schools (57th percentile) and beating state averages in every tested 3rd and 4th grade subject. Odyssey Community School is close behind in ranking but posts the highest math scores, including 73.7% proficiency in 4th grade math, and has the lowest chronic absenteeism rate at 9.1%. Verplanck School remains the most challenged, with all test scores below state averages, a 77.5% free/reduced lunch rate, and 25.4% chronic absenteeism—though it has improved from the 6th to the 27th percentile over two years. The preschool center serves a high-need population but has no test or ranking data available.
Chronic absenteeism closely tracks achievement across these schools: Verplanck has the highest rate (25.4%) and lowest scores, while Odyssey has the lowest rate (9.1%) and highest scores. Notably, Odyssey spends about $7,000 less per student than the two Manchester elementary schools, suggesting higher spending does not guarantee better results. Highland Park stands out as a district success story, improving from the 34th to 57th percentile even though its district ranks in the 16th percentile statewide. Parents should know that district-level ratings hide wide variation, and attendance and poverty are the clearest factors separating these schools.
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