Best High Schools in Zip Code 06105

Zip code 06105 in Hartford, Connecticut is home to two public high schools: Hartford Public High School (grades 9–12, enrollment 698) and Classical Magnet School (grades 6–12, enrollment 438), both part of the Hartford School District, a district ranked near the bottom of Connecticut. These two schools serve very similar high-poverty student populations, yet their outcomes differ dramatically. Classical Magnet School is the clear outperformer, with an 89.9% graduation rate, 24.2% chronic absenteeism, and a state ranking of 98th out of 133. By contrast, Hartford Public High School ranks dead last in the state (133rd of 133), graduates only 83.0% of students, and has a chronic absenteeism rate of 66.7%.

The most striking differences appear in attendance and academics. Chronic absenteeism at Hartford Public is 42.5 percentage points higher than at Classical Magnet, and that gap likely drives much of the achievement disparity. In 11th grade English Language Arts, Classical Magnet posts 43.5% proficiency — more than three times Hartford Public’s 13.1% and much closer to the state average of 55.3%. Science proficiency follows a similar pattern: 30.0% at Classical Magnet versus 6.6% at Hartford Public. Math is a shared weakness; Classical Magnet’s 11.6% proficiency is only slightly better than Hartford Public’s 6.1%, and both are far below the state’s 31.3%. Free/reduced lunch eligibility is nearly identical (77.4% at Classical, 78.2% at Hartford), underscoring that poverty alone does not explain the performance gap.

Both schools operate within a district ranked 148th of 153 in Connecticut, and even the stronger school remains in the bottom quartile statewide. However, Classical Magnet’s results prove that higher achievement is possible within the same district and with similar demographics. Its chronic absenteeism rate is actually better than the district average, and its ELA proficiency approaches the state norm. Hartford Public, meanwhile, has been consistently in the bottom 1% of ranked schools for three consecutive years, a pattern of severe, sustained low performance. For parents, the choice is stark: Classical Magnet offers a far healthier climate and stronger outcomes, while Hartford Public faces major challenges that affect nearly every academic measure.