Summary:
ZIP code 06114 in Hartford, Connecticut is home to 7 schools in the Hartford School District, spanning grades PK-12 and enrolling 3,230 students, nearly all from low-income families. The district ranks 148th out of 153 in Connecticut, and these schools face serious challenges: chronic absenteeism averages 38.2%, more than double the state average of 16.4%, and test proficiency rates lag far behind state norms.
The clear standout is Betances STEM Magnet School, the only 2-star school in the ZIP, ranking 168th out of 258 middle schools. It has the lowest chronic absenteeism (17.1%) and the lowest spending per student ($15,589) while outperforming the district — 36% of 6th graders are proficient in math versus 21.1% districtwide. Naylor/CCSU Leadership Academy and Kennelly School are the next strongest, with absenteeism of 18.6% and 26.2% respectively. Kennelly's rank has improved three consecutive years. Notably, Betances and Burr Middle School share the same building at 400 Wethersfield Avenue, yet Betances averages 29.6% proficiency across tests versus Burr's 9.7% — and Burr actually spends more per student ($18,882 vs. $15,589).
At the other end of the spectrum, Bulkeley High School ranks 132nd out of 133 high schools, with a 76% graduation rate and a staggering 72.8% chronic absenteeism rate. Burr Middle School ranks dead last in the state (258 out of 258), and M.D. Fox School ranks 488th out of 491 elementary schools. Dwight-Bellizzi Dual Language Academy, despite its specialized theme, also posts very low proficiency. The strongest pattern is that chronic absenteeism tracks almost perfectly with performance — the low-absenteeism schools (Betances, Naylor, Kennelly) are the top performers, while the high-absenteeism schools are the weakest. For parents, the data clearly points to Betances, and to a lesser extent Kennelly and Naylor, as the relative bright spots in this ZIP code.
Thank you for your feedback!