Summary:
In zip code 06114, there are 4 elementary schools serving grades PK-5 or PK-8, all part of the Hartford School District, a district facing significant challenges. These schools — Dwight-Bellizzi Dual Language Academy, Kennelly School, M. D. Fox School, and Naylor/CCSU Leadership Academy — all serve high-poverty populations, with free/reduced lunch eligibility averaging 77.6%. Families should know that while these schools share similar demographics, their performance and climates vary considerably.
If you’re looking at the strongest overall option, Kennelly School stands out. It has the highest current ranking (455th of 491 in 2025-26) and has improved steadily over three years, with the best ELA and math scores in the group — even though it has the highest poverty rate and lowest per-student spending. Naylor/CCSU Leadership Academy offers the best attendance (18.6% chronic absenteeism, close to the state rate) and posted the highest single test score in the cluster (30.4% in Grade 5 Science), but its ranking was inconsistent and current data is incomplete. Dwight-Bellizzi Dual Language Academy is the largest school and offers a unique dual-language program, but its rank has slipped and most scores are below district averages. M. D. Fox School is the most concerning: it was ranked last in Connecticut in 2023-24, has a 46% chronic absenteeism rate, and test scores are mostly in the single digits.
The biggest takeaway for parents is that chronic absenteeism closely tracks school performance — the schools with lower attendance (M. D. Fox, Dwight-Bellizzi) tend to have much weaker outcomes, while Kennelly and Naylor show that better attendance can lead to relative bright spots. Money and class size do not explain the differences; Kennelly outperforms with less funding. However, all schools remain far below state proficiency averages, and statewide gaps are staggering — for example, M. D. Fox’s 4th grade ELA proficiency was 7.4% versus 50.9% statewide. Data gaps exist (some spending figures are from 2018-19, and Naylor is missing its latest rank), so parents should visit schools directly to get the full picture.
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