Best High Schools in Zip Code 06118

Zip code 06118 in East Hartford, CT is served by four high schools—East Hartford High School, Connecticut River Academy at Goodwin University, Pathways Academy of Technology and Design, and Connecticut IB Academy—serving roughly 3,077 students across grades 6–12 through three different districts: East Hartford School District, Goodwin University Educational Services (GUES), and Hartford School District.

Families in this zip code have a wide range of choices. Connecticut IB Academy stands out as the highest-performing school: it has the best graduation rate (97.7%), the lowest chronic absenteeism (3.6% vs. a 16.4% state average), and the strongest science proficiency (77.8%). On the other end of the spectrum, Pathways Academy of Technology and Design faces the most challenges—80% poverty and 40% chronic absenteeism—yet still graduates 95.5% of its students, a bright spot despite low test scores. Connecticut River Academy at Goodwin University offers a unique 6–12 structure with a solid 94.7% graduation rate, but its chronic absenteeism (31.9%) and math proficiency (as low as 7.8% in 6th grade) are serious concerns. East Hartford High School, the largest school, anchors the zip code and is steadily improving its state ranking from the 23rd percentile to the 44th percentile over three years, while matching the state average in science proficiency.

Overall, graduates from these schools typically earn diplomas at rates close to the state average (≈91%), but academic proficiency—especially in math—remains well below state averages across all four schools. The widest gap is in chronic absenteeism, which ranges from 3.6% to 40.1% and strongly tracks with academic outcomes. For parents, the key takeaway is that this area offers meaningful school choice: from a selective IB magnet to a large traditional high school, with wide variation in student support, attendance, and academic rigor.