Best Public Schools in Zip Code 06335

Zip code 06335 is home to three schools in Gales Ferry, CT, all serving the Ledyard School District, a district ranked 99th out of 153 statewide with a 2-star rating. The schools form a clear feeder pattern: Gales Ferry School serves grades K–2, Juliet W. Long School serves grades 3–5, and Ledyard Middle School serves grades 6–8, with no high school in the zip code. Total enrollment across the three schools is 995 students, and all share a similar socioeconomic profile, with roughly a quarter to a third of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch.

Juliet W. Long School is the clear academic standout — the only 3-star school in the zip code and the only one matching or exceeding state averages in most subjects. It posts strong scores in 3rd grade math (61.9% proficient), 5th grade science (68.0%), and 5th grade ELA (60.0%), all well above state benchmarks, and it also has the lowest chronic absenteeism rate at 5.8%. By contrast, Ledyard Middle School earns 2 stars and trails the state in both ELA (43.8% vs. 51.5%) and math (36.9% vs. 43.5%), though 8th grade science is a genuine strength at 57.4% proficiency. Gales Ferry School has no standardized test data for its youngest learners, but stands out for its resources — the highest per-student spending ($17,745) and lowest student-teacher ratio (11:1) in the zip code.

A few broader takeaways stand out for parents. Spending does not predict performance: Juliet W. Long spends the least per student ($9,008) yet delivers the best outcomes. Chronic absenteeism is a district-wide strength, with all schools ranging from 5.8% to 9.2% — roughly half the state average of 16.4%. The most notable concern is a middle school dip: while Long performs near or above state averages, Ledyard Middle lags noticeably, especially in 7th grade, where ELA and math proficiency dropped about 14 points year-over-year. Encouragingly, 8th grade math improved by 12.2 points and 3rd grade math by 9.6 points, showing real capacity for growth. The district's biggest opportunity is replicating the elementary school's success at the middle school level.