Summary:
ZIP code 06357 in Niantic, CT is home to two K-4 elementary schools—Lillie B. Haynes School and Niantic Center School—both part of the East Lyme School District, a 4-star district ranked 36th out of 153 in Connecticut. The two schools serve different-sized populations (365 vs. 198 students) and show notably distinct performance profiles despite sharing a zip code and district.
Niantic Center School is the clear standout, ranking 16th out of 491 Connecticut elementary schools (97th percentile) with a 5-star rating in both 2024-2025 and 2025-2026. Its math proficiency is exceptional: 91.9% of 4th graders and 94.3% of 3rd graders were proficient, beating state averages by roughly 40 points. Chronic absenteeism is remarkably low at 4.4%, and the school improved from 92nd place in 2022-2023 to its current elite standing. By contrast, Lillie B. Haynes School is a solid 4-star performer, ranked 137th (72nd percentile), with consistent math and ELA scores well above state averages and a healthy 8.4% chronic absenteeism rate.
The gap between the two is significant: Lillie B. Haynes serves a higher share of economically disadvantaged students (31.78% free/reduced lunch vs. 19.19%) and spends slightly more per pupil ($19,012 vs. $18,456), yet trails in rankings and test scores. Both schools maintain low student-teacher ratios (11.1 and 10.2), and Lillie B. Haynes offers dependable year-over-year consistency. Together, the schools show that even within one district and one zip code, outcomes can vary widely—driven by a mix of demographics, school culture, and instructional effectiveness.
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