Summary:
Zip code 06409, which covers Centerbrook, CT, contains exactly one school: Essex Elementary School. This public elementary school serves grades PK through 6 with 307 students and is part of the Essex School District. There are no middle schools or high schools in this zip code, so families seeking those options will need to look outside the immediate area.
As the only school in the zip code, Essex Elementary is the sole focus, and it performs comfortably above state averages. In the 2025–2026 school year, it ranked 151st out of 491 Connecticut elementary schools, placing it in the 69th percentile with a 3-star rating. That represents a modest dip from the prior two years, when it ranked in the 75th and 77th percentiles with 4-star ratings. On the most recent state assessments, the school beat the Connecticut average in every reported subject and grade. For example, 6th-grade ELA proficiency was 73.8% versus a 51.2% state average, and 3rd-grade math proficiency was 73.0% versus 52.2%. Science performance was especially strong: 73.2% of 5th graders met the NGSS standard, compared to 52.2% statewide.
Several other metrics reinforce the school's positive profile. Chronic absenteeism is strikingly low — the district's current rate is 5.8%, and the state average is 16.4% — suggesting strong attendance and engagement. Only 21.17% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a relatively affluent student population. Per-student spending is also high at $23,127, which likely supports enriched programming and resources. One thing to note: the school's recent ranking dip from 4 stars to 3 stars is worth monitoring, though it remains solidly above average. Families considering this area should also keep in mind that zip code 06409 is exclusively an elementary market — there are no middle or high schools here.
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