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Best Public Schools in Zip Code 06420

New rankings! SchoolDigger recently updated its Connecticut rankings with newly released test scores for the 2025-26 school year.

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At a glance

School

389

Students

Top rankedSalem Elementary School213^th of 492 Connecticut elementary schools

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Biggest riser

Salem Elementary School up 9 spots statewide this year

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Summary:

Salem Elementary School is the sole public school serving Connecticut's 06420 zip code, covering grades PK through 8 with 389 students in the Salem School District. This unique PK-8 configuration means the entire community's students share one school journey from early childhood through middle school, making it the clear standout simply by being the only option in the area.

The school consistently earns a 3-star state rating and has improved its statewide ranking from 250th out of 497 schools in 2023-2024 to 214th out of 491 in 2025-2026, placing it in the 56th percentile. Academic performance shows clear strengths in 4th grade math (78.7% proficient, nearly 27 points above the state average) and 7th grade English Language Arts (78% proficient, nearly 26 points above the state). However, math performance is uneven: 5th grade math (40%) and 8th grade math (37.5%) both fell below the state averages in 2025-2026, with 8th grade math particularly weak the previous year at just 23.7% proficiency. The school's chronic absenteeism rate of 12.5% is below the state's 16.4% figure, and with a low 11:1 student-teacher ratio and roughly 24% of students eligible for free/reduced-price lunch, the school offers a moderately resourced, attentive learning environment.

Interestingly, Salem Elementary School outperforms its own district's overall rating: the Salem School District ranks 84th out of 153 districts (45th percentile, 2 stars) while the school itself ranks in the 56th percentile with 3 stars. Per-pupil spending of $17,929 (2018-2019) points to solid financial investment in students. The steady upward trajectory in state rankings over three consecutive years, paired with significant academic bright spots in 4th and 7th grades, suggests a school that is gradually improving. For parents considering this area, Salem Elementary offers the stability and continuity of a single school for their child's entire PK-8 experience, with strong teaching in some grade levels and clear opportunities for growth in upper-grade math.

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				NGSS Science (2026)		SBAC English Language Arts (2026)						SBAC Mathematics (2026)						Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients (2025)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	NGSS Science 5th Grade	NGSS Science 8th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 3rd Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 4th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 5th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 6th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 7th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 8th Grade	SBAC Mathematics 3rd Grade	SBAC Mathematics 4th Grade	SBAC Mathematics 5th Grade	SBAC Mathematics 6th Grade	SBAC Mathematics 7th Grade	SBAC Mathematics 8th Grade	Total
Salem Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	200 Hartford Rd.	Salem	06420	Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region	Salem School District	No	No	No	Yes	(860) 859-0267	389	35	11.0	23.9%	318 (81.7%)	6 (1.5%)	37 (9.5%)	4 (1.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (5.9%)	61.9	213^th of 492 public elementary schools	56.7%		59.2	222^nd of 493 public elementary schools	55.0%	9	501.0	799.0	2431.0	66.0	55.0	57.7	78.0	2569.0	55.9	78.7	40.0	50.0	65.9	37.5	$22,720

Cities Near Zip Code 06420

City	Distance	# of Schools	Statewide Rank
Salem	0.11 mi	1	114^th
Oakdale	4.31 mi	4	117^th
Lyme	6.19 mi	1	21^st
Colchester	6.36 mi	4	85^th
Bozrah	8.06 mi	1

See the top CT Connecticut cities

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Connecticut Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.