Summary:
ZIP code 06479 (Plantsville/Southington, CT) is home to three elementary schools—William M. Strong Elementary School, South End Elementary School, and Zaya A. Oshana Elementary School—serving grades PK–5 or K–5 within the Southington School District. All three schools are part of a district ranked 53rd in Connecticut (65th percentile), and they consistently post proficiency scores well above state averages in ELA, math, and science.
The clear standout is Zaya A. Oshana Elementary School, which ranks 75th in the state (85th percentile) and leads the group with the lowest chronic absenteeism (3.4% vs. district 11.1% and state 16.4%) and the highest combined ELA and math proficiency (74.8% and 74.1%, respectively). Oshana also excels in 5th grade science at 78.3% proficient. In contrast, William M. Strong Elementary School is the largest school and spends the most per student ($16,076), yet it saw its state rank drop from 96th to 152nd in one year, with 3rd grade proficiency falling about 10 points in both ELA and math. South End Elementary School is the steadiest performer, holding rankings around 141st–147th over three years, and it posts strong math scores (73.1% average) despite having the highest free/reduced lunch rate (29.6%) in the ZIP code.
Key takeaways for parents: higher spending does not guarantee better outcomes, as Strong’s $16,076 per student does not translate into top scores, while Oshana’s lower spending coincides with exceptional attendance and academic results. All three schools beat state averages by wide margins—Oshana’s 4th grade ELA (82.2%) and South End’s 5th grade math (71.4%) are especially notable. South End’s success with a higher-need population shows effective instruction can produce equitable results. Strong’s recent downward trend, particularly in 3rd grade, is worth monitoring, but the ZIP code as a whole offers families a choice between Oshana’s top-tier performance, South End’s consistency, and Strong’s larger, well-funded environment.
Thank you for your feedback!