Summary:
The 7 elementary schools in zip code 06513 serve combined elementary and middle grades (PK–8 or K–8) and belong to the New Haven School District, a district ranked 143rd out of 153 in Connecticut. With about 3,560 students across the seven schools, the area faces significant challenges: poverty rates are high in every building, with free/reduced-price lunch eligibility ranging from 75.8% to 83.1%, and chronic absenteeism averages 25.6% versus 16.4% statewide.
There is a clear divide between the themed magnet schools and the traditional neighborhood schools. Bishop Woods Architecture and Design Magnet School is the highest-ranked school in the zip code (406th of 491) with the strongest academic profile, including 4th grade ELA proficiency of 42.1% versus the district's 19.9%. John S. Martinez Sea and Sky STEM School is the only local school to exceed the state average in any subject, posting 44.4% proficiency in 8th grade math. Benjamin Jepson Magnet School is the most improved, climbing from the 4th to 14th percentile over three years. Meanwhile, Fair Haven School ranks 490th of 491, and Clinton Avenue School ranks 483rd despite having the smallest class sizes and above-average spending.
The big takeaway: school model matters more than resources. The three magnet schools all earn 1 star, while the traditional schools — Fair Haven, Clinton Avenue, and Ross/Woodward School — have 0 stars. Chronic absenteeism is a problem everywhere, ranging from 19.9% at Family Academy of Multilingual Exploration to 33.3% at Bishop Woods. For parents, the magnet schools appear to offer the best academic outcomes, particularly in science and math, despite the district's overall struggles.
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