Best High Schools in Zip Code 06516

Zip code 06516 in West Haven, Connecticut, is home to two very different high schools: West Haven High School, a large traditional comprehensive school serving grades 9-12 with 1,813 students, and Engineering - Science University Magnet School (ESUMS), a smaller regional magnet school serving grades 6-12 with 608 students. Although they share a zip code, the two schools sit in separate districts: ESUMS belongs to the New Haven School District, while West Haven High School is part of the West Haven School District. Both schools serve a similar share of economically disadvantaged students—about 52% at West Haven and 51% at ESUMS—yet their academic outcomes differ dramatically.

ESUMS is the clear academic leader in the area. It ranks 41st out of 133 Connecticut high schools and earns 4 stars, with an impressive 98.8% graduation rate and only 12.0% chronic absenteeism. Its 11th graders score above state averages in all three tested subjects: 75.0% proficient in ELA, 41.3% in math, and 52.6% in science. ESUMS also benefits from a stronger pipeline starting in 6th grade, with middle school test scores consistently at or above state levels and far above the New Haven district average. In contrast, West Haven High School ranks 89th out of 133 (2 stars) and struggles academically, particularly in math where only 10.0% of 11th graders meet proficiency. Its ELA and science scores also trail state averages. West Haven does post a solid 94.8% graduation rate, above the state average, and its scores align very closely with its district’s overall performance.

There are notable structural differences between the two schools. ESUMS spends more per student ($17,405 vs. $15,958), has a lower student-teacher ratio (11.6 vs. 15.6), and far lower chronic absenteeism (12.0% vs. 26.1%). These factors likely help explain its success, though the data alone cannot prove causation. That said, both schools have improved their state rankings in recent years: ESUMS rose from 59th to 41st, and West Haven from 106th to 89th. For parents, the key takeaway is that this zip code offers two distinctly different options: a high-performing magnet school with a rigorous academic focus, and a larger neighborhood high school that exceeds expectations in graduation rates but faces significant challenges in test proficiency, especially math.