Best Public Schools in Zip Code 06770

Zip code 06770 is served by eight public schools spanning grades K-12 — four elementary schools, three middle schools, and one high school — all belonging to the Naugatuck School District, which ranks 125 out of 153 Connecticut districts (18th percentile) with a 1-star rating. The district enrolls about 3,658 students, with an average free/reduced-price lunch rate near 59%, chronic absenteeism at 16.6%, spending of roughly $15,892 per student, and a 13:1 student-teacher ratio.

Among the elementary schools, Hop Brook Elementary School is the top performer, ranking in the 42nd percentile with 4th-grade ELA above the state average despite a 63% poverty rate. Andrew Avenue School is the most improved: its rank jumped from the 20th to 36th percentile, and 4th-grade ELA climbed from 35.9% to 56.3% despite having the highest poverty rate in the zip code (72%). Maple Hill School leads the area in attendance with just 6.1% chronic absenteeism, but its test scores are only mid-range. At the middle level, Cross Street Intermediate School posts the strongest scores, including 6th-grade ELA above state average, while Hillside Intermediate School trails in most subjects despite a smaller class size.

Naugatuck High School is the biggest concern: its state rank has fallen to the 17th percentile, SAT math proficiency is only 12.1% versus the state's 31.1%, and the graduation rate of 87% trails the state's 91.2%. Math is the weakest subject across every school in the zip code, with no school reaching state averages in any math assessment. Only three grade-level results exceeded state averages in the latest testing year: Andrew Avenue 4th-grade ELA, Hop Brook 4th-grade ELA, and Cross Street 6th-grade ELA. Poverty and spending do not reliably predict outcomes — high-poverty schools like Andrew Avenue and Hop Brook outperform schools with more resources and better attendance. The district's low ranking masks real internal variation, from Naugatuck High's 17th percentile to Hop Brook's 42nd percentile. Families should prioritize addressing chronic absenteeism at City Hill Middle School and Naugatuck High, and bolster math instruction across all grade levels.