Summary:
The elementary schools in zip code 06820 (Darien, CT) consist of five K-5 schools within the highly-ranked Darien School District, which holds a 5-star rating and ranks #6 out of 153 districts in Connecticut. These five schools serve a combined 2,224 students and collectively represent one of the most academically successful elementary clusters in the state, with every school earning a 5-star rating and ranking in the top 10% statewide.
The current standout is Tokeneke Elementary School, which has surged from #45 to #6 in the state over just two years. It boasts the highest average test proficiency (~87.2%) and exceptionally low chronic absenteeism (3.0%). Royle Elementary School is also on the rise, climbing to #9, with notable strength in 4th grade ELA and math (both at 91.7%). Both schools share the lowest student-teacher ratio in the group at 10.5:1. Meanwhile, Ox Ridge Elementary School, the largest school with 625 students, and Hindley Elementary School are slipping. Hindley is particularly noteworthy for having the highest per-student spending ($21,773) yet suffering the sharpest decline, dropping to #45 and recording the lowest single grade-level score in the cohort (4th grade ELA: 65.3%).
The district's advantages are clear: chronic absenteeism ranges from just 2.4% to 3.0% across reporting schools compared to 16.4% statewide, and free/reduced lunch eligibility is remarkably low (0.73% to 4.39%). Academically, the district outperforms the state by over 32 percentage points (~83.2% vs ~50.7% proficient). However, Holmes Elementary School presents a math puzzle—it has the highest 3rd grade math score in the group (91.2%) but the lowest 5th grade math score (68.4%). For parents, this means there are multiple excellent options, but the current data points to Tokeneke and Royle as the standout performers for 2025-2026, while Ox Ridge, Hindley, and Holmes, despite their high absolute rankings, show trends that warrant a closer look.
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