Summary:
Zip code 06825 in Fairfield, Connecticut, contains 4 schools in the highly rated Fairfield School District: 1 high school (Fairfield Warde High School) and 3 elementary schools (McKinley School, North Stratfield School, and Stratfield School), serving about 2,512 students. No middle schools are located within the zip, so students leave the area after 5th grade. The district ranks 21st out of 153 districts in Connecticut.
Among the elementary schools, Stratfield School is the standout: ranked 96th out of 491 statewide (80th percentile), it has been the biggest upward mover, jumping from the 65th percentile in 2023-24. It leads the zip in 5th-grade science (80.4% proficient) while spending the least per student ($15,663). North Stratfield School is also strong at 112th (77th percentile), with the lowest chronic absenteeism (3.8%) and the lowest poverty rate, but only 50% of its 5th graders are proficient in math—below even McKinley School's 51.7%. McKinley, ranked 177th (64th percentile), faces the biggest challenges: 52.55% of its students qualify for free/reduced-price lunch, about five times North Stratfield's rate. McKinley students start near district averages in 3rd grade but fall far behind by 5th grade. Fairfield Warde High School posts a 96.9% graduation rate and strong science proficiency, but its 11.5% chronic absenteeism is the zip's highest.
The biggest takeaway is that even within a top-ranked district like Fairfield School District, meaningful performance differences exist. The socioeconomic gap at McKinley—where poverty is far higher than at the other elementaries—tracks closely to weaker test scores, especially by 5th grade. Meanwhile, Stratfield's rapid improvement shows strong outcomes are achievable. Families should weigh these school-by-school differences carefully, not just district-level rankings.
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