Summary:
ZIP code 06851 in Norwalk, CT is home to 8 schools within the Norwalk School District, serving approximately 4,581 students across 4 elementary schools (PK–5), 2 middle schools (6–8), and 2 high schools (9–12). The district overall is ranked 113 out of 153 Connecticut districts with a 1-star rating, though individual schools here range from 1 to 3 stars.
Within this ZIP, three schools stand out as bright spots. P-Technical Norwalk is the strongest high school by far, ranking 55th out of 133 with a 100% graduation rate and outperforming the state in both ELA and Math. Nathan Hale Middle School is the top-ranked school overall at the 63rd percentile statewide and beats district averages in every grade and subject. Cranbury Elementary School leads the elementary schools with standout 3rd-grade scores and the lowest poverty rate in the ZIP. On the flip side, Norwalk High School is a growing concern, with 27.8% chronic absenteeism, a rank drop from 82nd to 97th, and falling test scores in every subject.
Several patterns are worth noting. The two high schools share an address, yet P-Technical's smaller size (388 students) and lower student-teacher ratio produce dramatically better outcomes than Norwalk High's 1,494-student environment. Good attendance doesn't guarantee strong results: West Rocks Middle School has the best attendance at 6.7% chronic absenteeism but trails Nathan Hale academically. Poverty is connected to performance but not deterministic — while lower-poverty elementary schools rank highest, both P-Technical and Nathan Hale succeed despite more than half their students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. Science is the weakest subject across the ZIP. Encouragingly, most schools are improving their state rankings, including Wolfpit Integrated Arts Elementary School and Naramake Elementary School, along with P-Technical, Nathan Hale, and Cranbury.
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