Best Public Schools in Zip Code 06854

Zip code 06854 in Norwalk, CT is home to 5 schools serving approximately 2,845 students: 2 high schools and 3 elementary schools, with no standalone middle schools. Four of the five schools belong to the Norwalk School District, which is currently ranked 113th out of 153 Connecticut districts, while Side By Side Charter School operates as its own charter district. The area leans high-need, with a weighted free/reduced-price lunch rate of approximately 52.5% across all schools.

Center for Global Studies is the clear academic standout, earning a 3-star rating with a 100% graduation rate and 69.6% SAT ELA proficiency — well above the district (46.7%) and state (55.3%). It also has the lowest FRL rate (36.0%) and lowest student-teacher ratio (9.3). By contrast, Brien McMahon High School, the area's largest school with 1,739 students, posted a 2-star rating, 43% ELA proficiency, and a 26.6% chronic absenteeism rate despite spending the most per student ($19,589). Among elementary schools, Brookside Elementary School stands out for excellent attendance (7.3% chronic absenteeism) and improving test scores, while South Norwalk Elementary School has the highest need (73.2% FRL) and lowest achievement, with only 18% of 3rd graders proficient in ELA. Side By Side Charter School has low absenteeism (8.7%) but limited test data.

Math proficiency is a systemic weakness across the zip code, with most schools falling well below state averages. Chronic absenteeism tracks closely with achievement: schools with lower absenteeism generally perform better. Notably, higher spending does not predict success — Center for Global Studies spends about $6,300 less per student than Brien McMahon yet dramatically outperforms it. Despite the challenges, several schools are improving: Brien McMahon has risen from the 32nd to 39th percentile, and Brookside has posted broad year-over-year gains in 3rd-grade ELA and math. Data gaps for South Norwalk, Side By Side, and Center for Global Studies math scores limit full comparison, but the overall picture is one of a single high-performing specialized high school alongside several schools working to close significant achievement gaps.