Best High Schools in Zip Code 06854

Zip code 06854 in Norwalk, Connecticut is served by two public high schools — Brien McMahon High School and Center for Global Studies — both located at the same Highland Avenue address within the Norwalk School District, which ranks in the 26th percentile statewide. The two schools could hardly be more different: Brien McMahon is a large comprehensive high school with roughly 1,739 students in grades 9–12, while Center for Global Studies is a small specialized school with just 283 students.

Center for Global Studies is the clear standout. It posts a perfect 100% graduation rate, earns a 3-star rating, and ranks 52nd out of 133 Connecticut high schools — well ahead of Brien McMahon's 2-star, 81st-place ranking. In English language arts, 69.6% of its 11th graders are proficient versus just 43% at Brien McMahon. Science proficiency also favors the smaller school (47.8% vs. 38% in 2025–2026). Center for Global Studies benefits from a 9.3-to-1 student-teacher ratio, lower chronic absenteeism (17.9% vs. 26.6%), and a smaller share of economically disadvantaged students (36% vs. 50%). Notably, Brien McMahon spends about $6,300 more per student yet trails in nearly every academic metric.

Both schools struggle in math. Brien McMahon's 21.6% math proficiency in 2025–2026 is well below the state average of 31.3%, and Center for Global Studies' most recent reported math score was just 30.8%. Chronic absenteeism is a serious concern at Brien McMahon, where more than one in four students are chronically absent. Meanwhile, Center for Global Studies has seen its state ranking slip from the 82nd percentile (4 stars) in 2023–2024 to the 61st percentile (3 stars) in 2025–2026, suggesting emerging challenges. Parents choosing between these schools should weigh the smaller, specialized environment at Center for Global Studies against the broader course offerings and larger community typically found at a comprehensive school like Brien McMahon.