Best Public Schools in Zip Code 06896

ZIP code 06896 in Redding, Connecticut is served by three public schools — Redding Elementary School (PK–4), John Read Middle School (5–8), and Joel Barlow High School (9–12) — with a combined enrollment of 1,550 students forming a complete, sequential K–12 pathway. All three schools are rated 5 stars by SchoolDigger, placing them among the highest-performing schools in the state. There are no alternative schools in the ZIP code.

Joel Barlow High School is the clear standout, ranked #2 of 133 high schools (98th percentile) with a 97.8% graduation rate and exceptional test scores: 89.7% proficient in ELA, 92.1% in science, and 66.9% in math — all far above state averages. It improved dramatically this year, rising from #8 to #2. John Read Middle School, ranked #19 of 258, is especially strong in science, with proficiency rates above 81% in both 5th and 8th grades, while Redding Elementary School, ranked #18 of 491, builds an excellent foundation with 89.5% 3rd-grade math and 86.8% 3rd-grade ELA proficiency. The elementary school also has the lowest chronic absenteeism in the area at 4.9%.

Across the pipeline, science is the strongest subject, while math is the relative weakness — though still more than double the state average in most grades. Chronic absenteeism is remarkably low across all three schools (4.9% to 8.9% vs. 16.4% statewide). The two districts serving the area, Redding School District (#8 of 153) and Regional School District 09 (#3 of 153), are both elite. With favorable student–teacher ratios (10–11:1), high per-student spending ($23,477–$25,029), and strong year-over-year improvement, 06896 offers a consistently excellent public school system from kindergarten through high school.