Summary:
Zip code 06906 in Stamford, Connecticut, is served by two public schools in the Stamford School District — Dolan School, a middle school for grades 6–8, and Julia A. Stark School, an elementary school for grades K–5 — together enrolling roughly 1,130 students, with about 59–61% eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. Both schools are rated 1 star and perform well below state averages in nearly every subject, while the district itself ranks in the 16th percentile of Connecticut districts.
Comparing the two schools, Dolan School ranks higher overall but is on a concerning decline, slipping from the 34th percentile (2 stars) in 2023–2024 to the 24th percentile (1 star) in 2025–2026. Its test scores are flat across grades 6–8, with ELA proficiency around 29–31% and math around 19–23%, well beneath state averages. In contrast, Julia A. Stark School has maintained a stable ranking in the 15th–17th percentile over three years and stands out for its excellent chronic absenteeism rate of 10.1% — nearly half the district rate of 19.8% and well below the state rate of 16.4%. Stark's 4th-grade math (36.3% proficient) is a bright spot, but 5th-grade math drops sharply to 19.4%, a pattern seen two years in a row.
Both schools spend generously per student — over $16,800 — and enjoy favorable student–teacher ratios (10.8 at Dolan, 13.6 at Stark), yet academic outcomes remain low, suggesting challenges tied to poverty and other socioeconomic factors rather than a lack of resources. There is no high school in 06906, so students must leave the zip code after 8th grade. For parents, the key takeaway is that while Stark offers strong attendance and a stable environment, and Dolan provides consistent instruction, both schools face significant academic hurdles that may warrant close attention and targeted support.
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