Best Schools in Fairfield, Connecticut
24 schools · 14 Elementary · 3 Middle · 6 High · 1 Other
Choosing a school in Fairfield?
Use this page to compare every school in Fairfield by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Jennings School
Elementary · Fairfield School District. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Sherman School
Elementary · Fairfield School District. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Burr Elementary School
Elementary · Fairfield School District. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Fairfield for 2026 are Jennings School (9.5/10), Sherman School (9.5/10), and Burr Elementary School (9.4/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 21 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
24
15 public · 9 private
Avg Score
7.7
out of 10
Median Home
$714,300
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Schools
24
15 public · 9 private
Avg Score
7.7
out of 10
Median Home
$714,300
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Rates 9.5/10 despite 16% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 0.9 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Fairfield schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Fairfield
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (21 of 24). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jennings School | 9.5 / 10 |
| 2 | Sherman School | 9.5 / 10 |
| 3 | Burr Elementary School | 9.4 / 10 |
| 4 | Dwight Elementary School | 9.2 / 10 |
| 5 | Fairfield Ludlowe High School | 8.9 / 10 |
| 6 | Roger Ludlowe Middle School | 8.8 / 10 |
| 7 | Holland Hill School | 8.6 / 10 |
| 8 | Riverfield School | 8.6 / 10 |
| 9 | Osborn Hill School | 8.6 / 10 |
| 10 | Fairfield Warde High School | 8.4 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 7.7/10
- Median household income
- $159,947
- Median home value
- $714,300
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 68%
- Avg commute
- 34 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 82%
71% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Fairfield compares
Connecticut rank
#25 of 130
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+1.4
above Connecticut avg (6.3)
Median household income
$160k
146% of Connecticut median
Schools in this city
21
About Schools in Fairfield, Connecticut
Fairfield, Connecticut presents one of the strongest public school landscapes in the state. The town's 15 ranked public schools average 8.1 out of 10, and 12 of those schools — 80% of the district — score 7 or higher. That kind of top-heavy distribution is rare; most districts show a long tail of middling performers pulling down the average. In Fairfield, the floor is high.
Elementary options lead the way. Holland Hill School and Jennings School both earn 9.5 out of 10, the top scores in the city. Dwight Elementary and Burr Elementary follow at 9.1, meaning parents have four elementary schools within a tight band at the top of the range. For families with young children, Fairfield's feeders are a genuine strength — strong foundational years before students reach the secondary level.
At the high school level, Fairfield Warde earns an 8.8 out of 10, a score that holds up well against competitive suburban districts across Connecticut. The town operates two public high schools, giving families some choice at the secondary level depending on neighborhood assignment.
The practical picture for parents: Fairfield is a district where school quality is consistent rather than spotty. You are not navigating a landscape where one standout school sits alongside a string of weak performers — the 8.1 average and 80% above-7 rate tell you that solid options exist across the city, not just in one corner of it. Families who prioritize elementary performance will find multiple strong choices. Those focused on high school outcomes will find that Fairfield Warde competes at a level consistent with the rest of the district's profile. If you are comparing Fairfield against neighboring Fairfield County towns, the depth of quality — not just one outlier school at the top — is the differentiator worth tracking.
Elementary Schools
14 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 280 students · Kindergarten–5th | 9.5 |
| 2 | 373 students · Kindergarten–5th | 9.5 |
| 3 | 357 students · Kindergarten–5th | 9.4 |
| 4 | 231 students · Kindergarten–5th | 9.2 |
| 5 | 379 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.6 |
| 6 | 398 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.6 |
| 7 | 444 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.6 |
| 8 | 470 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.2 |
| 9 | 414 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.2 |
| 10 | 339 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.0 |
Show all 14 elementary schools in Fairfield
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 760 students · 6th–8th | 8.8 |
| 2 | 742 students · 6th–8th | 8.0 |
| 3 | 590 students · 6th–8th | 6.4 |
High Schools
6 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,489 students · 9th–12th | 8.9 | ||
| 2 | 1,370 students · 9th–12th | 8.4 | ||
| Private Schools 4 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Fusion Academy Ff: Fairfield
Private
41 students · 6th–12th | 6.5 | ||
| 2 | Notre Dame Catholic High School
Private
456 students · 9th–12th | 5.7 | ||
| 3 | Fairfield College Preparatory
Private
757 students · 9th–12th | 3.6 | ||
| 4 | St Catherine Academy
Private
15 students · 5th–12th | — | ||
Other Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fairfield Country Day School
Private
201 students · Kindergarten–9th | 7.1 |
Schools in Fairfield
Fairfield, Connecticut · 24 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 2 ZIP codes
Median Income
$159,947
Median Home Value
$714,300
Median Rent
$2,100/mo
Population
57,860
College Educated
68%
Homeownership
82%
Avg Commute
34 min
Poverty Rate
5.1%
Community Profile
Fairfield has a median household income of $159,947. It is a well-educated community where 68% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $714,300, with a median rent of $2,100/month. The local poverty rate of 5.1% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 34 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Connecticut
- Elementary
- 14
- Middle
- 3
- High
- 6
- Other
- 1
Resources
School District
Nearby Cities
Other Major Cities in Connecticut
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Fairfield, Connecticut
How many schools are in Fairfield, Connecticut?
Fairfield has 24 schools, including 15 public and 9 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Fairfield, Connecticut?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Fairfield is 7.7 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Fairfield, Connecticut?
The top-ranked school in Fairfield on MySchoolScout is Jennings School with a composite score of 9.5/10.
What is the best elementary school in Fairfield, Connecticut?
The top-ranked elementary school in Fairfield on MySchoolScout is Jennings School with a composite score of 9.5/10.
What is the best middle school in Fairfield, Connecticut?
The top-ranked middle school in Fairfield on MySchoolScout is Roger Ludlowe Middle School with a composite score of 8.8/10.
What is the best high school in Fairfield, Connecticut?
The top-ranked high school in Fairfield on MySchoolScout is Fairfield Ludlowe High School with a composite score of 8.9/10.
How many school districts serve Fairfield, Connecticut?
Fairfield is served by 1 school district: Fairfield School District.
What is the education level in Fairfield, Connecticut?
According to Census data, 68% of adults in Fairfield have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Fairfield, Connecticut?
The median household income in Fairfield is approximately $159,947 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Fairfield, Connecticut?
Yes, Fairfield has 9 private schools alongside 15 public schools. The top-rated private school is Fairfield Country Day School with a score of 7.1/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Fairfield, Connecticut?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Fairfield is 10.4:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Fairfield, Connecticut?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Connecticut Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.