Best Schools in Hartford, Connecticut
54 schools · 26 Elementary · 9 Middle · 13 High · 6 Other
Choosing a school in Hartford?
Use this page to compare every school in Hartford 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.
Betances Learning Lab Magnet School
Elementary · Hartford School District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Breakthrough Magnet School North
Elementary · Hartford School District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Renzulli Gifted and Talented Academy
Middle · Hartford School District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Hartford for 2026 are Betances Learning Lab Magnet School (8.3/10), Breakthrough Magnet School North (8.2/10), and Renzulli Gifted and Talented Academy (8.2/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 41 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
54
44 public · 10 private
Avg Score
5.6
out of 10
Median Home
$250,100
home value · ACS
Districts
5
serving the city
Schools
54
44 public · 10 private
Avg Score
5.6
out of 10
Median Home
$250,100
home value · ACS
Districts
5
serving the city
Rates 7.8/10 despite 83% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.7 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 Hartford schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +13.8 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Hartford schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Hartford
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 41 rated schools; 54 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Betances Learning Lab Magnet School | 8.3 / 10 |
| 2 | Breakthrough Magnet School North | 8.2 / 10 |
| 3 | Renzulli Gifted and Talented Academy | 8.2 / 10 |
| 4 | Expeditionary Learning Academy at Moylan School | 7.8 / 10 |
| 5 | Stem Magnet at Annie Fisher School | 7.6 / 10 |
| 6 | Betances Stem Magnet School | 7.6 / 10 |
| 7 | Montessori Magnet School | 7.4 / 10 |
| 8 | Montessori Magnet at Fisher School | 7.0 / 10 |
| 9 | Parkville Community School | 6.6 / 10 |
| 10 | Kennelly School | 6.5 / 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
- 5.6/10
- Median household income
- $49,448
- Median home value
- $250,100
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 25%
- Avg commute
- 23 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 23%
22% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Hartford compares
Connecticut rank
#115 of 128
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.9
below Connecticut avg (6.4)
Median household income
$49k
45% of Connecticut median
Schools in this city
50
Hartford School District runs 89% of Hartford's public schools
Hartford touches 5 districts, but Hartford School District is the one most addresses actually attend.
Hartford School District accounts for 39 of 44 public schools (89%). The other 4 districts hold the remaining 5.
Among 41 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 2.8 to 8.3 — the spread is inside Hartford, not a citywide average.
- Hartford School District39 public · 89%
- Capitol Region Education Council2 public · 5%
- Achievement First Hartford Academy District1 public · 2%
- Connecticut Technical Education and Career System1 public · 2%
- Jumoke Academy District1 public · 2%
About Schools in Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford's public school system includes 42 ranked schools spanning elementary through high school, with an average score of 5.5 out of 10. That average signals meaningful variation across the city — performance ranges widely, and school choice matters significantly here. Only 6 schools, or 14% of Hartford's ranked public schools, score 7 or above, so high-performing options are available but not the norm.
The strongest performers are concentrated in the city's magnet and specialized school programs. Renzulli Gifted and Talented Academy leads Hartford at 8.5 out of 10, making it the top-ranked public school in the city. It serves middle school students identified for gifted education. At the elementary level, Betances Learning Lab Magnet School scores 8.0, followed closely by Wish Museum School at 7.8 and Sanchez School and West Middle School, both at 7.6. Four of the five top schools are elementary-level, which gives parents of younger children a real set of strong options to target.
The magnet school structure is a defining feature of Hartford's education landscape. Many of the city's better-performing schools operate as magnets, meaning enrollment typically involves an application or lottery process rather than automatic assignment by address. Parents should research application deadlines early — spots in top schools are competitive, and the gap between Hartford's highest-rated and average-rated schools is wide enough to make the effort worthwhile.
For parents comparing Hartford schools, the practical priority is identifying which magnet programs align with their child's grade level and interests, then moving quickly on applications. If a child is in or approaching middle school, Renzulli Gifted and Talented Academy is the clear benchmark to evaluate first. Elementary families have more high-scoring options to consider. Outside the top tier, scores drop toward and below the city average of 5.5, so relying on neighborhood assignment alone carries more risk here than in cities with a more even distribution of strong schools. Use school-level scores and grade-span filters to narrow your list before visiting.
Elementary Schools
26 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 411 students · Pre-K–4th | 8.3 |
| 2 | 318 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.2 |
| 3 | 379 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.8 |
| 4 | 373 students · Kindergarten–8th | 7.6 |
| 5 | 353 students · Pre-K–6th | 7.4 |
| 6 | 353 students · Pre-K–8th | 7.0 |
| 7 | 375 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.6 |
| 8 | 650 students · Pre-K–8th | 6.5 |
| 9 | 631 students · Pre-K–8th | 6.3 |
| 10 | 436 students · Pre-K–8th | 6.2 |
Show all 26 elementary schools in Hartford
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
9 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 116 students · 4th–8th | 8.2 | ||
| 2 | 212 students · 5th–8th | 7.6 | ||
| 3 | 278 students · 6th–8th | 5.0 | ||
| 4 | 187 students · 6th–8th | 4.7 | ||
| 5 | 346 students · 6th–8th | 4.7 | ||
| 6 | 307 students · 6th–8th | 4.4 | ||
Private Schools3 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Covenant Preparatory SchoolPrivate 46 students · 5th–8th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | Trinity Academy of HartfordPrivate 38 students · 1st–5th | Not Rated | ||
| 3 | 21 students · 2nd–7th | Not Rated | ||
High Schools
13 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 400 students · 9th–12th | 6.5 |
| 2 | 472 students · 6th–12th | 5.3 |
| 3 | 118 students · 9th–12th | 4.8 |
| 4 | 934 students · 6th–12th | 4.6 |
| 5 | 450 students · 6th–12th | 4.6 |
| 6 | 718 students · 9th–12th | 3.8 |
| 7 | 592 students · 9th–12th | 3.5 |
| 8 | 721 students · 9th–12th | 3.5 |
| 9 | 388 students · 9th–12th | 3.0 |
| 10 | 690 students · 9th–12th | 2.8 |
Show all 13 high schools in Hartford
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Other Schools
6 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 533 students · Pre-K–12th | 6.1 | ||
| 2 | 961 students · Kindergarten–12th | 5.9 | ||
| 3 | 119 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | 5.0 | ||
| 4 | 619 students · Pre-K–12th | 4.0 | ||
| 5 | 117 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | — | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Oak Hill SchoolPrivate 153 students · Kindergarten–12th | Not Rated | ||
Schools in Hartford
Hartford, Connecticut · 54 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 6 ZIP codes
Median Income
$49,448
Median Home Value
$250,100
Median Rent
$1,287/mo
Population
120,347
College Educated
25%
Homeownership
23%
Avg Commute
23 min
Poverty Rate
24.7%
Community Profile
Hartford has a median household income of $49,448. It is an area where 25% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $250,100, with a median rent of $1,287/month. The area has a poverty rate of 24.7%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. The average commute for residents is 23 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Connecticut
- Elementary
- 26
- Middle
- 9
- High
- 13
- Other
- 6
Resources
School Districts (5)
Connecticut Technical Education and Career System
17 schools · 11,194 students
Jumoke Academy District
1 school · 619 students
Achievement First Hartford Academy District
1 school · 961 students
Capitol Region Education Council
16 schools · 8,916 students
Hartford School District
41 schools · 16,839 students
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 Hartford, Connecticut
How many schools are in Hartford, Connecticut?
Hartford has 54 schools, including 44 public and 10 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Hartford, Connecticut?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Hartford is 5.6 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 Hartford, Connecticut?
The top-ranked school in Hartford on MySchoolScout is Betances Learning Lab Magnet School with a composite score of 8.3/10.
What is the best elementary school in Hartford, Connecticut?
The top-ranked elementary school in Hartford on MySchoolScout is Betances Learning Lab Magnet School with a composite score of 8.3/10.
What is the best middle school in Hartford, Connecticut?
The top-ranked middle school in Hartford on MySchoolScout is Renzulli Gifted and Talented Academy with a composite score of 8.2/10.
What is the best high school in Hartford, Connecticut?
The top-ranked high school in Hartford on MySchoolScout is University High School of Science and Engineering with a composite score of 6.5/10.
How many school districts serve Hartford, Connecticut?
Hartford is served by 5 school districts: Connecticut Technical Education and Career System, Jumoke Academy District, Achievement First Hartford Academy District, Capitol Region Education Council, Hartford School District.
What is the education level in Hartford, Connecticut?
According to Census data, 25% of adults in Hartford have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Hartford, Connecticut?
The median household income in Hartford is approximately $49,448 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Hartford, Connecticut?
Yes, Hartford has 10 private schools alongside 44 public schools. The top-rated private school is Oak Hill School with a score of 7.5/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Hartford, Connecticut?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Hartford is 12.8:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Hartford, 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.