Best Schools in Manchester, Connecticut
20 schools · 10 Elementary · 3 Middle · 5 High · 2 Other
Choosing a school in Manchester?
Use this page to compare every school in Manchester 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.
Highland Park School
Elementary · Manchester School District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Keeney School
Elementary · Manchester School District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Elisabeth M. Bennet Academy
Middle · Manchester School District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Manchester for 2026 are Highland Park School (9.2/10), Keeney School (8.3/10), and Elisabeth M. Bennet Academy (7.8/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 12 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
20
13 public · 7 private
Avg Score
6.2
out of 10
Median Home
$254,167
home value · ACS
Districts
4
serving the city
Schools
20
13 public · 7 private
Avg Score
6.2
out of 10
Median Home
$254,167
home value · ACS
Districts
4
serving the city
Rates 9.2/10 despite 54% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.9 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 Manchester schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +25.2 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Manchester schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Manchester
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 12 rated schools; 20 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Highland Park School | 9.2 / 10 |
| 2 | Keeney School | 8.3 / 10 |
| 3 | Elisabeth M. Bennet Academy | 7.8 / 10 |
| 4 | Buckley School | 7.5 / 10 |
| 5 | Verplanck School | 6.9 / 10 |
| 6 | Waddell School | 6.8 / 10 |
| 7 | Bowers School | 6.6 / 10 |
| 8 | Illing Middle School | 5.3 / 10 |
| 9 | Great Path Academy at Mcc | 5.0 / 10 |
| 10 | Howell Cheney Technical High School | 4.6 / 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
- 6.2/10
- Median household income
- $102,867
- Median home value
- $254,167
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 49%
- Avg commute
- 28 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 69%
21% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Manchester compares
Connecticut rank
#77 of 128
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.2
below Connecticut avg (6.4)
Median household income
$103k
94% of Connecticut median
Schools in this city
19
Manchester School District runs 77% of Manchester's public schools
Manchester touches 4 districts, but Manchester School District is the one most addresses actually attend.
Manchester School District accounts for 10 of 13 public schools (77%). The other 3 districts hold the remaining 3.
Among 12 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 4.1 to 9.2 — the spread is inside Manchester, not a citywide average.
- Manchester School District10 public · 77%
- Connecticut Technical Education and Career System1 public · 8%
- Hartford School District1 public · 8%
- Odyssey Community School District1 public · 8%
About Schools in Manchester, Connecticut
Manchester, Connecticut is home to 20 schools, including 13 public schools and 7 private schools. The city's schools span 10 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 5 high schools.
With an average rating of 6.2 out of 10, schools in Manchester show moderate performance on the MySchoolScout composite scale. The composite blends student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
The highest-performing school in Manchester is Highland Park School with a composite score of 9.2/10, demonstrating strong academic outcomes and school quality metrics.
Manchester is served by 4 school districts. These districts collectively serve 34,570 students.
Manchester's community shows 49% bachelor's degree attainment with a median household income of $102,867. The poverty rate in the area is 9.0%.
Browse the schools below to compare ratings, test scores, enrollment, and other key metrics. Use the filters to focus on specific school levels or types that match your family's needs.
Elementary Schools
10 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 329 students · Kindergarten–4th | 9.2 | ||
| 2 | 310 students · Pre-K–4th | 8.3 | ||
| 3 | 284 students · Kindergarten–4th | 7.5 | ||
| 4 | 453 students · Kindergarten–4th | 6.9 | ||
| 5 | 509 students · Kindergarten–4th | 6.8 | ||
| 6 | 303 students · Kindergarten–4th | 6.6 | ||
| 7 | 217 students · Pre-K–4th | 5.5 | ||
| 8 | 370 students · Pre-K–8th | 4.1 | ||
Private Schools2 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | St Bridget SchoolPrivate 145 students · Pre-K–8th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | St James SchoolPrivate 352 students · Pre-K–8th | Not Rated | ||
Middle Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 849 students · 5th–6th | 7.8 | ||
| 2 | 790 students · 7th–8th | 5.3 | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 27 students · 1st–8th | Not Rated | ||
High Schools
5 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 303 students · 9th–12th | 5.0 | ||
| 2 | 669 students · 9th–12th | 4.6 | ||
| 3 | 1,739 students · 9th–12th | 4.6 | ||
Private Schools2 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 40 students · 8th–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | East Catholic High SchoolPrivate 427 students · 9th–12th | Not Rated | ||
Other Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Adelbrook Academy ManchesterPrivate 36 students · UG–UG | Not Rated |
| 2 | 134 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated |
Schools in Manchester
Manchester, Connecticut · 20 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 3 ZIP codes
Median Income
$102,867
Median Home Value
$254,167
Median Rent
$1,759/mo
Population
69,358
College Educated
49%
Homeownership
69%
Avg Commute
28 min
Poverty Rate
9.0%
Community Profile
Manchester has a median household income of $102,867. It is a well-educated community where 49% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $254,167, with a median rent of $1,759/month. The local poverty rate of 9.0% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 28 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Connecticut
- Elementary
- 10
- Middle
- 3
- High
- 5
- Other
- 2
Resources
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 Manchester, Connecticut
How many schools are in Manchester, Connecticut?
Manchester has 20 schools, including 13 public and 7 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Manchester, Connecticut?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Manchester is 6.2 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 Manchester, Connecticut?
The top-ranked school in Manchester on MySchoolScout is Highland Park School with a composite score of 9.2/10.
What is the best elementary school in Manchester, Connecticut?
The top-ranked elementary school in Manchester on MySchoolScout is Highland Park School with a composite score of 9.2/10.
What is the best middle school in Manchester, Connecticut?
The top-ranked middle school in Manchester on MySchoolScout is Elisabeth M. Bennet Academy with a composite score of 7.8/10.
What is the best high school in Manchester, Connecticut?
The top-ranked high school in Manchester on MySchoolScout is Great Path Academy at Mcc with a composite score of 5.0/10.
How many school districts serve Manchester, Connecticut?
Manchester is served by 4 school districts: Connecticut Technical Education and Career System, Odyssey Community School District, Hartford School District, Manchester School District.
What is the education level in Manchester, Connecticut?
According to Census data, 49% of adults in Manchester have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Manchester, Connecticut?
The median household income in Manchester is approximately $102,867 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Manchester, Connecticut?
Yes, Manchester has 7 private schools alongside 13 public schools. The top-rated private school is Adelbrook Academy Manchester with a score of 6.5/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Manchester, Connecticut?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Manchester is 10.6:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Manchester, 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.