Manchester School District
School District · Manchester, Connecticut
Avg Rating
6.8
out of 10
Schools
10
7 elem, 2 mid, 1 high
Enrollment
6,167
Student-Teacher Ratio
10.7:1
Avg Rating
6.8
out of 10
Schools
10
7 elem, 2 mid, 1 high
Enrollment
6,167
Student-Teacher Ratio
10.7:1
How this district compares
Connecticut rank
#60 of 134
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
+0.4
above Connecticut avg
Per-pupil spending
$29,194
+$4,189 vs Connecticut median
District size
6,167 students
Much larger than Connecticut median
The short answer
Manchester School District ranks #60 of 134 Connecticut districts by overall school rating. Manchester School District's schools with real test data average 7.0/10 across 9 schools. Its top-rated schools are Highland Park School (9.2/10), Keeney School (8.3/10), and Elisabeth M. Bennet Academy (7.8/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 9.2/10 despite 54% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.0 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 School District schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +25.2 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Manchester School District schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Manchester School District
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (9 of 10). "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 | Manchester High School | 4.6 / 10 |
See all 10 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Manchester School District
Manchester School District is a Manchester, Connecticut school district serving 10 schools.The district educates 6,167 students with a student-teacher ratio of 10.7:1. District-level spending was $29,194 per student in fiscal year 2023 (NCES F-33).
With an average rating of 6.8/10, Manchester School District demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is Highland Park School, which has a composite score of 9.2/10.
In standardized testing, Manchester School District students show an average math proficiency of 43.1% and ELA proficiency of 45.8%.
The district includes 7 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 1 high school.
District Map
Schools in Manchester School District, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Manchester School District with test data.
Schools in Manchester School District
10 schoolsDistrict Details
- State
- Connecticut
- City
- Manchester
- Total Enrollment
- 6,167
- Teachers (FTE)
- 576
- District spending per student
- $29,194NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- Child poverty rate
- 16.8%Census SAIPE · 2024
- District directory year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Manchester School District?
Manchester School District has 10 schools in total — 7 elementary, 2 middle, and 1 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Manchester School District?
The average composite rating for Manchester School District is 6.8/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the district spending per student in Manchester School District?
Manchester School District's district-level spending was $29,194 per student in fiscal year 2023, according to NCES F-33. This is district context, not an individual-school expense.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Manchester School District?
The average student-teacher ratio in Manchester School District is 10.7:1.
What is the top-rated school in Manchester School District?
Highland Park School is the highest-rated school in Manchester School District with a composite score of 9.2/10.
What are the test scores in Manchester School District?
Across schools in Manchester School District with test data, the average math proficiency is 43.1% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 45.8%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Manchester School District compare to other districts in Connecticut?
Manchester School District has an average school rating of 6.8/10 across 10 schools. Families can compare this to other districts in Connecticut by visiting individual district pages. Factors like school size, available programs, and community demographics also play a role in choosing the right fit.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools?
MySchoolScout ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and learning environment — plus college readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context without being factored into the score. Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.
District Averages
- Overall Rating
- 6.8/10
- Math Proficiency
- 43.1%
- ELA Proficiency
- 45.8%
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 rateOther School Districts in CT
Compare Manchester School District with neighboring districts in the state.
- Hartford School District (41)
- New Haven School District (37)
- Bridgeport School District (36)
- Waterbury School District (29)
- Norwalk School District (22)
- Stamford School District (21)
- Danbury School District (19)
- Connecticut Technical Education and Career System (17)
- Capitol Region Education Council (16)
- Fairfield School District (16)
- West Hartford School District (16)
- Greenwich School District (15)
- New Britain School District (14)
- Bristol School District (13)
- Meriden School District (13)
- Milford School District (13)
- Southington School District (13)
- Stratford School District (13)
- East Hartford School District (12)
- Wallingford School District (12)
- Hamden School District (10)
- Middletown School District (10)
- Naugatuck School District (9)
- Norwich School District (9)
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.
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