Skip to main content

Excellent

#5 of 990 schools in CT

Top 1% in state

South School

Elementary School · New Canaan School District

8 Farm Rd., New Canaan, CT 06840

Enrollment

507

Student-Teacher

11.3:1

Score

9.7

Grades

Kindergarten – 4th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Connecticut schools

#5 of 990

In New Canaan

#1 of 5

public schools

In district

#1 of 5

New Canaan School District

School environment

9.9 / 10

Excellent

School shortlistprofile + nearby

Shortlisting around South School?

Use this profile as one decision point, then compare nearby options, source confidence, and commute fit before picking a neighborhood around it.

Shortlist starter

Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.

South School

9.7/10

Elementary School in New Canaan · grades Kindergarten – 4th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

New Canaan High School

9.1/10

0.2 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Saxe Middle School

9.3/10

0.3 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About South School

South School is a public elementary school in New Canaan, CT, part of New Canaan School District. South School serves approximately 507 students, and covers grades Kindergarten-4th, and has a 11.3:1 student-teacher ratio. South School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 9.7 out of 10 and ranks #5 of 990 schools in CT.

Structured state assessment records for South School show 91% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 90% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

How it comparesOn par with district
  • This school 9.7 · Excellent
  • District avg 9.6
  • CT avg 6.5

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress9.8Excellent50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data13
Annual Change-0.44 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2022
TrendStable
Academics9.5Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency88% (2022 EdFacts)
Reading/ELA Proficiency87% (2022 EdFacts)
Overall Proficiency88% (2022 EdFacts, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)80% (model expectation from 2022 EdFacts)
vs. Expected+7.9 pts
Adjusted Percentile92th
Resources & Environment9.9Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio11.3:1
Per-Pupil Spending$28,107
Chronic Absenteeism3.4%

South School — Students at South School score 88% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 80%).

How we calculate scores →

Test Scores CT EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 90.7% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 89.8% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
School
State
N/A

Based on 26 test records from CT state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
95%
ELA
90%
2010
Math
96%
ELA
91%
2011
Math
98%
ELA
93%
2012
Math
99.5%
ELA
96%
2014
Math
79%
ELA
85%
2015
Math
89%
ELA
85%
2016
Math
89%
ELA
87%
2017
Math
90%
ELA
88%
2018
Math
92%
ELA
93%
2019
Math
92%
ELA
93%
2020*
Math
86%
ELA
90%
2021*
Math
86%
ELA
90%
2022
Math
88%
ELA
87%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 9.8/10.

How South School Compares

See how South School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
9.7/10
100th percentile in CT
Academic
9.5/10
Excellent
Growth
9.8/10
Excellent
Environment
9.9/10
Excellent
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Teaching Staff
11:1 student-teacher ratio
45 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
3.4%

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

8 Farm Rd., New Canaan, CT 06840

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering South School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. West School (rated 9.7/10, 1.9 miles away), with a very similar rating. Another option is East School (rated 9.5/10, 1.3 miles away), with a very similar rating. Additionally, Royle Elementary School (rated 9.2/10, 3.2 miles away, in nearby Darien), with a comparable rating. For more schools in New Canaan, see our New Canaan schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 3.1 mi
School Distance Rating
New Canaan High School New Canaan 0.2 mi 9.1
Saxe Middle School New Canaan 0.3 mi 9.3
East School New Canaan 1.3 mi 9.5
Ox Ridge Elementary School Darien 2.0 mi 9.1
NEW CANAAN COUNTRY SCHOOL New Canaan 1.6 mi 6.3
West School New Canaan 1.9 mi 9.7
Fox Run Elementary School Norwalk 2.2 mi 6.2
Springdale School Stamford 2.8 mi 6.2
Darien High School Darien 3.2 mi 9.4
Royle Elementary School Darien 3.2 mi 9.2
Davenport Ridge School Stamford 2.9 mi 6.9
ASPIRE LIVING & LEARNING ACADEMY Stamford 3.3 mi
Concord Magnet School Norwalk 2.7 mi 7.2
Ponus Ridge STEAM Academy Norwalk 2.7 mi 5.2
THE CATHOLIC ACADEMY OF STAMFORD Stamford 3.1 mi 5.6
Silvermine Dual Language Magnet School Norwalk 2.8 mi 4.4
Northeast School Stamford 3.0 mi 5.6
Holmes Elementary School Darien 3.8 mi 9.2
Middlesex Middle School Darien 4.0 mi 9.0
THE CHILDREN'S SCHOOL Stamford 3.1 mi 6.4

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 06840 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$250,001

Median Home Value

$1,534,100

Median Rent

$3,501/mo

Population

20,704

College Educated

82.8%

Homeownership

83.6%

Avg Commute

39.9 min

Poverty Rate

3.3%

Median Age

42.5

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
International School At Dundee Riverside, CT 9.7
Poquonock Elementary School Windsor, CT 9.7
Riverside School Riverside, CT 9.7
West School New Canaan, CT 9.7
Farmingville Elementary School Ridgefield, CT 9.6
North Mianus School Riverside, CT 9.6

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about South School

What grades does South School serve?

South School serves students in grades Kindergarten through 4th.

How many students attend South School?

South School has an enrollment of approximately 507 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at South School?

The student-teacher ratio at South School is 11.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does South School rank in CT?

South School ranks #5 of 990 schools in CT.

What is South School's MySchoolScout rating?

South School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 9.7 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at South School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, South School has 91% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 90% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Is South School a charter school?

No, South School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is South School a Title I school?

No, South School is not currently a Title I school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
18 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
26 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Kindergarten – 4th
Enrollment
507
Student-Teacher Ratio
11.3:1
Teachers (FTE)
45
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Connecticut Planning Region 9
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
3.4%

District

New Canaan School District
District Enrollment
4,109
Schools in District
5
Per-Pupil Spending
$28,107
District Rank
#1 of 5

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 rate

Related reading

Get school insights in your inbox

New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.