Excellent
#96 of 990 schools in CT
Top 10% 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
8.4
Grades
Kindergarten – 4th
Enrollment
507
Student-Teacher
11.3:1
Score
8.4
Grades
Kindergarten – 4th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In New Canaan
#3 of 5
public schools
Connecticut elementary schools
#69 of 595
In district
#3 of 5
New Canaan School District
Academic performance
9.5 / 10
Exceptional
About South School
South School is a public elementary school in New Canaan, CT, part of the New Canaan School District. The school serves approximately 507 students in grades Kindergarten – 4th with a student-teacher ratio of 11.3:1. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.4/10, placing it in the 90.4th percentile among CT schools — an above average rating overall.
Students demonstrate 89% proficiency in math and 90% in reading/language arts. The school scores particularly well in school environment (9.1/10). Located in a neighborhood with a median household income of $250,001, where 83% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
The school is situated in a large suburban setting.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
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South School — Students at South School score 88% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 79%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
0%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores CT EDFACTS (2021-22)
Based on 6 test records from CT state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
↓ DecliningAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* 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: 7.5/10.
How South School Compares
See how South School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has declined from 92% (2019) to 88% (2022). Reading/ELA proficiency has declined from 93% (2019) to 87% (2022).
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. Royle Elementary School (rated 9.3/10, 3.2 miles away, in nearby Darien), which scores slightly higher. Another option is West School (rated 9.2/10, 1.9 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, East School (rated 9.0/10, 1.3 miles away), which scores slightly higher. 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 | 8.2 |
| Saxe Middle School New Canaan | 0.3 mi | 7.9 |
| East School New Canaan | 1.3 mi | 9.0 |
| Ox Ridge Elementary School Darien | 2.0 mi | 7.6 |
| NEW CANAAN COUNTRY SCHOOL New Canaan | 1.6 mi | 6.3 |
| West School New Canaan | 1.9 mi | 9.2 |
| Fox Run Elementary School Norwalk | 2.2 mi | 8.7 |
| Springdale School Stamford | 2.8 mi | 4.2 |
| Darien High School Darien | 3.2 mi | 8.8 |
| Royle Elementary School Darien | 3.2 mi | 9.3 |
| Davenport Ridge School Stamford | 2.9 mi | 4.2 |
| ASPIRE LIVING & LEARNING ACADEMY Stamford | 3.3 mi | — |
| Concord Magnet School Norwalk | 2.7 mi | 8.1 |
| Ponus Ridge STEAM Academy Norwalk | 2.7 mi | 5.5 |
| THE CATHOLIC ACADEMY OF STAMFORD Stamford | 3.1 mi | 5.6 |
| Silvermine Dual Language Magnet School Norwalk | 2.8 mi | 3.5 |
| Northeast School Stamford | 3.0 mi | 6.1 |
| Holmes Elementary School Darien | 3.8 mi | 7.7 |
| Middlesex Middle School Darien | 4.0 mi | 7.6 |
| 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
Community Profile
The community surrounding South School has a median household income of $250,001. It is a well-educated community where 83% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $1,534,100, with a median rent of $3,501/month. The local poverty rate of 3.3% is relatively low. The average commute in the area is 40 minutes, which is above the national average. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| Hindley Elementary School Darien, CT | 8.4 |
| Latimer Lane School Weatogue, CT | 8.4 |
| Lewin G. Joel Jr. School Clinton, CT | 8.4 |
| Mary T. Murphy School Branford, CT | 8.4 |
| South Elementary School Windsor Locks, CT | 8.4 |
| Windermere School Ellington, CT | 8.4 |
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 is ranked #96 out of 990 schools in CT.
What is South School's MySchoolScout rating?
South School has a composite rating of 8.4 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at South School?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, South School has 88.7% math proficiency and 90.0% reading/ELA proficiency.
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.
Explore More Schools
Neighborhood Context
Powered by 
FBI UCR 2024. City-level (New Canaan). Data >1 year old.
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
- Phone
- (203) 594-4313
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
New Canaan School District- District Enrollment
- 4,109
- Schools in District
- 5
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $28,107
- District Rank
- #3 of 5
Other Schools in This District
How We Rate Schools
Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.
Read our full methodologyRelated reading
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