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Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region

Connecticut · Public K-12

Public K-12 enrollment in Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region totals about 19,075 students across 57 schools, an average of 335 per school. Middletown School District is the largest district. That works out to 30 elementary, 13 middle, and 14 high schools.

4-year change in Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region

SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
19,075
-642 (-3%) vs SY 2020-21
School count
56
0 (0%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages

How Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region ranks

Among counties
MeasureThis countyIn ConnecticutIn the US
Enrollment
ranked largest first
19,075#7 of 9#501 of 2,745
Number of schools
ranked most first
56#7 of 9N/A
Students per teacher
ranked fewest first
10.7:1#2 of 9#232 of 2,655
Free or reduced-price lunch share
ranked highest first
31.8%#9 of 9#2,360 of 2,526
Diversity index
ranked most diverse first
48.1%#7 of 8#1,188 of 2,707
Counties need at least 3 schools and 1,000 students to be ranked. Test proficiency is ranked within the state only, since each state gives a different test. Each rank links to the full list.

Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region school rankings

Largest schoolsAll rankings →
Residents
175,822
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
57
17 districts
Enrollment
19,075
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$104,428
Above Connecticut avg
Free/reduced lunch
31.8%
Below Connecticut avg
Elementary
30
8,503 students
Middle
13
4,674 students
High
14
5,898 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Middletown School District
4,263 students · 17 districts in Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".

County residents
White
81%
Hispanic
8%
Black
5%
Asian
3%
Two or more
9%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
70%
Hispanic
16%
Black
6%
Asian
3%
Two or more
5%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
Bachelor's+
46.0%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
3.9%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
3.8%
civilian labor
Median age
46
16.7% under 18

Test scores in Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region

Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 39 schools ranked. Connecticut state average: 50.5%.

Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
  1. Bielefield School· 21.9%
  2. MacDonough School· 32.1%
  3. Lawrence School· 36.0%
  4. Beman Middle School· 36.8%
  5. Farm Hill School· 43.1%

See all 39 schools in Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region ranked by score →

All schools (57)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
Middletown High SchoolMiddletownHigh09-121,193·
Beman Middle SchoolMiddletownMiddle06-08977·
Lewin G. Joel Jr. SchoolClintonElementaryPK-04532·
Vinal Technical High SchoolMiddletownHigh09-12522·
Cromwell High SchoolCromwellHigh09-12515·
Memorial SchoolEast HamptonElementaryPK-03511·
East Hampton High SchoolEast HamptonHigh09-12488·
The Morgan SchoolClintonHigh09-12473·
Haddam-Killingworth High SchoolHigganumHigh09-12466·
Cromwell Middle SchoolCromwellMiddle06-08448·
Woodside Intermediate SchoolCromwellElementary03-05440·
Valley Regional High SchoolDeep RiverHigh09-12429·
Haddam-Killingworth Middle SchoolKillingworthMiddle06-08423·
Jared Eliot SchoolClintonMiddle05-08418·
Edna C. Stevens SchoolCromwellElementaryPK-02413·
East Hampton Middle SchoolEast HamptonMiddle06-08411·
Kathleen E. Goodwin SchoolOld SaybrookElementaryPK-04383·
Lyme-Old Lyme High SchoolOld LymeHigh09-12367·
Coginchaug Regional High SchoolDurhamHigh09-12356·
Nathan Hale-Ray Middle SchoolMoodusMiddle04-08346·
East Haddam Elementary SchoolMoodusElementaryPK-03340·
Snow SchoolMiddletownElementaryPK-05340·
Old Saybrook Senior High SchoolOld SaybrookHigh09-12338·
Mile Creek SchoolOld LymeElementaryKG-05334·
Portland High SchoolPortlandHigh09-12323·
Frank Ward Strong SchoolDurhamMiddle06-08319·
Farm Hill SchoolMiddletownElementaryPK-05316·
Essex Elementary SchoolCenterbrookElementaryPK-06307·
Old Saybrook Middle SchoolOld SaybrookMiddle05-08307·
Lawrence SchoolMiddletownElementaryPK-05305·
Daisy Ingraham SchoolWestbrookElementaryPK-05292·
Haddam-Killingworth Intermediate SchoolKillingworthElementary04-05280·
Burr District Elementary SchoolHigganumElementaryKG-03278·
Lyme-Old Lyme Middle SchoolOld LymeMiddle06-08271·
Nathan Hale-Ray High SchoolMoodusHigh09-12262·
Killingworth Elementary SchoolHigganumElementaryPK-03257·
Gildersleeve SchoolPortlandElementary02-04253·
Bielefield SchoolMiddletownElementaryPK-05251·
Center SchoolEast HamptonElementary04-05251·
Spencer SchoolMiddletownElementaryPK-05237·
Lyme Consolidated SchoolLymeElementaryKG-05226·
Valley View SchoolPortlandElementaryPK-01219·
MacDonough SchoolMiddletownElementaryKG-05218·
Brownstone Intermediate SchoolPortlandMiddle05-06217·
Frederick Brewster SchoolDurhamElementaryPK-01214·
Portland Middle SchoolPortlandMiddle07-08214·
Wesley SchoolMiddletownElementaryPK-05214·
Moody SchoolMiddletownElementaryPK-05212·
John Lyman SchoolMiddlefieldElementary02-03207·
Middlefield Memorial SchoolMiddlefieldElementary04-05206·
Chester Elementary SchoolChesterElementaryPK-06198·
John Winthrop Middle SchoolDeep RiverMiddle07-08197·
Deep River Elementary SchoolDeep RiverElementaryPK-06189·
Westbrook High SchoolWestbrookHigh09-12166·
Westbrook Middle SchoolWestbrookMiddle06-08126·
Center SchoolOld LymeElementaryPK-PK80·
Whiting Forensic HospitalMiddletownHigh09-120·

Cities in Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region

Middletown12 schoolsPortland5 schoolsCromwell4 schoolsEast Hampton4 schoolsOld Lyme4 schoolsClinton3 schoolsDeep River3 schoolsDurham3 schoolsHigganum3 schoolsMoodus3 schoolsOld Saybrook3 schoolsWestbrook3 schoolsKillingworth2 schoolsMiddlefield2 schoolsCenterbrook1 schoolChester1 schoolLyme1 school

About Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region

Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region is an average-sized county of about 175,822 residents in Connecticut. Its public-school system enrolls approximately 19,075 students across 57 schools.

Stepping back, census numbers show median household income runs near $104,428, about 46% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and the poverty rate is around 4%. That income level is 9% higher than the Connecticut median.

On the school-mix side, Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region spans 30 elementary schools (8,503 students), 13 middle schools (4,674), and 14 high schools (5,898).

Middletown School District dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 4,263 students on its own.

Over the past 4-year window. Across the same 4-year window, public-school enrollment shrank 3%: 19,717 students in SY 2020-21 versus 19,075 in SY 2024-25.

On this page, the community for Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region discusses school events, board meetings, and seasonal calendars. Parents, students, and educators in the area can post or comment.

Frequently asked questions

How many K-12 schools serve Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region?
There are 57 public K-12 schools in Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region, Connecticut, with a combined enrollment of about 19,075.
How many high schools are in Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region?
Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region, Connecticut has 14 public high schools, serving approximately 5,898 students.
How many middle schools are in Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region?
Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region, Connecticut has 13 public middle schools, serving approximately 4,674 students.
How many elementary schools are in Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region?
Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region, Connecticut has 30 public elementary schools, serving approximately 8,503 students.
What is the largest school district in Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region?
Middletown School District is the largest school district in Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region, serving approximately 4,263 students. The county contains 17 school districts overall.
What is the population of Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region?
Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region, Connecticut has a population of approximately 175,822, with a median age of 46. About 16.7% of residents are under 18.
What is the median household income in Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region?
Median household income in Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region is $104,428, above the Connecticut average of $95,643. About 3.9% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region?
Approximately 46.0% of adults 25 and older in Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 31.8% of students in Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region public schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a common proxy for low-income enrollment. This is lower than the Connecticut county average of 43.8%.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region schools?
Across Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 10.9 to 1.
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data