Total enrollment
72,909
-706 (-1%) vs SY 2020-21
South Central Connecticut Planning Region
Connecticut · Public K-12
In South Central Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut, the public-school system rolls up to 152 schools and roughly 72,909 K-12 students, with county median household income around $88,197. By grade band, the county runs 98 elementary, 21 middle, and 30 high schools.
4-year change in South Central Connecticut Planning Region
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
149
+2 (+1%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How South Central Connecticut Planning Region ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Connecticut | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 72,909 | #3 of 9 | #149 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 149 | #2 of 9 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 12.1:1 | #5 of 9 | #576 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 51.3% | #3 of 9 | #1,558 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 70.2% | #1 of 8 | #93 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.
South Central Connecticut Planning Region school rankings
Residents
570,598
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
152
26 districts
Enrollment
72,909
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$88,197
Below Connecticut avg
Free/reduced lunch
51.3%
Above Connecticut avg
Elementary
98
35,414 students
Middle
21
11,732 students
High
30
23,399 students
Combined / other
3
2,364 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
New Haven School District
17,903 students · 26 districts in South Central Connecticut Planning Region
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of South Central Connecticut 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
School enrollment
Bachelor's+
42.0%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
7.1%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
6.0%
civilian labor
Median age
40
19.6% under 18
Test scores in South Central Connecticut Planning Region
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 109 schools ranked. Connecticut state average: 50.5%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Calvin Leete School· 90.4%
- Walter C. Polson Middle School· 84.1%
- Dr. Robert H. Brown Intermediate School· 82.7%
- Green Acres Elementary School· 79.8%
- Beecher Road School· 79.5%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
See all 109 schools in South Central Connecticut Planning Region ranked by score →
Cities in South Central Connecticut Planning Region
New Haven43 schoolsMeriden14 schoolsMilford14 schoolsHamden13 schoolsWallingford11 schoolsWest Haven10 schoolsEast Haven8 schoolsGuilford7 schoolsNorth Haven7 schoolsMadison6 schoolsBranford5 schoolsOrange5 schoolsNorth Branford3 schoolsBethany2 schoolsWoodbridge2 schoolsNorthford1 schoolYalesville1 school
About South Central Connecticut Planning Region
In Connecticut, South Central Connecticut Planning Region is a broad county of about 570,598 residents. 152 public schools across the county educates about 72,909 students between them.
Stepping back, census numbers show the median household earns about $88,197 a year, 42% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate is around 7%. That income level is 8% below the Connecticut median.
On the level-by-level breakdown, South Central Connecticut Planning Region covers 98 elementary schools (35,414 students), 21 middle schools (11,732), 30 high schools (23,399), and 3 combined or other schools.
New Haven School District dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 17,903 students on its own.
Looking at the last 4 years. Across the same 4-year window, public-school enrollment remained close to its prior level: 73,615 students in SY 2020-21 versus 72,909 in SY 2024-25. South Central Connecticut Planning Region now counts 149 public schools, up from 147 in SY 2020-21.
On this page, the community for South Central Connecticut Planning Region discusses sports rivalries, cross-district programs, and shared facilities. Members of the local community share what they see day-to-day.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data