Side By Side Charter School

Side By Side Charter School, a modestly sized elementary campus in Norwalk, Connecticut, overseen by Side By Side Charter School District, caters to 236 students, covering grades pre-K through 8. Compared to the state average of about 378 students per school, that is 38% below typical.

Operationally, Side By Side Charter School answers to Side By Side Charter School District, which sets policy, hires staff, and reports enrollment to the state.

In terms of who attends, Side By Side Charter School lists that the largest single group is Hispanic, at 61% of enrollment. Beyond that, the school shows 22% Black, 10% White, 6% multiracial. The wider county runs roughly 21% Hispanic, putting the school's mix meaningfully more Hispanic than the area baseline.

In terms of school funding signals, On paper, Side By Side Charter School has 15 full-time-equivalent teachers, translating to a class-load average of around 16.2:1. The state averages around 12.6:1, so this campus is higher than the state norm typical. About 61% of enrolled students meet the income threshold for free or reduced-price lunch, often used as a Title I proxy. By comparison, Western Connecticut Planning Region runs at roughly 33%, so the school's eligibility rate is somewhat above the surrounding baseline.

In the area at large, the surrounding county (Western Connecticut Planning Region) logs that the typical household earns roughly $128,188 per year, about 56% of the adult population holds a bachelor's degree or above, and roughly 5% of residents live below the federal poverty line. Side By Side Charter School is one of 149 public schools in Western Connecticut Planning Region (combined enrollment of about 90,520 students).

The closest other public school is South Norwalk Elementary School, roughly 0.1 miles away. Counting just inside five miles, 8 other public schools cluster around Side By Side Charter School.

The campus sits in a commuter-belt setting. As a public charter, Side By Side Charter School runs on public funding but with greater curricular and operational autonomy than a typical district school.

Looking at the recent track record. Side By Side Charter School's enrollment has held roughly steady since 2018, when it stood at 235 (now 236). The Hispanic share of enrollment grew from 49% to 61% over that span.

In the discussion threads here, the feed for Side By Side Charter School typically covers sports schedules, lunch menu changes, and school spirit week. Posting is open to anyone connected to the school.