2024 Best High Schools in New Haven County

• Wallingford, CT•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.57 out of 5  178 reviews

Alum: I was able to achieve so much as a high school student through the support of genuine, kind friends, encouraging teachers, and an incredibly welcoming community. The opportunity to involve yourself in so many different areas of study, as well as attempt new things without the fear of feeling unqualified was such a freeing experience, and one that many ever get to experience. Without a doubt, rigor and high achievement stress is always present, and several other factors play into creating an environment of pressure. However, Choate is a place that cares and works to improve.... Read 178 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 861

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• New Haven, CT•

• Private School•

• 7-12

• •
  Rating 4.22 out of 5  88 reviews

Parent: Hopkins School is a very challenging academic environment. We have loved so many of the opportunities it has offered. Cultural trips, community service, social gatherings for students and parents. Athletically Hopkins does well in some sports not in others and the facilities while adequate are not up to the level of many of its competitors. The Arts are amazing! Drama and symphony and band all are amazing as are its Teachers. While the teachers are amazing and classes engaging. The curriculum is very tight and does not allow for a lot of exploration into various areas. I’d love to see this improve. Overall our experience even through Covid has been wonderful and we could not see our daughter anywhere else.... Read 88 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 715

• Student-teacher ratio 5:1

• Hamden, CT•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.5 out of 5  110 reviews

Senior: I'm about to start my senior year at Hamden Hall, and I am so glad that I decided to make the switch to start here in 9th grade. The classes are challenging yet rewarding, not to mention the perfect size, and I have formed so many great connections with teachers. It's so easy to get involved- sports are accessible to everyone, no matter what type you want, and there are tons of clubs with students creating new ones every year. I also love that it's a PreK-12 school; not only does it brighten my mood to see the youngest students on campus, but it provides so many great opportunities for Upper Schoolers to work with and mentor younger students. I also think college counseling started at the perfect time: not too early to cause stress, but not so late that I feel behind. Going into senior year, I think I'm at a perfect spot in terms of college preparedness and am well-informed about what the next several months will hold. I could not be happier with my choice to come to Hamden Hall!... Read 110 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 624

• Student-teacher ratio 6:1

• Cheshire, CT•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.32 out of 5  133 reviews

Parent: Cheshire Academy has been absolutely wonderful for our children and our family. Our children are two very different students with very different needs. The CA teachers, staff and administrators go out of their way to know and understand each student and help him/her achieve academic success. My eldest was recruited by several other prestigious boarding schools, but once we visited CA we knew it was the absolute perfect fit for us. CA not only has rigorous academic programs, excellent sports and music/arts programs, its student body is ethnically, academically and socially diverse which was a very important factor for our family. We were not at all interested in sending our children to a school that felt like country club with little diversity. My younger child had more challenges to overcome than his older sister. CA went above and beyond supporting him academically and was instrumental in deeply developing his passion and talent for music. We couldn't be happier with CA!... Read 133 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 365

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• Middlebury, CT•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.07 out of 5  83 reviews

Parent: Westover School is a great place for girls’ education. My child has grown in confidence and determination during three semesters. She loves the work and her teachers, especially her advisor. She says that, while lots of other schools claim to have a welcoming community, Westover really gets it.... Read 83 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 184

• Student-teacher ratio 4:1

• Milford, CT•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.34 out of 5  178 reviews

Senior: The Academy of Our Lady of Mercy Lauralton Hall is an all-girls Catholic high school with a rich history and tradition of educating young women in the Catholic faith. Lauralton Hall is known for providing a solid academic curriculum, which includes a variety of Advanced Placement (AP) courses and extracurricular activities to support students in their educational endeavors. Many students appreciate the sense of community and camaraderie at Lauralton Hall, as it can foster lasting friendships and support networks. What I would change at Lauralton Hall is increased scholarship opportunities to make the school more accessible, greater diversity and inclusion efforts, or adjustments to the curriculum to better prepare students for the modern world.... Read 178 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 366

• Student-teacher ratio 9:1

• Madison Public Schools, CT•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.89 out of 5  245 reviews

Junior: Overall, I think that Daniel Hand is a very solid public school. Every year, some of the standout students are sent to top colleges, and many others go on to attend UConn and other schools. Daniel Hand offers a great selection of AP and Honors courses for Juniors and Seniors to take. I do wish that they gave students the option to take a couple their Sophomore year, which they don't allow. Hand has a great student community that is very inclusive, as there are enough clubs and sports to ensure that everyone can find their place. Additionally, there's a lot of school pride and events that bring the student body together. You can catch hundreds of students cheering on the football team on Friday nights in the Fall. In terms of teaching, it's a mixed bag. I've had many teachers that are amazing and are passionate about their jobs. However, there are definitely some sprinkled throughout the school that don't put a lot of effort into lessons. Despite this, I love Daniel Hand- GO TIGERS!... Read 245 reviews

• grade A

• Students 874

• Student-teacher ratio 11:1

• Guilford Public Schools, CT•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.65 out of 5  218 reviews

Junior: Guilford High School is an engaging, challenging, and cooperative environment with driven teachers who push each and every student to perform to the highest standard. With a sweeping variety of AP, IB, and ECE classes, the alumni tend to perform outstandingly in college or post-high school environments. Guilford High School additionally has a reputation of being extremely high achieving in the performing arts, with one of the best theater and music programs on the shoreline.... Read 218 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,089

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• Hamden, CT•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.37 out of 5  234 reviews

Works Here: I love going to work every day at Sacred Heart Academy! This is a place where girls grow into young women, learn leadership skills, thrive in the classroom and in our athletic and extra-curricular programs. It is a place where it is ok to be smart and focused yet at the same time know when to have fun. It's a place where girls can be themselves and not be afraid to ask questions in the classroom for fear of being made fun of. They have freedom to learn, to question, to dream, to plan, to research, to prepare, to set the course for their future. They work hard but they also play hard. It's my privilege to watch them grow right before our eyes and challenge themselves in ways they never dreamed of when they first walked through the doors.... Read 234 reviews

• grade A

• Students 369

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• West Haven, CT•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.22 out of 5  124 reviews

Alum: The overall experience was great. Most of the students are rich and privileged which makes them difficult to get along with, at least in my experience. There are several instances which I can remember off the top of my head of people getting bullied and not much being done, particularly with the hockey team. This being said, I would say the good outweighs the bad. Pretty much all of the teachers will get along with you and try to help whenever they can, especially if you are well behaved in their class. Annual events like NDXL really are great, especially trips abroad which I was lucky enough to take part in. The only thing I would like to see change is teachers actually doing something when someone acts up in their class, and keeping the subject of discussion on topic, at least for the most part.... Read 124 reviews

• grade A

• Students 533

• Student-teacher ratio 11:1

• Cheshire Public Schools, CT•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.7 out of 5  289 reviews

Sophomore: Cheshire High School is a thriving school filled with diverse students from all over the world. At CHS, there was countless people who looked like me and made me feel involved and helped me cultivate my passions. Some teachers can be tough and strict, but you need to adjust to a teacher's personal standards so that you can pass and understand the course correctly. Other teachers were wonderful and although tough on grading, they were amazing at teaching and awesome people in general. CHS also offers free breakfast, some free lunches, which provides everyone nutrition for the school-day. Resources like math lab we're extremely helpful when I struggled with math. However, the friend group gathering and people vaping in the bathroom made me uncomfortable, and I wished the school didn't just lock certain bathrooms, some it doesn't solve this problem.... Read 289 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,313

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Amity Regional School District No. 5, CT•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.71 out of 5  361 reviews

Alum: Great and caring teachers, great club options, and school projects are interesting (ex: foreign policy simulations, mock trials for literature characters, etc). Wonderful selection of classes (many AP or honor options, great electives like a welding class in an actual workshop or creative writing or a graphic novel class). Cons: lack of POC support, very white school, underfunded and under appreciated arts/humanities department (heavy emphasis is put into sports), school admins have favorites, sports are too prioritized over academic, club, and humanities class resources (the yearbook is packed with every single sport photo ever taken with no room for other stuff). Though the music and art departments have great teachers, they were not valued and funded as much by the school. As a person of color, I felt isolated and uncomfortable around some of the student body because of how white (and sometimes privileged) they are.... Read 361 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,395

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• Waterbury, CT•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.25 out of 5  140 reviews

Senior: Holy Cross is more than just a school that you attend for four years, it is a community. When applying and looking where I wanted to attend high school, Holy Cross was not to school I originally wanted to go to. That all changed when I started the application process and was able to witness what Holy Cross is truly about. The environment at Holy Cross can be described as a family. Holy Cross offers opportunities for each of the students whether in the classroom, on the field/court, on the stage, etc. It is a school where students will strive academically. Each faculty member there wants to see you succeed and are always there to help you. I highly recommend Holy Cross when looking into high schools.... Read 140 reviews

• grade A

• Students 486

• Student-teacher ratio 11:1

• Milford School District, CT•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.55 out of 5  246 reviews

Senior: My four years at Foran High School were overall great! I had access to numerous clubs, a great education, and a fantastic arts/music program. From child development, to working on cars, to wood-shop, to photography, Foran High School really has something for everyone. All the teachers want nothing but the best for their students and are very encouraging. High school is where I discovered my passion for nursing. I loved the anatomy class and wanted to go further into the medical field. Overall, I learned a lot and I feel prepared for college!... Read 246 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 786

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• Pomperaug Regional School District No. 15, CT•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.54 out of 5  296 reviews

Alum: There wasn't as much diversity as I would have liked, but overall the educational program was informative, teachers were nice, and I had good experiences there. Some of my AP classes did positively prepare me for college level course work and writing styles. There were also lots of opportunities to join clubs, which I was able to take advantage of. I think the worst part was that the school didn't always foster a community environment, instead seeming like a number of multiple little groups instead of a larger school community. If there were more advertised ways to join together (for example through helping the Southbury community or those in need within the county/district), I think the school wouldn't have felt as cliquey. Resources in terms of incidents if they were to happen within the school are something I think could have been advertised more. I also think that more cultural celebrations or acknowledgements might have opened children's world views a bit more.... Read 296 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 1,123

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Milford School District, CT•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.56 out of 5  201 reviews

Senior: I absolutely love Law! It is a smaller school, but it provides lots of opportunities to be connected. The teachers are very passionate about the subject that they teach. The school provides a huge variety of classes from AP and College classes to the common core. I am very upset that I have to leave this year. I would have given 5 stars, but it is impossible to tell how great the school was because I have spent three out of my four years in Covid. I would highly recommend this school to anyone. The athletic programs are excellent, I have a great education, and I have grown as a person. What more could you want from a school?... Read 201 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 826

• Student-teacher ratio 10:1

• Wolcott School District, CT•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.85 out of 5  175 reviews

Senior: The teachers were nice for the most part, the students in other grades were not very respectful though. The academic and learning experience was okay. The sporting events could have been better by having fun activities and spirit going on. Overall Wolcott High School brought out the best in me and I would tell anyone to go there if they could!... Read 175 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 678

• Student-teacher ratio 11:1

• New Haven School District, CT•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 3.69 out of 5  95 reviews

Alum: The school is from 6th to 12th grade but I went from 9th-12th. It’s a very small school so it’s easier for class and knowing people around the school. I will say it is very hard but if that is the field you want to go into for college or even the future, it will definitely prepare you. I attend UConn currently but I am not a STEM major. Since the highschool gave me a mini scoop of what would be going on in college if I did pressure STEM, I decided not to. Also the fact that my love for fashion grew. When I went to ESUMS there weren’t alot of problems compared to the other schools my friends attended. We always ranked high for any test in the STEM area which looked really good. They had some clubs but they didn’t have a dance club so me and my friend decided to start one. If Covid didn’t happen, I would’ve been captain my senior year. Overall I will say I had a good highschool experience, it truly prepared me way more than I would think any other school would.... Read 95 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 580

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Branford School District, CT•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.51 out of 5  258 reviews

Senior: Branford High School is the home to my family, the Robinson family. Both my grandfather, and father have attended this school as well as myself, siblings, cousins and uncles. One perpetual thing about BHS is that no matter what, they always represent hornet pride. Branford has carried many traditions and Is a very happy community and satisfied with who they are but always reaching for higher steps. At all times, BHS students are showing their pride as well as the staff members. Supporting athletic teams and enjoying class time is something I can confidently say almost all BHS students do. Though there are times when student life may not be perfect, it always gets resolved one way another and everyone leaves happy and satisfied. However, I wish the school would prepare us more for college and offer more for that. BHS has been great and I would want my kids to go there too.... Read 258 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 784

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• North Haven School District, CT•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.82 out of 5  254 reviews

Parent: This is a public school that tries. It is becoming increasingly obvious that the schools are underfunded, but the teachers, administrators, and paras go above and beyond to make sure all the kids get the best education they can. The athletic community is strong and has been for a long time. I am happy to see North Haven investing in other activities as well, like diversity club, theatre, band, and the new training programs they have for career tech. I couldn't ask for a better district for my 2 children.... Read 254 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 973

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• Wallingford School District, CT•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.96 out of 5  228 reviews

Alum: My experience at Mark T. Sheean High School was a period of uncomfortable growth and change. What seemed to be a miserable start, turned into a molding process that would end up giving me hope and optimism for the future. I realized I had to immerse myself in activities and create relationships with other students and teachers to find out who I wanted to become. I was lucky enough to realize this through my time here and would like to see more personal relationships built with teachers between students. Some teachers just go through the motions, making it obvious they are there for a paycheck which I suppose is fine. But others truly understand how big of an impact they have on the student's future and do a great job of mentoring.... Read 228 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 746

• Student-teacher ratio 11:1

• Regional School District No. 16, CT•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.9 out of 5  175 reviews

Junior: Some advantages of Woodland Regional High School include the diverse course selections and spirit activities. The counseling department is very accommodating and easy to work with when it comes to career paths and courses. Every year we have spirit week in which the different graduating classes compete with each other throughout a pep rally, hallway decoration, and themed days. Some disadvantages to Woodland include the lack luster cafeteria selection and short lunch periods. Additionally, certain sports are extremely favored over others. For example, the football team gets the most attention and haven’t won any titles in years while the swim teams and others have been reigning champions and still receive less attention.... Read 175 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 634

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• Meriden, CT•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 3.75 out of 5  4 reviews

Parent: Love how my children can excel in their academics and receive a deeper understanding of our Lord. Thankful for this school!... Read 4 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 137

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• Wallingford School District, CT•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.84 out of 5  253 reviews

Alum: I had a great time at my high school. I was able to explore many different classes that could lead down many different career paths. The teachers and my peers were all so amazing and dedicated to their work of teaching or learning. I would change the amount of volunteer opportunities. I wish there were more chances to reach out to member of the community. It would help get that real world experience and to learn from others. The opportunities that were provided were great, but not at reasonable dates and times. They would be right after school when there was clubs or sports.... Read 253 reviews

• grade B

• Students 955

• Student-teacher ratio 11:1

• Waterbury School District, CT•

• PK, 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.31 out of 5  71 reviews

Junior: From my experience at Career Academy, I've noticed that the good part about this school is its diversity and education. This school is very diverse and doesn't leave anyone out. This school has people from all races and cultures and everyone is included. The education at this school is good too because we have good teachers who put in the time and effort to educate us and put our education first. A negative of this school is that the sports aren't that great. Our sports aren't as recognized as they should be. The school wasn't really made for sports, so there isn't much. But the school is located in a small area too which makes it more difficult. There's no space for a baseball field, track field, swim pool, etc. Which makes it difficult for sports.... Read 71 reviews

• grade B

• Students 796

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1