2023 Best Public High Schools in the Hartford Area

• Avon School District, CT•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.75 out of 5  208 reviews

Junior: The math classes are very hard, but the environment is pretty good, and there are teachers that are supportive. Most English teachers are very open to helping. There are many different electives available (arts and academic) at the school including Digital Art, Current Issues and Events, many different choirs, orchestra, ceramics (regular and advanced), forensic science, astronomy, Foundations in Design, CE Introduction to Business, etc. A required course in order to graduate is personal finance which teaches students how to buy a car, how to buy a house, etc, which is good for students to start to plan what is expected after high school. I have felt safe in the school, there is always a police officer when going into school and during school hours. There are also many precautions to ensure the safety of students. These past few years at Avon High School I have learned many things that will help me grow not only with learning but in life.... Read 208 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 957

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• Farmington School District, CT•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.84 out of 5  266 reviews

Senior: Farmington High School is an amazing school that teaches not only the academics, but also how to be a kind, organized and hard-working person. There are a lot of activities you can be involved in, many clubs, sports and voluntary work. There are many talented students and very knowledgable teachers who with a huge excitement share their knowledge and experiences with the students. I personaly was involved in theatre and I loved it so much! The school spirit is very cheerful and we all are one community who supports one another in every activity.... Read 266 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,267

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• Glastonbury Public Schools, CT•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.04 out of 5  480 reviews

Senior: There are so many opportunities to take advantage of at this school and a wide variety of courses to take. Many are college-level and are great for accommodating high-achieving students. The course requirements are a bit restrictive and can clog up your schedule, but you can't expect much less from a high school. I guess I was so spoiled with my ability to choose classes to prepare me for my future career that I felt like I was in college already! Almost all teachers here love their jobs and put effort into teaching their classes and always support their students. The music program is great, I'm in the string chamber orchestra and at least half of my class gets into either NEMFA or All-states. They're building a brand new STEAM lab for classes and for after-school activities, filled with resources for STEM students like me. This is a great school and it really helped me discover who I wanted to be.... Read 480 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,926

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• West Hartford School District, CT•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.9 out of 5  337 reviews

Alum: Felt challenged and supported. Happy with the diversity of thought as well as student background. Lots of opportunities for growth in academics, social learning, and athletics. The teachers were very supportive!... Read 337 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,451

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Simsbury School District, CT•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.95 out of 5  344 reviews

Alum: Having moved from a school where educational funding was always being cut, the resources that Simsbury provides to its students are incredible. The academics are really rigorous, but as a result, students graduate feeling well-prepared for college-level work. If you enjoy music in any way, Simsbury is also the perfect place for that, as the music program is INCREDIBLE!! The atmosphere is very competitive, which can be stressful at times but also prepares students for competitive colleges/majors/professions/etc. In general, my experience was great and I'd definitely recommend it over a lot of the other districts or private schools in the area.... Read 344 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,277

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• West Hartford School District, CT•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.76 out of 5  254 reviews

Niche User: Hall is a school well known for its academic achievements and class options. There are many wonderful teachers as well as many fun classes that suits anyone's interests! In addition, our sports teams, especially track, are well known in our state and offer inclusive sports for all skill levels, like tennis and cross country. Our music program is well praised especially our jazz band. Our school is well known for Pops and Jazz, a concert that features our jazz band, choir, and jazz dancers. It's a spectacular show that is popular in our town! Hall High School has become a centerpiece of our community and offers many experiences to its students through academics and extracurriculars.... Read 254 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,491

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• East Hartford School District, CT•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.71 out of 5  150 reviews

Junior: My experience has been very good. The staff and teachers are very amazing, supportive, and motivating. Our community is like a family and since the school is very small and the number of students is low, everyone is very close and the environment couldn’t feel any safer. The only reason I rate it 4 out of 5 is because I spent most of my school experience online until today.... Read 150 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 182

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Capitol Region Education Coun, CT•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 3.68 out of 5  106 reviews

Senior: Teachers work hard to help you and they are very willing to provide extra support outside of class. Many opportunities for extracurricular and service events. School supplies are usually available and there are mental health and college guidance resources available. Overall, good school! My problems lie more with the district heads and their guidelines and restrictions.... Read 106 reviews

• grade A

• Students 776

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Canton School District, CT•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.56 out of 5  93 reviews

Senior: The size of Canton high school really offers a personal relationship between students and teachers. I knew everyone in my class fairly well. Most of teachers are really kind and hard working and they want their students to succeed. They are constantly offering opportunities to their students and encouraging them to join the multitude of clubs that exist at this school. Despite the size this school provides a really great education and many extracurricular opportunities. I do wish that the administration took the opinions of the students into a little more account. When we try to speak up about concerns we are often ignored or discounted.... Read 93 reviews

• grade A

• Students 479

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• South Windsor School District, CT•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.68 out of 5  227 reviews

Senior: South Windsor High School (SWHS) is a great environment to prepare yourself for college and discover your interests, whether academic or personal. The school offers an abundance of resources and values academic growth. On the other hand, the school lacks diversity and being surrounded by very diverse towns, it could take in some more students because minority students don't feel as if they are included in the school culture. Additionally, the school typically ignores the desires and demands of parents and students so it becomes frustrating to achieve any change.... Read 227 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,282

• Student-teacher ratio 10:1

• Regional School District No. 10, CT•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.58 out of 5  210 reviews

Senior: Lewis Mills is the perfect opportunity for growth. With tons of options for students wanting to grow their knowledge in different fields, school pride, and acceptance! Although, in this school there is little diversity, it’s not something that gets in the way of our caring and accepting community. Through my experience of being at mills I have made countless memories and friendships that will always hold a special place in my heart!... Read 210 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 703

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Hartford School District, CT•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.68 out of 5  136 reviews

Alum: Teachers and faculty support students to do their best and challenge them to prepare them for future success. They give students who are determined the skills they need to go to college and be a well rounded person. The small school allows for a close community to support one another. For those who are gifted these students are able to take college courses at the University of Hartford which is a short walk up the sidewalk onto the university campus. There high school students are able to take one or two college courses to really experience and prepare themselves for college. The majority of students who graduate from UHSSE apply, are accepted, and go to college; especially 4 year programs.... Read 136 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 431

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Rocky Hill School District, CT•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.72 out of 5  147 reviews

Junior: I love the atmosphere in Rocky Hill High School. I feel welcome in every community within the school's large student body. There is a variety of clubs and organizations to join at RHHS and I am able to join as many as I like. The people here are simply amazing and they are extremely helpful at all times. I am truly grateful to go here, and I do not regret it!... Read 147 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 738

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• Bristol School District, CT•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.17 out of 5  172 reviews

Senior: BCHS is my family. When I'm there, I'm home. The teachers, the administration, and the students are those whom I look forward to seeing most in life. My years there have been instrumental in finding myself and setting me on a successful career path. There are so many opportunities to excel with many AP and UConn ECE courses offered by brilliant teachers. The diverse student body truly makes the community even closer knit. There are countless ways to get involved with more extracurricular sports and clubs than you can think of led by determined teachers. I wouldn't trade my years at BC for the world. Couldn't be prouder of my alma mater! Stay ram strong!... Read 172 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 1,201

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Berlin School District, CT•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.63 out of 5  208 reviews

Senior: What I like most about Berlin High School is the sense of community that it brings. Berlin CT is a very small town meaning that everyone knows each other and supports each other. For example if you go to the grocery store in town you are going to most likely see someone you know. I think with this dynamic it has really influenced the school itself. The students are very connected and everyone truly cares for one another. From athletic events, service projects, plays, pep-rallies and all of the activities in between Berlin High School has a club or an activity for anyone, no matter ones interests allowing for students to really be themselves and explore their interests further. In addition Berlin High School offers a few classes such as Firefighting 1 and 2 and also the new EMS class which is very hands on and allows students to experience different careers.... Read 208 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 903

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• Newington School District, CT•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.77 out of 5  216 reviews

Alum: I was extremely involved in sports, the arts, and was continually on the honor roll. I had a lot going on constantly but was always able to be successful. I had many supportive teachers that were understanding of all of my different passions. Many teachers would support our theater department and athletics by coming to performances and games to cheer us on. Each of my passions were able to grow and flourish while I attended Newington High School. I graduated at the start of the Covid-19 Pandemic. My experiences were very unique at the end of my senior year because we didn't get a senior outing, prom or conventional graduation. However, the administrators did their best to give us the most satisfying end to out 4 years and always tried to do what was best for us.... Read 216 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 1,283

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• East Granby School District, CT•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.21 out of 5  100 reviews

Senior: EGHS is a small and tightly knit community that allows for students to have personalized learning experiences with small classes and engaging teachers. This being said, competition between students in terms of class rank and GPA can become extremely vigorous. However, this competition between students creates fiery motivation within students to excel in their classes and take more rigorous courses that are challenging and mentally stimulating (like AP classes). The majority of EGHS students are enrolled in AP courses with teachers who are exceptionally experienced in teaching those courses. This competition and desire to challenge oneself sets EGHS students up for success at the college level, and allows for EGHS students to have a smooth transition into their college environments.... Read 100 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 259

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• Wethersfield School District, CT•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.73 out of 5  222 reviews

Alum: As an LGBTQ+ who attended WHS I experienced immense support from the staff and community! This high school does an amazing job making sure every student feels included and welcomed in every setting! They are also very on top of bullying and take such matters very seriously. The only thing I believe this school could work on is bettering their high school experience for the students, it feels like the arts and events aren't as prioritized as academics.... Read 222 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 1,123

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Southington School District, CT•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.67 out of 5  311 reviews

Senior: I've had very few bad teachers. In fact, most go out of their way to help students! There are plenty of elective courses in many fields of study (pick a new one every year and explore all the departments of the school ;) The school is highly regarded in sports, including marching band, reaching national acclaim.... Read 311 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 1,979

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Windsor School District, CT•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.81 out of 5  264 reviews

Senior: As a student who attended all four years at Windsor High School, I will be proud to say I am an alumni from there. While I am just beginning my senior year there has been plenty of opportunity offered to help seniors prepare for college. I think that things that could be improved could be admin, and their interactions with students. I also think that portion sizes of food could be improved as the lunches are very small considering most of the school is very sports involved. Overall it is a great high school.... Read 264 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 1,084

• Student-teacher ratio 10:1

• Middletown School District, CT•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.67 out of 5  273 reviews

Senior: I have attended Middletown High School for all four years of my high school experience. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at MHS, but I am also prepared to leave. I believe administration can do a better job of working with and handling students with behavioral issues, and I can speak from experience. I have seen students with behavioral or mental issues cast aside or disregarded on multiple occasions by security and admin. If a student is in need they should be receiving help from a counselor or ESS advisor, not a security guard who is unaware of how to handle the situation. I also think that there should be equal treatment of all sports, as football and basketball are very obviously favored by the athletics department.... Read 273 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 1,269

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• Cromwell School District, CT•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.63 out of 5  79 reviews

Alum: Cromwell High is a solid high school! I really enjoyed my time here. Great academic opportunities for those of all learning levels are available and college prep is great. Where CHS excels, though, is in extra-curriculars. An abundance of in-school and after-school opportunities are available. From solid sports teams including football, basketball, soccer, baseball and more to a plethora of musical ensembles (concert band, jazz band, concert choir, select choir, etc.) there is something for everyone.... Read 79 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 552

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Bristol School District, CT•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.61 out of 5  244 reviews

Senior: I love attending BEHS and being part of the school marching band! Since I personally do not participate in any sports, I thought it was amazing that the school offers so many different clubs I could join instead!... Read 244 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 1,108

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• Capitol Region Education Coun, CT•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 3.61 out of 5  93 reviews

Junior: The teachers were incredible. They show how much they care about their students by going above and beyond for them. Each teacher had their own effective way of teaching their students, that gave them the chance to learn what they needed. They were also there for the students emotionally by giving them the support or advice they needed. The school offered interesting classes that exposed the students to things they may have never known they'd like, such as, musical theater, digital photography, robotics, etc. The diversity in the school is also amazing and eye-opening. I truly wish there were a few more after school activities offered, however, I understand that the after school transportation was always a problem with CREC. Overall, the school is worth it!... Read 93 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 777

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Manchester School District, CT•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.77 out of 5  403 reviews

Niche User: This school is amazing! There are so many different kinds of people and so much diversity with no room to feel like you didn't belong. Teachers and Manchester High school are very caring and throughout the years prepare you to make a transition into college and finding what you want to do. There are 4 academy's within the school that pertain to the students interest whether it's art, science, health, etc. Not only are there good programs when it comes to academics, but also great after school activities and sports. If a student wants to add an activity (for example ASL club) they can just bring It up with a teacher or an administrator and it will be made possible! MHS makes students feel welcome, cared about, and helps students to push themselves academically to be successful in the future.... Read 403 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 1,640

• Student-teacher ratio 11:1