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2019 Best Public High Schools in the Hartford AreaAbout this List

The 2019 Best Public High Schools ranking is based on rigorous analysis of key statistics and millions of reviews from students and parents using data from the U.S. Department of Education. Ranking factors include state test scores, college readiness, graduation rates, SAT/ACT scores, teacher quality, and high school ratings. Read more on how this ranking was calculated.

1 – 25 of 98
Best Schools
98 results

  1. Glastonbury High School

    • Glastonbury School District, CT
    • 9-12
    • 417
    1 Best Public High Schools in Hartford Area

    Senior: The overall experience at the high school has been great! I've met so many new and interesting people while attending GHS. There are many clubs for students with a wide variety of interests to enjoy. As with most high schools there are good and bad teachers but in my experiences the vast majority of my teachers have been fantastic!
    Read 417 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 2,037 Students
    • 14:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes

  2. Simsbury High School

    • Simsbury School District, CT
    • 9-12
    • 295
    2 Best Public High Schools in Hartford Area

    Senior: Overall the school was a quality experience for me. My classmates were kind and devoted to studying, while many of the teachers I had were very enthusiastic about helping students learn. The art department in particular encouraged me to follow my dreams of becoming a concept designer. The curriculum of classes are typically thorough and up to date, supplemented by passionate teachers who more often than not will stay after to help you learn. The school body tends to conflate good grades with good self worth, so the drive to succeed is incredibly high. However, the school is in a majority white neighborhood. There are diversity initiatives such as the ABC House to encourage a more colorful student population, but the majority demographic in the district is white.
    Read 295 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,423 Students
    • 13:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  3. Conard High School

    • West Hartford School District, CT
    • 9-12
    • 290
    3 Best Public High Schools in Hartford Area

    Senior: I loved that all of the teachers were always willing to stay after school and help me with whatever I needed. I also enjoy the fact that it is so easy to get involved and make friends because everyone is so welcoming. I wish that Conard had better food because I have had to bring lunch every day since Freshman year in order to eat! I hope that Conard stays exactly the way it is, but I hope that freshman become more involved so that the school can keep gaining a better reputation.
    Read 290 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,540 Students
    • 14:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  4. Sponsored

    Norfolk Academy

    • Private School
    • Norfolk, VA
    • 1-12
    • 128

    Parent: Norfolk Academy provided an extraordinary educational journey for my two children, fueling their curiosity and inspiring them to explore new avenues that they might not have discovered without the incredible teachers and coaches at this school. My oldest child, who came in sixth grade, now studies engineering at an Ivy League university; he particularly loved the robotics team, as well as soccer, swimming, and crew teams. My youngest child, who is a senior at NA, came in first grade, and she has developed a passion for medicine and health, largely through the school's Global Health Fellows program and the Medical Scholars program.
    Read 128 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,203 Students
    • 11:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  5. Avon High School

    • Avon School District, CT
    • 9-12
    • 176
    4 Best Public High Schools in Hartford Area

    Alum: The problem with Avon High School is that you get an excellent (really, stupendous) education but in banal surroundings and in the context of a worldview that your path in life is to get in to college. Now I took 4 AP courses but I also took the formerly lowest level courses in the sciences and many electives [A school strength; a very wide diversity of courses taught by interesting and dedicated teachers that has only expanded since I graduated]. My AP classes were incredible thanks to my instructors and the discussion-based class set-up and are an excellent outlet for any student hyper-interested in a certain subject. Now I see all of this, in the broad light of day 3 years later, as an amazing stepping stone for college (at least compared to many of my college peers) but at the time it didn't feel like it since Avon has so little superficial charm other than the landscape, making our uppity, but not pretentious, attitude difficult to justify.
    Read 176 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,038 Students
    • 13:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  6. Farmington High School

    • Farmington School District, CT
    • 9-12
    • 217
    5 Best Public High Schools in Hartford Area

    Senior: The overall school and experience is pleasant. The academics are excellent as Farmington really pushes their students to exceed in all aspects. However there isn’t much diversity as seems to be the pattern in Connecticut, and the facility itself is falling apart in more than one way. People are nice which is always a good thing, but often times this is lost because of the stressful pressure put on students.
    Read 217 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,220 Students
    • 12:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes

  7. Hall High School

    • West Hartford School District, CT
    • 9-12
    • 184
    6 Best Public High Schools in Hartford Area

    Alum: The school has excellent academics, great sports and fabulous arts programs to give every student something to do. There is a wide range of language classes available for students to take, including Latin, Chinese, Spanish and French! All the teachers are awesome, and they are truly invested in the students growth and learning. Teachers are always willing to put in extra work to help a student succeed, no kid is forgotten about in the classroom. This school helped prepare me for college in so many ways, making the transition very easy. The classes are difficult but manageable, they really hep prepare the students for college from the beginning of 9th grade.
    Read 184 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,463 Students
    • 15:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  10. Connecticut International Baccalaureate Academy

    • East Hartford School District, CT
    • 9-12
    • 122
    7 Best Public High Schools in Hartford Area

    Junior: I like the close connection the students can have with the teachers. It is easy to talk to most teachers about issues about school work. There is a lot of diversity in this school and we acknowledge different cultures and we gain knowledge about the students background. The workload is a lot but it is preparing the students for college and the real world. This school teaches students different ways of thinking and helps us with our social skills by doing different activities in the classroom. This school is overall a good school but their can be improvements, especially in the math department. Personally, that department does not engage with the students and help them like the other departments to. This is putting a strain upon the students in all grades from Freshman to Seniors.
    Read 122 Reviews

    • A
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 192 Students
    • 15:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  11. Academy of Aerospace & Engineering

    • Public School
    • Windsor, CT
    • 6-12
    • 88
    8 Best Public High Schools in Hartford Area

    Senior: In my time in this school, since the beginning of 6th grade to my senior year, I have only been met with kindness, intelligence, and a fantastic community. Almost every teacher treats their job as not an obligation, but as a privilege. The faculty in the office are always warm and inviting, and the academics are to die for. I love this school with all my heart, but no school is perfect. We have our faults here at AAE, and we work endlessly to eradicate them. But the uniform thing sucks.
    Read 88 Reviews

    • A
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 702 Students
    • 13:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  12. Canton High School

    • Canton School District, CT
    • 9-12
    • 75
    9 Best Public High Schools in Hartford Area

    Alum: Canton High School is just your average small town high school. There's not much to say besides that the teachers and staff members genuinely care about their students. It makes you feel much more welcome and safe knowing you are cared for. I wished that there were more opportunities to try new classes without any downsides. Most of the students in Canton have lived there for their whole lives, which could be both good and bad since gossip spreads like wild fire. The town is very safe and the security in the school is satisfactory, cameras in the halls, automatic locks on all doors, etc. Overall Canton is a great school, everyone is full of school spirit and a love for sports. The only problem was how the students acted towards others, like
    I mentioned earlier; it's a small town and a small school.
    Read 75 Reviews

    • A
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 488 Students
    • 14:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  14. South Windsor High School

    • South Windsor School District, CT
    • 9-12
    • 167
    10 Best Public High Schools in Hartford Area

    Senior: My experience with South Windsor high School was 5 star beginning with my teachers. They knew just how to impart knowledge and how to motivate students to learn. No student is left behind. Each is helped to work up to his/her capacity and overcome any educational and social barriers to self fulfillment.
    The School itself a wonderful environment in which to study and interact with classmates. From its bustling corridors to is modern library, it allows students to study learn and thrive.
    I loved the fact the South Windsor High School thrives on diversity and allows all of its students to shine and be themselves.
    I have thoroughly enjoyed my high school and all of the fond memories given to me by its faculty, classmates, support staff and my classmates.
    Read 167 Reviews

    • A
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,318 Students
    • 12:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  15. University High School of Science and Engineering

    • Hartford School District, CT
    • 9-12
    • 111
    11 Best Public High Schools in Hartford Area

    Parent: My son has had a great experience at UHSSE. Mostly, the academic opportunities that are afforded to the kids at UHSSE are incredible, allowing the kids to earn college credits and actual college experience from University of Hartford. Sports are difficult, first and foremost because we don't have our own gym for practices. Secondly, there aren't enough kids at our school to support full teams, so we have to partner with other schools to create them, which does not allow for camaraderie and often hurts chemistry, but I suppose that we should just be thankful that we have a sports program these days!

    The administration is amazing and the teachers are terrific. My son has had great academic success and owes it to the incredible staff at UHSSE. Overall, a great high school experience!
    Read 111 Reviews

    • A-
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 431 Students
    • 15:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes

  16. Wethersfield High School

    • Wethersfield School District, CT
    • 9-12
    • 177
    12 Best Public High Schools in Hartford Area

    Senior: Overall, I've had a pretty good experience here at Wethersfield High School. Throughout all my years here, I've met many great people, made new friends, met a few awesome teachers, and most importantly, I've learned so much. WHS is a good high school for people who are into sports, because our school is heavily involved in sports and our teams usually perform very well. Wethersfield High School is also great in terms of diversity. There are many types of students that attend, from white, black, hispanic, asian, and a whole variety of ethnicities. I'd say WHS is a perfect school for any time of student, and it's been a fun journey.
    Read 177 Reviews

    • A-
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,185 Students
    • 14:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  19. Bristol Central High School

    • Bristol School District, CT
    • 9-12
    • 127
    13 Best Public High Schools in Hartford Area

    Alum: What I really liked about Bristol Central was the sports. I was involved in track and field. We didn't normally call each other a team, we were a family. Everybody supported each other as family would. The team motto was "Family". What I would like to see change at Bristol Central is the amount of effort that is put into helping students get ready for college. I felt as if there wasn't very much help in preparing us for college. I was lucky enough to be in a program called AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination). Throughout my four years of high school I was prepped for life in college. We were taught a better way to take notes, how to manage our time for our classes, how to stay organized, etc. Prior to starting high school only a handful of students were chosen to be in the program. I feel that if there was a better way for students to have the experience I had, then there will be more students ready for/ going to college.
    Read 127 Reviews

    • A-
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,167 Students
    • 15:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes

  20. Rocky Hill High School

    • Rocky Hill School District, CT
    • 9-12
    • 118
    14 Best Public High Schools in Hartford Area

    Senior: I have had a great experience at Rocky Hill High School . The teachers, faculty members and all my coaches have always been very supportive to me since I started as a freshman. The relationships that I have formed will always carry with me throughout my college years and beyond. The sports of football, wrestling, and lacrosse that I have played at the high school have been a tremendous experience. This is a small community but the fans and support that players receive is far from small. Academically I have challenged myself and was named to the National Honor Society my junior year. My teachers have always been available if I needed to stay after for any questions and have always been flexible with me being in sports. They give us confidence to be the smartest student we can be and to push ourselves beyond what we think we can do and for that I am grateful .
    Read 118 Reviews

    • A-
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 705 Students
    • 12:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes

  21. Southington High School

    • Southington School District, CT
    • 9-12
    • 247
    15 Best Public High Schools in Hartford Area

    Senior: Southington high offers a warm and welcoming environment that offers a lot of activities. One can chose between a numerous amount of clubs and extra curricular activities. But the biggest craze is the sports! Built around an amazing football program, Southington is full of competitive sports with a rich history of winning.
    Read 247 Reviews

    • A-
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,967 Students
    • 13:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  22. Cromwell High School

    • Cromwell School District, CT
    • 9-12
    • 53
    16 Best Public High Schools in Hartford Area

    Alum: High School is obviously a very controversial stage in an adolescents life and for me I had my ups and downs through my career at Cromwell High School. I'd like to say that attending Cromwell High School is what made me who I am today because I learned so much there, from friends, teachers, classes and so on. Overall, my experience there was amazing and I appreciate the time I had spent at Cromwell High School!
    Read 53 Reviews

    • B+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 578 Students
    • 12:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  23. Lewis S. Mills High School

    • Regional School District No. 10, CT
    • 9-12
    • 175
    17 Best Public High Schools in Hartford Area

    Senior: Lewis S. Mills High School is a place that makes me comfortable. This school has a warming and welcoming environment and I love coming here everyday to learn about topics that I am interested in. It is great that I've gotten to know all of my classmates and seen the school change in a positive way since I started back in 2013. Lewis S. Mills has one of the top sports programs along with multiple other clubs, and I am proud to say that I've been a member of the basketball team, soccer team. My favorite thing about Lewis Mills is that students are able to choose their electives...and there are many to pick from. This year I was able to take Psychology and Forensic Science! The only thing that I think my school needs to work on, is the amount of homework that is given. I know that administration here has been struggling with this area, but students are getting bombarded with homework that we barely have time for anything else (including family time!) when we get home.
    Read 175 Reviews

    • B+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 778 Students
    • 13:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  26. Bolton High School

    • Bolton School District, CT
    • 9-12
    • 76
    18 Best Public High Schools in Hartford Area

    Senior: I have only been attending Bolton High School for 2 years, but in these 2 years I have grown a lot in academic education. Since Bolton is a very small school and there are only 70 students in my grade I was able to connect with my teachers and receive help whenever I needed it. Another thing that is great about Bolton is that whenever you try out for a sport there are most likely not going to be any cuts so you'll make it! This keeps students self-esteem high and helps them stay fit. However, my school does not have enough school spirit, and I would like to see that grow. There are also a lot of cliques in Bolton, which prevent everyone from being friends and sometimes causes bullying. Overall, I am very grateful to have attended Bolton High and will miss it.
    Read 76 Reviews

    • B+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 307 Students
    • 10:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  27. Newington High School

    • Newington School District, CT
    • 9-12
    • 179
    19 Best Public High Schools in Hartford Area

    Senior: Newington High School is a positive and nurturing school environment. I feel continuously challenged with my classes and feel that the current administration cares greatly about the student body. There are a wide variety of clubs and activities to get involved with, whether you are athletic, artistic, or otherwise. They take pride in keeping the school clean and providing resources such as laptops, a Student Assistance Center, and a Peer Tutoring Club. We also have a great counseling department and school psychologist/social worker available to students if needed. I feel like I have had a great overall experience these last 4 years at NHS!
    Read 179 Reviews

    • B+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,266 Students
    • 14:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes

  28. East Granby High School

    • East Granby School District, CT
    • 9-12
    • 91
    20 Best Public High Schools in Hartford Area

    Senior: My experience at East Granby High School is extremely hands on. Due to the fact that we are the smallest public school system in Connecticut, classes sizes are very small allowing individual assistance to each student. The teachers within the school have always been helpful and understanding with both school work and personal problems. A change East Granby could make is healthier lunches and more respect to the arts programs within the school. Overall, East Granby High School is an excellent school with wonderful staff and a close community.
    Read 91 Reviews

    • B+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 264 Students
    • 10:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  29. Berlin High School

    • Berlin School District, CT
    • 9-12
    • 169
    21 Best Public High Schools in Hartford Area

    Senior: My overall high school experience has been truly rewarding. I have surrounded myself with a diverse group of friends who all have different strengths and talents. My teachers have been very helpful, they treat you not only as a student, but as a person. They understand high school is tough and that home life can be stressful as well. They show much personality within their teaching. I have decided to do something completely unlike of me my Senior year and do the school musical. I was welcomed with open arms and met new people that I would have never gotten the chance to talk to before! I am overall very pleased with my high school experience and wouldn't doubt that many students would agree with my statement.
    Read 169 Reviews

    • B+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 953 Students
    • 12:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  30. Middletown High School

    • Middletown School District, CT
    • 9-12
    • 237
    22 Best Public High Schools in Hartford Area

    Senior: Middletown High School has been far more than a school for me in the past four years. It has been a second home, an adventure, and a place I have come to love. Middletown High School is a welcoming place that offers not only amazing opportunities through its myriad of classes but also through it wide selection of clubs and athletic teams. Beyond that, the fellow students I had the pleasure of attending this wonderful school were not only accepting but welcoming and always pushing each other to be our best. I can confidently say because of MHS that I am ready for college and I have no concerns about succeeding in school. I wish every teen could experience the intense pride and welcoming environment MHS has provided for me! While I am looking forward to graduation and the next exciting chapter that college will be in my life, I will always hold onto my Blue Dragon roots.
    Read 237 Reviews

    • B+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,202 Students
    • 13:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  31. Review Your School

  32. Windsor High School

    • Windsor School District, CT
    • 9-12
    • 209
    23 Best Public High Schools in Hartford Area

    Senior: Windsor High School is a diverse school which has students come from around the world. Windsor High School help the students take their chances in their future and brings a lot of opportunities to students to enrich education. Windsor High School known as the second house for the students which showed by the warmth of the teachers who are disposable to help students all the time by their enthusiasm, and the devotion of the staffs are securities, the cleaning workers, the polices. Windsor High School not only educates the students how to bright their career and their future by the salutary lessons but also teach them to be responsible, respectful in behavior, to be a good person, an useful citizens to develop the country. Windsor High School brings everyone together and each member in Windsor High School will shine by their own talents.
    Read 209 Reviews

    • B+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,096 Students
    • 9:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  33. Plainville High School

    • Plainville School District, CT
    • 9-12
    • 93
    24 Best Public High Schools in Hartford Area

    High School Senior: As graduation approaches in the upcoming month I look back at my four years at Plainville High School and with a open heart I am thankful to have been surrounded by such amazing and positive people. Although there are many different cliques in high school and not everyone is close our grade is united and we bring people together when it is necessary to do so. My principal Mr. Steven Lepage is by far one of the most supportive and caring individuals within our building. Every morning on our morning announcements we receive a quote to help us get through our school day. With his support and dedication our school runs profoundly with many clubs and activities. If I could rewind back to my freshman year and redo my last four years over again I wouldn't change a thing about my school or my classmates. GO BLUE DEVILS!
    Read 93 Reviews

    • B+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 744 Students
    • 12:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes

  34. Portland High School

    • Portland School District, CT
    • 9-12
    • 63
    25 Best Public High Schools in Hartford Area

    Niche User: High school was an amazing time for me; I made so many friends and grew close with some of my teachers. I learned a lot while having fun! Portland High School didn't feel like a waste of time and I looked forward to coming to school and learning something everyday, as well as communicating with friends! There was always extra help if you needed it, the faculty were awesome, and the guidance office always helped students no matter what! If I could do it all over again, I would!
    Read 63 Reviews

    • B
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 384 Students
    • 12:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  35. Sponsored

    Marianapolis Preparatory School

    • Private School
    • Thompson, CT
    • 9-12
    • 91

    Parent: My son is now a Junior at Marianapolis. I am so grateful we have been able to send him to MPrep. It is an excellent school academically, but even more than that, the teachers and staff are very dedicated and caring. The atmosphere is very kind, generous, supportive, and trusting. It has been a very good fit for my intelligent, but somewhat introverted son. The small class size, supportive caring teachers, really, really kind fellow students, and the atmosphere where everyone can try new things really makes MPrep the best! My son said to me after his first few weeks as a freshman that he could just not believe how nice and kind everyone was. He had come from a public school environment where there were cliques and some bullying as well as worn-out sarcastic teachers. He continues to say that a couple of times a year.
    Read 91 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 400 Students
    • 6:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  36. Sponsored

    Watkinson School

    • Private School
    • Hartford, CT
    • 6-12
    • 33

    Junior: Great school. The teachers challenge students and push them to improve, and the school does a lot to give students the confidence to speak out and be heard. The college counseling office is fantastic. They do a great job of easing students through the college process and finding a college that is a good fit for the student. On top of that, as Watkinson is a small school, the school community is very tight-knit. As a junior, I know every junior, senior, and sophomore by name, which is common at Watkinson.
    Read 33 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 230 Students
    • 7:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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