2024 Best Public High Schools in Connecticut

• New Canaan Public Schools, CT•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.14 out of 5  193 reviews

Parent: I'm a parent of two current NCHS students. The academics are as rigorous as a private school, and the extracurriculars - in particular sports and theatre - are top notch. Teachers are attentive, and the guidance counselors are responsive. The reputation the school has for academics is a useful one with colleges. My one watch out is the lack of diversity which is really more of a town issue. Coming from NYC this is definitely missed, especially with regard to underrepresented groups.... Read 193 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,286

• Student-teacher ratio 11:1

• Westport School District, CT•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.2 out of 5  235 reviews

Senior: The school overall is very high quality and many of the teachers are amazing and genuinely care about students. However, the student culture is very competitive with a heavy focus on enrollment at an elite college as the highest level of achievement. There is definitely a "Westport bubble" in what students here understand about their lives and their academics in the context of the rest of the nation, but the people here aren't necessarily bad. However, overall, Staples gives access to amazing resources (they invest a ton into extracurriculars such as the theater program, the music program, and the journalism program) and it's definitely a great place to go to school. There are also lots of school traditions, mostly surrounding Homecoming, and people have a healthy school spirit. I am very grateful for my time here. I would pick to go to Staples again if I was a freshman.... Read 235 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,714

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• Wilton Public Schools, CT•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.92 out of 5  252 reviews

Senior: I believe that Wilton High School is an okay school. My personal experience is that many of the teachers and staff are very kind and easy to talk to, but some are a bit abrasive and not the greatest people in the world. I enjoy the community at Wilton High School, and I think that the academic life and student life are well-rounded and the classes are well-taught. I really like this school!... Read 252 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,219

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Greenwich Public Schools, CT•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.88 out of 5  466 reviews

Junior: Without GHS I wouldn't nearly as many opportunities in academics. They have so many classes to pursue your interests in from marine biology to electronic music and studio production! Although these are great, parent involvement in nearly nil due to the idea of being self-sufficient, and because of this college prep is a bit lacking as well. The teachers are usually amazing too but there are also a couple that aren't as good, but it can't all be perfect.... Read 466 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 2,673

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Darien School District, CT•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.88 out of 5  199 reviews

Senior: The teachers at Darien High School are what truly made my experience a great one. Most of them are passionate and knowledgeable about their subjects, and they are available and willing to help the students however possible. DHS also offers a variety of different academic and extracurricular opportunities, including many AP classes, and activities ranging from a literary magazine and newspaper, and honor societies, to varsity sports. However, Darien High School also has an almost oppressively competitive atmosphere, so much so that it somewhat reduces the joy of learning in such a great school.... Read 199 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,422

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• Norwalk School District, CT•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.67 out of 5  24 reviews

Senior: Center for Global Studies is the very definition of a school that has a family-like community. Everyone has the chance to be involved in everything, and the air in the halls is always positive. Everyone I've met is and from day 1, always was, kind as welcoming--both faculty and students. Finally, the emphasis on learning in a school that puts a global spin on everything, with the reminders everywhere you go and in everything do that you are not the center of the world but instead a member of the human race who should work to understand and celebrate both others and yourself....is very meaningful. Overall, I couldn't recommend CGS more for its environment and the amount of different opportunities for every student there. It really is a hidden gem of a school!... Read 24 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 278

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• Avon School District, CT•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.76 out of 5  213 reviews

Senior: Avon High School in Avon, CT is truly an exceptional educational institution. I can confidently say that this school is outstanding. The faculty and staff are dedicated to helping each student succeed, providing them with the tools, support, and resources they need to achieve their goals. The school boasts a wide range of academic programs and extracurricular activities, providing students with ample opportunities to explore their interests and passions. One of the standout features of this school is the strong sense of community and camaraderie among the students. The students are friendly, welcoming, and inclusive, creating a safe and supportive environment for everyone. If you're looking for an exceptional high school experience, this is definitely the place to be. The faculty and staff are committed to helping students achieve their full potential, and the students themselves are friendly, supportive, and engaged.... Read 213 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 955

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• West Hartford School District, CT•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.91 out of 5  344 reviews

Alum: Conard High School has several caring teachers who devote endless amounts of effort and energy into assisting their students. Conard High School also offers a wide array of extracurriculars, ranging from the “10 Minute Play Club” to the “Women In STEM Club.” This school’s vast variety of club opportunities allowed me to explore numerous different passions. Additionally, Conard High School heavily assists students with the college application process. Though I appreciate Conard’s emphasis on college, I wish Conard would support students who plan to pursue alternative paths after graduation.... Read 344 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,434

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Glastonbury Public Schools, CT•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.03 out of 5  490 reviews

Senior: The biggest thing I've learned at GHS is how to seize the opportunity and at GHS, there are plenty of opportunities. There are many classes and clubs to choose from. With each commitment I've made at GHS, I've walked away a better person. Whether it was a cheer that broke me down and built me up constantly or unified theatre that brought me a new perspective, I was continually learning and growing. I can't say GHS is easy, it's rather tough for a public school. However, the reward in the curriculum outweighs any sleepless nights. The staff care about each student and want them to succeed... well at least most of them. I can't blame some of my teachers for being cold, I would too if I dealt with increasingly entitled students for the past 20 years. It's draining sometimes to know that every day is going to be a competition, especially in higher-level classes. However, everyone comes out a winner!... Read 490 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,862

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Learn, CT•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.54 out of 5  80 reviews

Parent: The educators on to the executive & administrative staff seem to keep up to par with everything's to do with teens and education. It's been a pretty great experience and straight forward path to college. The school makes sure that graduates have every opportunity to go to college or post graduation school / military etc... Highly recommend applying!... Read 80 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 271

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Weston School District, CT•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.9 out of 5  153 reviews

Junior: The best part of my experience was the kids and the environment. I have greatly enjoyed the school including the clubs and sports I participate in. However, the worst part of my experience has been the unfairness in the teachers. I haven't had a problem with a specific individual teacher however, a couple of courses I've taken I've had a teacher that was extremely harder than other teachers teaching the same exact course. I have found this really unfair and frustrating because having the easier teacher for the course would have allowed my GPA to be much better.... Read 153 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 760

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Farmington School District, CT•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.85 out of 5  271 reviews

Alum: Having experienced multiple school districts in my adolescent years, I've noticed that Farmington has one of the best school systems, hands down. I've moved to 4 different schools all around Connecticut and Farmington High School just cannot compare with them. From the staff, faculty, and students, all aspects of the community bring cohesiveness and excellence to the education they provide. During my freshman year, I could've not asked for a better transition into my studies. Any concern that I had was addressed manner and both the teacher and the staff were very prompt in delivering a response to emails or any questions I had. All of the class discussions were interactive and immersive and all of my teachers were diligent and stayed on task. This was echoed onto the students behavior as well. Everybody was accepting, understanding, and most importantly, respectful of others space and needs. You can really tell that their top priority is to ensure a well-educated and moral society.... Read 271 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,276

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• Fairfield School District, CT•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.92 out of 5  343 reviews

Senior: I love this high school and have had an amazing experience here in almost all aspects! The reason I am not giving Fairfield Warde five stars, is because of the administration. The "high power" people, like the SOME house deans and even members of the board of education, are not fit for their roles and are not the best people to be working with. This does not apply to all employees in these roles, just a good handful.... Read 343 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,395

• Student-teacher ratio 10:1

• Ridgefield School District, CT•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.69 out of 5  386 reviews

Alum: My experience at Ridgefield High School has been truly enriching and transformative. The best aspects of my experience has been the opportunity to build strong friendships and learn from others. The school's diverse and inclusive environment allows for interactions with students from various backgrounds and interests. Taking challenging coursework has been instrumental in honing my skills and pushing me to strive for excellence in different subjects. The school's commitment to fostering well-rounded individuals is commendable, as it allows students to explore and excel in areas that truly resonate with their interests and strengths. However, like any institution, there is always room for improvement. The one aspect that I believe needs attention is the cleanliness of the bathrooms. Addressing this issue would significantly enhance the overall school experience and create a more pleasant and hygienic environment for everyone.... Read 386 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,516

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• Madison Public Schools, CT•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.88 out of 5  243 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 243 reviews

• grade A

• Students 874

• Student-teacher ratio 11:1

• Stamford School District, CT•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.94 out of 5  275 reviews

Sophomore: The school is very clean and well maintained in comparison to other high schools. The teachers are well informed and do a their jobs well. They advise students and are generally helpful. The support staff (counselors, social workers, etc.) are also very supportive and helpful.... Read 275 reviews

• grade A

• Students 625

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• West Hartford School District, CT•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.77 out of 5  266 reviews

Senior: I loved my experience at Hall. The teachers and staff are for the most part accommodating and helpful if you seek them out for academic support. The sports teams at Hall are generally very good and we have always had a great athletics program. The counselors here are very helpful for all things involving college, but they definitely lack in the mental health department. The atmosphere at Hall is very competitive academically which can be stressful for students. It is the social norm at Hall to take multiple AP classes and counselors sometimes even encourage students to drop a lunch period (not all counselors do this but I've heard that some do). Although Hall can be competitive and they lack an understanding of mental health issues, our school is always willing to change and they encourage students to discuss their concerns with staff. Overall, I had a pretty good experience with Hall but every student is different!... Read 266 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,428

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Simsbury School District, CT•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.96 out of 5  348 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 348 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,274

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• 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

• East Lyme School District, CT•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.92 out of 5  369 reviews

Senior: The staff and funding are great. Obviously, it’s a high school so I’m still walking into the bathroom with my name and slurs written on the wall. But the staff really do try their best to re-raise these kids and provide as safe of an environment as they can. Unless it’s the one physics teacher who married a student as soon as she graduated. Otherwise, the teachers and lunch staff and custodians are all very kind and make an effort to not only do their jobs well, but help to raise the next generation... Read 369 reviews

• grade A

• Students 970

• Student-teacher ratio 11:1

• Fairfield School District, CT•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.67 out of 5  302 reviews

Junior: I just finished my junior year, going into senior year. If I had to comment on this school, I think it has been ok so far. Most of my teachers have been nice, although there is a general consensus among people which teachers are good and bad. Most of the teachers are engaging. The language teachers are the most hated teachers among my friends and other students. Some of them have unrealistic goals and expectations. This isn't limited to language teachers. Select teachers have had students switch to other teachers due to the workload in and out of school. I've only had a couple of these teachers so far. Most of the time the environment is nice. Only toward the end of my junior year was there a couple fights between two groups of people, but this has been a rare occurrence.... Read 302 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,525

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• East Hartford School District, CT•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.71 out of 5  156 reviews

Senior: At the Connecticut International Baccalaureate Academy, I have been able to seize many opportunities that otherwise, I would be unable to do. Because of the small environment, every single person is not only a classmate, but a confidant. Many of my teachers feel like great friends whom I truly respect. Every single day there is greeted with a "Good morning" and dismissed with a "Have a good day", the intentions are clear at this school. Every single classmate, facility, staff, and even security member is truly rooting for you. The number of times I have sent an email to a teacher at near 1 in the morning, and woke up at 5 in the morning to a response is impressive. The passion every teacher holds not just in their profession, but their students is admirable. Although, like every single school, there is the dread of attending, but every single person there makes it known that they want you there.... Read 156 reviews

• grade A

• Students 176

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• Cheshire Public Schools, CT•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.69 out of 5  286 reviews

Freshman: Cheshire High School (CHS) is a wonderful public education institution and environment, housing grades nine through 12; although I have only taken my first year at CHS, I can surely recount that my experience so far has been delightful! The ambience allows for my peers and I to comfortably acquaint with one another, often as we show our school pride in numerous events, activities, and so on; I would also like to acclaim the generous range in extracurriculars provided for those attending, with over 25 clubs -- as well as the opportunity for students to organize their own -- sports year-round, and a variety of other pursuits including the newspaper and music and drama. However, CHS is unfortunately home to a few snags as well; as with other affiliates, I believe it would be propitious that the building's supplies and layout are upgraded, as it can be tedious to work with outmoded windows, bathrooms, and technology; I hope we can improve this issue together once we return to usual terms!... Read 286 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

• Redding, CT•

• Public School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.71 out of 5  234 reviews

Senior: JBHS is an academically challenging environment, although there are areas in which academics are lacking (history courses, English courses, etc). The staff do admire their students and want them to succeed. Compared to my friends at other schools, I feel much more prepared to face post-secondary education with the education I am receiving. However, it feels that some things might be overkill. The additional requirements to graduate along with the excessive amount of homework has affected my and my peers' health very heavily, both mentally and physically. While school is not meant to be a breeze, it should not be incessantly unbearable. The burnt out feeling from the past academic year should not have to carry into the following academic year. Otherwise, it is a privilege to be able to have a critical and cohesive education... Read 234 reviews

• grade A

• Students 813

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1