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2019 Niche Standout High Schools in ConnecticutAbout this List

The 2019 Niche Standout High Schools list recognizes public schools that are making a difference in their community. The 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 school diversity, graduation rates and state test scores for economically disadvantaged and minority students, SAT/ACT scores, and the quality of colleges that students consider. The list is limited to only schools with 1) at least 50% of students identified by the school as economically disadvantaged and 2) a Niche Overall Grade of B or higher. Read more on how this ranking was calculated.

1 – 10 of 10
Niche Standout Schools
10 results

  1. Aerospace/Hydrospace Engineering & Physical Sciences at the Fairchild Wheeler Campus

    • Bridgeport School District, CT
    • 9-12
    • 48
    1 Niche Standout High Schools in Connecticut

    Senior: I like the new learning that is taught at my school because I believe it is the new wave of learning and structure that most high schools will start to follow in the future. Classes are structured like college to prepare the students and there are specific classes to what interests you like engineering classes, IT coding classes, and zoological classes which provide a broad range of learning that people won't get in a normal high school. The staff and student body are great and the environment around the school helps the students be more interactive and engaging with each other and overall the school is just great.
    Read 48 Reviews

    • B+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 494 Students
    • 15:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    • 72% Free or Reduced Lunch
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  2. Information Technology & Software Engineering at the Fairchild Wheeler Campus

    • Bridgeport School District, CT
    • 9-12
    • 40
    2 Niche Standout High Schools in Connecticut

    Alum: My experience was really bad in the beginning. This of course was because the resources provided to other Connecticut district schools were not set in place for a newly built school. The library wasn't available, the gym wasn't being used, along with academic advising and students having to take buses after school to play sports for other established high schools in the area. As an incoming freshman my high school experience wasn't that good yet as the years progressed the academic advising and resources became more available for the incoming freshman. Honestly, the academic strength of this school was very well pushed and the strive to be challenged was thrilling. I appreciate the effort many teachers made to push the students along with myself, to seek help and adjust to challenging elective based school.
    Read 40 Reviews

    • B
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 492 Students
    • 18:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    • 74% Free or Reduced Lunch
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  3. Sports & Medical Sciences Academy

    • Hartford School District, CT
    • 6-12
    • 111
    3 Niche Standout High Schools in Connecticut

    Junior: SMSA is an excellent school from grades 6-12, that literally prepares you for college. It has great academic choices as well as AP classes and Uconn classes that help get college credit right before even going into college. The classes are great, the teachers are great, there’s a lot of diversity at SMSA. That is something I like about my school, you can meet people from different countries and make great friends. SMSA, is a really excellent school, the staff cares about you and your well being at school if you have trouble with your classes or personal stuff there are counselors who will be there to hear you out and do their best to help you. I love SMSA!
    Read 111 Reviews

    • B
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 707 Students
    • 14:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    • 89% Free or Reduced Lunch
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  4. Sponsored

    Notre Dame High School

    • Private School
    • West Haven, CT
    • 9-12
    • 87

    Senior: I love the brotherhood shown at Notre Dame, everyone is very close and no one is excluded. The teachers and the school work may be hard, but if you go to th teachers, they will do everything and anything they can to help better you for the next level. If anything needs to change it is the food. Personally, I think one of the strongest aspects of Notre Dame is the English program. The English program is very tough, but the teachers are so good at explaining and influencing you to think outside of the box. I have had papers where i have been completely lost, but after asking questions and seeing the teacher after class, everything was clear as day and the paper was a much easier to write.
    Read 87 Reviews

    • A
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 586 Students
    • 12:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  5. Stamford High School

    • Stamford School District, CT
    • 9-12
    • 269

    Works Here: I'm proud of the caring and intelligent students & staff at SHS. SHS has 22 AP courses and has more Early College Experience UCONN courses than any other school in the state. The school is introducing a college dual enrollment program fall 2017 and and international baccalaureate diploma program in fall 2018. The Round Table is an award winning online publication that everyone wants to be a part of. Volleyball, hockey and basketball have won state championships in last 2 years. SPS teacher of the year is from SHS and band played at West Point and Citi Field (Mets) last year! The students and staff have raised over 40k for charity over the last 4 years through the annual Pink Out event. The school is being continually upgraded and repaired and the school culture and climate is positive; SHS is a wonderful place to be!
    Read 269 Reviews

    • B
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,719 Students
    • 13:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    • 58% Free or Reduced Lunch
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  6. Waterbury Arts Magnet School

    • Waterbury School District, CT
    • 9-12
    • 221

    Alum: I recently graduated (not this year, but in years prior!) During my time at this school, I experienced very little bullying experiences, the teachers were wonderful to me, and I was treated incredibly well by staff! As much as I loved the staff, I do believe that the school must work on a better reviewing process. The higher-ups should keep their eyes on the teachers, as I have seen teachers bullying their students and not having to face any repercussions. It's no wonder so much has gone down in the past couple of years. Otherwise, I do think that 90% of the staff cares for their students and the WAMS family!
    Read 221 Reviews

    • B
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 488 Students
    • 12:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    • 49% Free or Reduced Lunch
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  7. Hartford Magnet Trinity College Academy

    • Hartford School District, CT
    • 6-12
    • 53

    Parent: I really like the school accademy part and the teachers they are very commited to teaching students to suceed in their class. The only thing that worries me is the behavior of the students, they use false language alot and you can see all kind of bad behaviors in alot of the students. My kids are not used to this kind of enviroment, so it has been a litter of a shock to them but they are doing so good with their grades they understand everything and they are A+ Students. I wish the kids behavior gets better tru the years to come.
    Read 53 Reviews

    • B
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,022 Students
    • 12:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    • 58% Free or Reduced Lunch
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  10. Pathways Academy of Technology and Design

    • Hartford School District, CT
    • 9-12
    • 100

    Senior: Internship opportunities are great here at Pathways. There are many different companies and organizations that are partnered with the school and offer many types of roles for students who want to apply themselves. Technology based school with a wide range of elective classes ranging to entrepreneurship to Video game design. No sport teams, though there is FIRST Robotics.
    Read 100 Reviews

    • B
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 425 Students
    • 14:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    • 53% Free or Reduced Lunch
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  11. Cooperative High School

    • New Haven School District, CT
    • 9-12
    • 274

    Alum: Extremely creative and welcoming environment! Faculty and staff are amazing. For students who want to be in a small community type of setting for high school, this is the perfect place! On top of taking your academic classes such as math, science, history, etc., students have the option to pick a concentration in the arts and really grow in that area throughout their four years at Co-Op, and they even get a chance to experience different arts through after school programs. The environment is inclusive, and very fitting to everyone's identity.
    Read 274 Reviews

    • B
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 647 Students
    • 13:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    • 50% Free or Reduced Lunch
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  12. Amistad Academy

    • Public School
    • New Haven, CT
    • K-12
    • 112

    Senior: Amistad Academy genuinely cares about the the students education. They stay true to their goal of getting kids through college. I have been a student at Amistad since 5th grade and ever since, College has been the goal that they encouraged me to strive for. The school prepares their students for college by giving us difficult and time consuming homework assignments, starting school early and ending late, and giving us essay and research papers as well as making us do independent and group projects.
    The school's work ethics and the amount of work assigned to the students is very difficult and may even be perceived to be a little bit excessive, It is all worth it in the end when the child gets that letter of acceptance to a 4 year college/university.
    Read 112 Reviews

    • B
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,036 Students
    • 9:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    • 77% Free or Reduced Lunch
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  14. Ansonia High School

    • Ansonia School District, CT
    • 9-12
    • 111

    Niche User: In 2012, I moved from Lowell Massachusetts to Ansonia Connecticut. My freshmen year I made friends very quickly. I talked to people and soon got invited to a football game; something Ansonia is known for. The pride this town has is truly one of a kind. Not only in football but just the town itself. However, one of my favorite experiences was back in freshmen year. It was a freshmen baseball game and I thought I'd support the boys in my class. it was the last inning and we were down by 12, my friends left and I was with the parents because I wanted to stay for the whole game. We ended up winning and I celebrated with the parents and the boys! The parents are extremely involved, between planning events, raising money, and supporting the students at their sports and academic events. If I could do it all over, I would. I have had some of the best experiences and memories at this school and in this town. I have also made true relationships that I am so thankful for.
    Read 111 Reviews

    • B
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 584 Students
    • 11:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    • 60% Free or Reduced Lunch
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