While the U.S. is one of the most educated countries in the world, it doesn’t provide the same quality elementary school or secondary school education to all students. In many states, more affluent school districts receive a greater amount of funding per student than poorer districts.
Discrepancies between the rich and poor have been exacerbated even more this year by the COVID-19 pandemic. Low-income students have suffered the greatest “learning loss” due to partial or total remote learning. One contributing factor is that people in low-income districts are less likely to have the technological resources they need.
States that provide equitable funding to all school districts can help prevent poor students from having lower graduation rates, lower rates of pursuing higher education and smaller future incomes than their wealthy peers. The difference is dramatic: College graduates have $524 - $1,112 higher median weekly earnings than people with a high school diploma and no college experience, depending on the degree.
Connecticut has the 18th least equitable school districts in the U.S. overall, but some districts within the state are fairer than others. To find out where school funding is distributed most equitably, WalletHub scored 166 districts in Connecticut based on two metrics: average household income and expenditures for public elementary and secondary schools per pupil. Read on for the district ranking and a complete description of our methodology.
Note: For visual purposes, we included only the top 7 school districts by enrollment from each category.
Most & Least Equitable School Districts in Connecticut
| Rank | School District | Score | Expeditures for Public Elementary and Secondary Schools per Pupil | Income by School District |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Litchfield School District | 0.61 | $24,446 | $84,694 |
| 2 | Eastford School District | 1.08 | $22,406 | $92,813 |
| 3 | Somers School District | 1.67 | $19,269 | $108,560 |
| 4 | West Hartford School District | 1.81 | $20,320 | $104,281 |
| 5 | Voluntown School District | 1.96 | $24,057 | $85,052 |
| 6 | Bloomfield School District | 2.15 | $26,965 | $76,717 |
| 7 | Oxford School District | 2.26 | $19,031 | $110,111 |
| 8 | East Windsor School District | 2.28 | $25,947 | $76,824 |
| 9 | Colchester School District | 2.29 | $20,188 | $105,281 |
| 10 | Regional School District 04 | 2.43 | $24,428 | $87,624 |
| 11 | Waterford School District | 2.49 | $22,548 | $90,893 |
| 12 | South Windsor School District | 2.63 | $19,766 | $107,374 |
| 13 | Stamford School District | 3.03 | $21,910 | $93,059 |
| 14 | Canterbury School District | 3.17 | $22,138 | $91,973 |
| 15 | Berlin School District | 3.38 | $19,909 | $101,127 |
| 16 | Old Saybrook School District | 3.43 | $24,186 | $83,132 |
| 17 | Milford School District | 3.54 | $23,682 | $91,799 |
| 18 | Chaplin School District | 3.90 | $27,091 | $70,500 |
| 19 | Salisbury School District | 4.07 | $28,362 | $72,658 |
| 20 | Windsor School District | 4.22 | $23,738 | $92,199 |
| 21 | Lebanon School District | 4.80 | $21,842 | $91,684 |
| 22 | East Lyme School District | 5.44 | $20,857 | $95,217 |
| 23 | Hamden School District | 6.25 | $24,951 | $77,274 |
| 24 | Brookfield School District | 6.77 | $18,966 | $114,615 |
| 25 | New Hartford School District | 6.83 | $20,850 | $106,765 |
| 26 | Franklin School District | 6.90 | $23,260 | $96,719 |
| 27 | Regional School District 07 | 7.04 | $21,318 | $105,000 |
| 28 | Winchester School District | 7.32 | $30,021 | $68,750 |
| 29 | North Haven School District | 7.39 | $20,092 | $96,598 |
| 30 | Regional School District 14 | 7.84 | $22,888 | $84,443 |
| 31 | Marlborough School District | 7.97 | $19,726 | $112,557 |
| 32 | Bethel School District | 7.99 | $18,676 | $101,968 |
| 33 | Regional School District 15 | 8.16 | $21,463 | $105,450 |
| 34 | Coventry School District | 8.41 | $19,970 | $96,143 |
| 35 | Suffield School District | 8.47 | $19,444 | $114,208 |
| 36 | East Haddam School District | 9.14 | $23,712 | $96,928 |
| 37 | Bozrah School District | 9.35 | $25,373 | $90,156 |
| 38 | Portland School District | 9.50 | $18,976 | $99,292 |
| 39 | North Branford School District | 9.51 | $21,078 | $90,461 |
| 40 | Barkhamsted School District | 9.60 | $20,774 | $109,688 |
| 41 | Pomfret School District | 9.61 | $20,338 | $93,472 |
| 42 | Lisbon School District | 9.83 | $20,850 | $91,125 |
| 43 | Farmington School District | 9.93 | $20,367 | $93,053 |
| 44 | Salem School District | 10.08 | $20,937 | $109,460 |
| 45 | Regional School District 16 | 10.36 | $19,566 | $96,014 |
| 46 | East Hampton School District | 10.43 | $19,670 | $95,513 |
| 47 | Bolton School District | 10.83 | $21,982 | $105,772 |
| 48 | Guilford School District | 11.35 | $20,645 | $111,870 |
| 49 | Regional School District 11 | 11.37 | $28,236 | $80,038 |
| 50 | Norwalk School District | 11.53 | $21,745 | $85,769 |
| 51 | Willington School District | 11.73 | $23,813 | $76,908 |
| 52 | Regional School District 06 | 12.01 | $23,090 | $102,232 |
| 53 | Hampton School District | 12.22 | $28,194 | $81,016 |
| 54 | Regional School District 08 | 12.37 | $20,571 | $113,144 |
| 55 | Granby School District | 12.42 | $18,649 | $121,250 |
| 56 | Shelton School District | 12.48 | $18,824 | $97,131 |
| 57 | Deep River School District | 12.87 | $27,161 | $85,960 |
| 58 | Preston School District | 12.96 | $22,932 | $79,444 |
| 59 | Windsor Locks School District | 12.97 | $25,164 | $70,067 |
| 60 | Regional School District 01 | 13.28 | $30,101 | $74,011 |
| 61 | East Granby School District | 13.78 | $22,986 | $104,336 |
| 62 | Tolland School District | 13.96 | $19,723 | $118,194 |
| 63 | North Canaan School District | 14.30 | $26,686 | $62,432 |
| 64 | Branford School District | 14.46 | $23,027 | $77,640 |
| 65 | Regional School District 10 | 14.79 | $19,180 | $121,250 |
| 66 | Regional School District 17 | 14.93 | $21,770 | $110,515 |
| 67 | New Fairfield School District | 15.07 | $21,338 | $112,457 |
| 68 | Canton School District | 15.33 | $20,467 | $87,567 |
| 69 | Cheshire School District | 15.58 | $19,525 | $120,546 |
| 70 | Wolcott School District | 15.72 | $18,546 | $95,257 |
| 71 | Stonington School District | 16.81 | $21,540 | $81,667 |
| 72 | Thompson School District | 16.89 | $21,890 | $80,125 |
| 73 | Trumbull School District | 17.36 | $19,469 | $122,451 |
| 74 | Essex School District | 17.36 | $27,380 | $89,261 |
| 75 | Wallingford School District | 17.45 | $21,605 | $80,793 |
| 76 | Scotland School District | 17.70 | $28,219 | $86,053 |
| 77 | Manchester School District | 18.15 | $22,948 | $74,503 |
| 78 | Clinton School District | 18.26 | $21,719 | $79,554 |
| 79 | Norfolk School District | 19.56 | $31,221 | $75,208 |
| 80 | Southington School District | 19.75 | $17,833 | $94,463 |
| 81 | New Milford School District | 19.82 | $18,888 | $89,969 |
| 82 | Chester School District | 19.87 | $28,201 | $88,167 |
| 83 | Newington School District | 20.66 | $20,685 | $81,646 |
| 84 | Westbrook School District | 20.67 | $30,398 | $79,707 |
| 85 | Hebron School District | 20.69 | $20,513 | $121,200 |
| 86 | Ledyard School District | 21.54 | $17,520 | $94,099 |
| 87 | Glastonbury School District | 21.57 | $20,796 | $120,837 |
| 88 | North Stonington School District | 22.03 | $21,762 | $75,833 |
| 89 | Monroe School District | 22.74 | $21,576 | $118,669 |
| 90 | Orange School District | 23.10 | $21,027 | $121,308 |
| 91 | Hartland School District | 23.40 | $26,238 | $99,722 |
| 92 | Simsbury School District | 23.50 | $20,498 | $123,905 |
| 93 | Wethersfield School District | 23.57 | $18,943 | $86,216 |
| 94 | Kent School District | 23.67 | $31,446 | $78,125 |
| 95 | Columbia School District | 23.94 | $23,919 | $109,962 |
| 96 | Stafford School District | 24.00 | $21,667 | $74,386 |
| 97 | Regional School District 18 | 24.50 | $27,110 | $97,093 |
| 98 | Ashford School District | 24.74 | $22,320 | $70,952 |
| 99 | Madison School District | 24.76 | $23,187 | $113,798 |
| 100 | Plymouth School District | 24.94 | $19,627 | $82,063 |
| 101 | Cromwell School District | 25.01 | $17,900 | $89,243 |
| 102 | Ellington School District | 25.64 | $17,219 | $91,510 |
| 103 | Stratford School District | 27.23 | $19,741 | $79,430 |
| 104 | Montville School District | 27.26 | $21,003 | $74,106 |
| 105 | Rocky Hill School District | 28.39 | $18,125 | $85,125 |
| 106 | Newtown School District | 29.36 | $20,928 | $127,602 |
| 107 | Watertown School District | 30.46 | $18,983 | $79,576 |
| 108 | Colebrook School District | 30.61 | $28,202 | $98,250 |
| 109 | Avon School District | 31.15 | $20,487 | $131,130 |
| 110 | Andover School District | 31.37 | $26,686 | $105,328 |
| 111 | Middletown School District | 31.85 | $22,011 | $65,572 |
| 112 | Enfield School District | 31.98 | $18,606 | $79,730 |
| 113 | Plainville School District | 32.31 | $20,333 | $72,175 |
| 114 | Bethany School District | 33.31 | $21,448 | $129,133 |
| 115 | Sterling School District | 33.32 | $18,557 | $78,684 |
| 116 | Mansfield School District | 34.50 | $24,673 | $51,911 |
| 117 | Naugatuck School District | 35.07 | $19,055 | $74,944 |
| 118 | Thomaston School District | 35.21 | $20,551 | $68,539 |
| 119 | Groton School District | 35.43 | $20,950 | $66,657 |
| 120 | Seymour School District | 35.81 | $18,592 | $76,195 |
| 121 | Torrington School District | 37.34 | $21,353 | $63,172 |
| 122 | Woodstock School District | 37.55 | $15,670 | $86,821 |
| 123 | East Haven School District | 37.92 | $20,218 | $67,390 |
| 124 | Regional School District 13 | 38.44 | $26,319 | $113,507 |
| 125 | Regional School District 19 | 38.51 | $21,119 | $63,053 |
| 126 | Vernon School District | 40.24 | $20,367 | $64,587 |
| 127 | Regional School District 05 | 40.67 | $21,569 | $135,532 |
| 128 | Fairfield School District | 43.25 | $21,291 | $139,122 |
| 129 | Plainfield School District | 43.56 | $18,285 | $70,206 |
| 130 | Sherman School District | 43.88 | $30,323 | $101,818 |
| 131 | Derby School District | 44.24 | $21,432 | $56,357 |
| 132 | Brooklyn School District | 44.29 | $16,730 | $76,047 |
| 133 | Cornwall School District | 46.36 | $36,077 | $80,000 |
| 134 | Killingly School District | 47.16 | $19,303 | $62,550 |
| 135 | West Haven School District | 47.78 | $19,060 | $62,985 |
| 136 | Griswold School District | 47.86 | $18,714 | $64,365 |
| 137 | Union School District | 48.48 | $34,865 | $87,083 |
| 138 | Bristol School District | 49.66 | $17,562 | $67,507 |
| 139 | East Hartford School District | 50.43 | $20,140 | $55,967 |
| 140 | Putnam School District | 51.00 | $19,003 | $60,201 |
| 141 | Danbury School District | 51.34 | $15,806 | $73,297 |
| 142 | Norwich School District | 51.57 | $19,626 | $57,052 |
| 143 | Sprague School District | 54.85 | $16,211 | $68,301 |
| 144 | Windham School District | 56.64 | $20,773 | $47,481 |
| 145 | Woodbridge School District | 57.62 | $20,102 | $157,610 |
| 146 | Meriden School District | 58.65 | $17,615 | $58,843 |
| 147 | New London School District | 61.41 | $19,987 | $46,298 |
| 148 | Ansonia School District | 63.11 | $17,556 | $54,901 |
| 149 | Easton School District | 65.96 | $22,006 | $157,448 |
| 150 | Hartford School District | 69.47 | $20,570 | $36,278 |
| 151 | New Haven School District | 69.56 | $19,134 | $42,222 |
| 152 | Regional School District 09 | 70.54 | $27,986 | $136,658 |
| 153 | Redding School District | 71.07 | $29,015 | $132,838 |
| 154 | New Britain School District | 71.17 | $17,755 | $46,499 |
| 155 | Canaan School District | 72.00 | $41,746 | $80,298 |
| 156 | Waterbury School District | 73.95 | $18,110 | $42,401 |
| 157 | Sharon School District | 75.80 | $42,209 | $81,919 |
| 158 | Bridgeport School District | 76.20 | $16,591 | $46,662 |
| 159 | Ridgefield School District | 76.33 | $22,779 | $163,945 |
| 160 | Regional School District 12 | 77.29 | $35,082 | $113,224 |
| 161 | Greenwich School District | 85.44 | $27,528 | $152,577 |
| 162 | Wilton School District | 111.71 | $23,704 | $193,292 |
| 163 | New Canaan School District | 115.80 | $25,351 | $190,227 |
| 164 | Westport School District | 132.94 | $25,318 | $206,466 |
| 165 | Weston School District | 149.10 | $25,104 | $222,535 |
| 166 | Darien School District | 153.34 | $23,673 | $232,523 |
*1=Most Equitable
Methodology
In order to rank the states with the most and least equitable school districts, WalletHub first scored 12,927 school districts throughout the U.S. based on two metrics: average household income and expenditures for public elementary and secondary schools per pupil.
For expenditures, for each 1 percent above the state's average we removed 1 point from a base score of 50 points for each district. For household income, for each 1 percent above the state's average we added 1 point to a base score of 50 points for each district. The inverse was true for each 1 percent below the state's average.
The final score for each district was calculated by taking the absolute difference between the score for expenditures and the score for household income. We then ranked the districts based on the total score, with the lowest value, representing the most equitable, being ranked 1.
Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected from the U.S. Census Bureau and the National Center for Education Statistics.