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, with one estimate claiming that low-income districts are underfunded by around $6,700 per pupil.
Discrepancies between the rich and poor have been exacerbated even more due to the lasting impact of 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 $154 - $1,115 higher median weekly earnings than people with a high school diploma and no college experience, depending on the degree.
Connecticut has the 13th 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.
Main Findings
Note: For visual purposes, we included only the top 7 school districts by enrollment from each category. Rank 1 on the “Expenditures Ranking” means highest expenditures and Rank 1 on “Income Ranking” means lowest income.
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 | Somers School District | 0.31 | $20,087 | $106,305 |
| 2 | Windsor School District | 0.31 | $23,595 | $92,079 |
| 3 | Regional School District 04 | 0.32 | $24,097 | $89,964 |
| 4 | Litchfield School District | 0.59 | $24,803 | $87,241 |
| 5 | Oxford School District | 0.85 | $20,017 | $106,089 |
| 6 | Preston School District | 1.06 | $24,275 | $87,885 |
| 7 | Salem School District | 1.08 | $20,776 | $104,725 |
| 8 | Barkhamsted School District | 1.17 | $21,087 | $103,500 |
| 9 | Bloomfield School District | 1.81 | $26,177 | $79,134 |
| 10 | Old Saybrook School District | 1.91 | $24,340 | $86,802 |
| 11 | Suffield School District | 1.92 | $19,497 | $110,938 |
| 12 | West Hartford School District | 1.93 | $20,850 | $105,230 |
| 13 | Lebanon School District | 1.95 | $21,818 | $97,422 |
| 14 | Granby School District | 1.95 | $19,407 | $111,347 |
| 15 | Berlin School District | 1.96 | $20,715 | $102,075 |
| 16 | Deep River School District | 1.97 | $26,711 | $80,495 |
| 17 | Colchester School District | 2.01 | $20,232 | $107,914 |
| 18 | North Branford School District | 3.01 | $21,910 | $96,019 |
| 19 | Regional School District 07 | 3.07 | $22,085 | $101,098 |
| 20 | New Hartford School District | 3.67 | $21,677 | $103,400 |
| 21 | North Haven School District | 3.73 | $19,666 | $104,812 |
| 22 | Salisbury School District | 4.02 | $29,035 | $72,632 |
| 23 | Milford School District | 4.51 | $23,705 | $95,627 |
| 24 | Waterford School District | 4.57 | $22,822 | $90,670 |
| 25 | East Windsor School District | 4.64 | $25,647 | $78,667 |
| 26 | East Haddam School District | 5.84 | $23,994 | $95,685 |
| 27 | Voluntown School District | 5.89 | $23,962 | $84,583 |
| 28 | Guilford School District | 6.30 | $21,127 | $108,243 |
| 29 | Stamford School District | 6.31 | $20,957 | $96,885 |
| 30 | Eastford School District | 6.32 | $23,880 | $96,625 |
| 31 | Stonington School District | 6.60 | $21,728 | $93,349 |
| 32 | Regional School District 16 | 6.84 | $19,959 | $100,597 |
| 33 | Franklin School District | 6.92 | $25,139 | $91,875 |
| 34 | Hampton School District | 7.02 | $28,833 | $76,364 |
| 35 | Marlborough School District | 7.17 | $20,069 | $113,547 |
| 36 | East Lyme School District | 7.42 | $20,910 | $96,023 |
| 37 | Brookfield School District | 7.83 | $19,333 | $117,292 |
| 38 | Ashford School District | 8.35 | $23,328 | $84,909 |
| 39 | Regional School District 17 | 8.64 | $22,011 | $106,741 |
| 40 | Regional School District 15 | 8.69 | $21,522 | $108,864 |
| 41 | Norwalk School District | 8.91 | $22,119 | $89,486 |
| 42 | Regional School District 14 | 9.66 | $23,807 | $100,129 |
| 43 | Farmington School District | 9.67 | $20,107 | $97,262 |
| 44 | Clinton School District | 9.69 | $21,741 | $90,332 |
| 45 | South Windsor School District | 9.83 | $19,151 | $119,972 |
| 46 | Scotland School District | 10.21 | $26,783 | $88,077 |
| 47 | Hamden School District | 10.32 | $24,375 | $78,602 |
| 48 | Tolland School District | 10.85 | $19,761 | $118,367 |
| 49 | Regional School District 06 | 11.06 | $23,101 | $104,458 |
| 50 | Westbrook School District | 11.07 | $30,312 | $73,988 |
| 51 | Portland School District | 11.49 | $19,579 | $97,754 |
| 52 | East Hampton School District | 11.59 | $20,050 | $95,663 |
| 53 | Regional School District 10 | 12.39 | $19,120 | $122,558 |
| 54 | Regional School District 08 | 12.53 | $21,015 | $114,677 |
| 55 | Branford School District | 13.09 | $23,305 | $80,471 |
| 56 | Windsor Locks School District | 13.54 | $25,185 | $72,090 |
| 57 | Stafford School District | 14.12 | $22,581 | $82,546 |
| 58 | Bolton School District | 14.58 | $21,966 | $112,622 |
| 59 | New Fairfield School District | 14.67 | $21,522 | $114,583 |
| 60 | Southington School District | 15.01 | $17,989 | $101,098 |
| 61 | East Granby School District | 15.28 | $23,320 | $107,566 |
| 62 | Regional School District 11 | 15.33 | $29,369 | $82,057 |
| 63 | Shelton School District | 15.45 | $18,417 | $98,873 |
| 64 | Winchester School District | 15.57 | $26,668 | $63,882 |
| 65 | Bozrah School District | 16.31 | $27,276 | $91,838 |
| 66 | Cheshire School District | 16.38 | $20,043 | $122,477 |
| 67 | Coventry School District | 16.96 | $19,316 | $93,619 |
| 68 | Andover School District | 17.06 | $25,646 | $99,449 |
| 69 | Regional School District 01 | 17.24 | $31,025 | $76,887 |
| 70 | North Canaan School District | 17.30 | $26,435 | $63,214 |
| 71 | Wolcott School District | 17.43 | $18,643 | $96,014 |
| 72 | Canton School District | 17.63 | $20,053 | $89,863 |
| 73 | Pomfret School District | 17.65 | $19,594 | $91,788 |
| 74 | Columbia School District | 18.04 | $24,574 | $104,911 |
| 75 | Wethersfield School District | 18.27 | $19,667 | $90,881 |
| 76 | Wallingford School District | 18.49 | $21,471 | $83,054 |
| 77 | Canterbury School District | 18.68 | $20,687 | $86,178 |
| 78 | Bethel School District | 18.91 | $18,555 | $94,973 |
| 79 | Essex School District | 18.92 | $25,406 | $102,243 |
| 80 | Kent School District | 19.70 | $31,473 | $77,344 |
| 81 | Manchester School District | 19.74 | $23,266 | $74,270 |
| 82 | Glastonbury School District | 19.77 | $21,254 | $120,605 |
| 83 | Monroe School District | 19.87 | $20,983 | $121,847 |
| 84 | New Milford School District | 19.93 | $18,598 | $93,815 |
| 85 | Avon School District | 20.51 | $20,836 | $123,077 |
| 86 | Trumbull School District | 20.99 | $19,486 | $129,239 |
| 87 | Newington School District | 22.13 | $20,724 | $82,721 |
| 88 | Willington School District | 22.70 | $22,833 | $73,264 |
| 89 | Thompson School District | 23.32 | $22,241 | $75,168 |
| 90 | Hebron School District | 23.54 | $20,821 | $126,045 |
| 91 | Lisbon School District | 23.85 | $19,408 | $86,641 |
| 92 | Ledyard School District | 24.09 | $17,982 | $92,439 |
| 93 | Hartland School District | 24.16 | $27,631 | $97,850 |
| 94 | Montville School District | 24.38 | $20,678 | $80,765 |
| 95 | Rocky Hill School District | 24.56 | $19,605 | $85,123 |
| 96 | Newtown School District | 25.13 | $21,422 | $125,028 |
| 97 | Orange School District | 25.27 | $20,398 | $129,489 |
| 98 | Plymouth School District | 25.52 | $20,830 | $79,029 |
| 99 | Chester School District | 25.98 | $30,441 | $87,717 |
| 100 | Chaplin School District | 26.25 | $31,525 | $83,393 |
| 101 | Simsbury School District | 26.36 | $20,801 | $128,829 |
| 102 | Regional School District 18 | 26.62 | $26,301 | $105,833 |
| 103 | Woodstock School District | 27.11 | $17,362 | $92,165 |
| 104 | Stratford School District | 27.27 | $19,663 | $82,286 |
| 105 | Cromwell School District | 28.18 | $17,734 | $89,562 |
| 106 | Ellington School District | 28.86 | $17,562 | $89,645 |
| 107 | Madison School District | 29.11 | $23,565 | $119,777 |
| 108 | Enfield School District | 30.09 | $18,801 | $83,232 |
| 109 | Sterling School District | 31.55 | $18,136 | $84,643 |
| 110 | Middletown School District | 34.10 | $22,909 | $62,022 |
| 111 | Naugatuck School District | 35.15 | $18,899 | $77,967 |
| 112 | Groton School District | 35.46 | $20,986 | $68,849 |
| 113 | Mansfield School District | 36.44 | $25,108 | $50,492 |
| 114 | Thomaston School District | 36.68 | $20,192 | $71,039 |
| 115 | Seymour School District | 36.91 | $17,926 | $80,396 |
| 116 | Regional School District 19 | 36.92 | $21,576 | $64,957 |
| 117 | Colebrook School District | 38.49 | $31,257 | $96,250 |
| 118 | Plainville School District | 38.66 | $19,987 | $70,012 |
| 119 | Watertown School District | 39.11 | $19,423 | $71,964 |
| 120 | Regional School District 13 | 39.52 | $25,686 | $120,781 |
| 121 | Vernon School District | 39.62 | $20,366 | $67,492 |
| 122 | North Stonington School District | 42.05 | $21,124 | $61,963 |
| 123 | Sprague School District | 42.34 | $18,449 | $72,989 |
| 124 | Fairfield School District | 43.58 | $21,986 | $140,308 |
| 125 | Torrington School District | 43.67 | $21,064 | $60,662 |
| 126 | East Haven School District | 44.19 | $19,263 | $67,773 |
| 127 | Brooklyn School District | 44.91 | $17,155 | $75,993 |
| 128 | Putnam School District | 46.10 | $19,647 | $64,320 |
| 129 | Killingly School District | 46.26 | $19,198 | $66,071 |
| 130 | Norfolk School District | 46.61 | $38,082 | $75,179 |
| 131 | Norwich School District | 46.75 | $21,099 | $57,565 |
| 132 | Derby School District | 46.96 | $20,823 | $58,534 |
| 133 | Canaan School District | 46.98 | $39,687 | $68,750 |
| 134 | Regional School District 05 | 48.13 | $21,442 | $146,961 |
| 135 | West Haven School District | 48.29 | $19,166 | $64,255 |
| 136 | Plainfield School District | 49.27 | $18,369 | $66,689 |
| 137 | East Hartford School District | 49.46 | $19,920 | $59,954 |
| 138 | Bristol School District | 50.61 | $17,640 | $68,485 |
| 139 | Bethany School District | 51.69 | $21,285 | $151,034 |
| 140 | Griswold School District | 52.56 | $18,648 | $62,361 |
| 141 | Union School District | 54.08 | $38,370 | $81,111 |
| 142 | Regional School District 12 | 55.05 | $31,926 | $109,275 |
| 143 | Danbury School District | 56.17 | $15,264 | $73,204 |
| 144 | Sherman School District | 60.09 | $30,369 | $120,682 |
| 145 | New London School District | 62.46 | $19,939 | $47,424 |
| 146 | Meriden School District | 63.31 | $17,133 | $58,472 |
| 147 | Windham School District | 63.98 | $20,663 | $42,909 |
| 148 | Ridgefield School District | 64.58 | $23,828 | $152,630 |
| 149 | Ansonia School District | 66.85 | $17,458 | $53,709 |
| 150 | Woodbridge School District | 67.28 | $20,529 | $169,155 |
| 151 | Cornwall School District | 67.82 | $39,333 | $90,197 |
| 152 | Easton School District | 69.43 | $21,555 | $166,875 |
| 153 | New Haven School District | 69.99 | $18,923 | $44,507 |
| 154 | Regional School District 09 | 70.00 | $26,577 | $146,200 |
| 155 | Hartford School District | 70.45 | $20,796 | $36,154 |
| 156 | New Britain School District | 71.08 | $17,994 | $47,393 |
| 157 | Redding School District | 73.01 | $29,689 | $135,928 |
| 158 | Waterbury School District | 74.45 | $17,481 | $46,329 |
| 159 | Bridgeport School District | 76.62 | $16,717 | $47,484 |
| 160 | Greenwich School District | 90.14 | $26,092 | $167,537 |
| 161 | New Canaan School District | 118.45 | $24,776 | $200,203 |
| 162 | Wilton School District | 120.60 | $24,253 | $204,473 |
| 163 | Weston School District | 129.48 | $25,462 | $207,863 |
| 164 | Sharon School District | 140.89 | $54,146 | $97,560 |
| 165 | Westport School District | 145.54 | $25,668 | $222,375 |
| 166 | Darien School District | 158.68 | $23,586 | $243,750 |
*1=Most Equitable
Methodology
In order to rank the states with the most and least equitable school districts, WalletHub first scored 12,876 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 of the U.S. Census Bureau and the National Center for Education Statistics.