School district or education agency · NCES 0901500

Essex School District

Centerbrook, CT

District overview See comparisons

Students300

Student membership reported by NCES for 2023–24.

Schools1

operational schools · 2023–24

Students300

students in linked records

Latest attendance year2022–23

federal comparable series

Latest finance record$31,691

per student

Student outcomes

How are students doing?

Four views answer different questions. State test percentages show grade-level expectations; the national research trend shows change over time; graduation and dropout measures describe high-school outcomes.

Nationally comparable trend · 2019–2025

Are results improving over time?

63^rdlatest estimated national standing

20192022202320242025

14 percentile points lower than 2019.

State proficiency standards differ and should not be used for cross-state rankings. Graduation ranges and privacy protections are preserved exactly. The academic trend uses Stanford Education Data Archive estimates and is not a state proficiency percentage.

What has changed?

The district’s recent direction

Each card uses its own clearly labeled period. Measures from different sources are never blended.

Academic standing14 percentile points

Lower than the first comparable year.

2019–2025 · Stanford research estimate

Chronic absence5.8 points

Higher than the first year. More students were chronically absent.

2020–21–2022–23

Enrollment0.0%

Enrollment was essentially unchanged.

2021–22 to 2023–24 · NCES

Operating spending+5.9%

Spending per student increased before adjusting for inflation.

FY 2022 to FY 2023 · NCES F-33

Enrollment 2023–24Finance 2022–23Attendance 2022–23State tests 2024–25 where published

Enrollment · 2023–24

Who attends this district?

Pre-K33 students

11.0%

Kindergarten–grade 5228 students

76.0%

Grades 6–839 students

13.0%

See enrollment for every grade

Pre-Kindergarten33

Kindergarten37

Grade 134

Grade 236

Grade 334

Grade 443

Grade 544

Grade 639

Students by race and ethnicity

White261 (87.0%)

Hispanic/Latino25 (8.3%)

Two or more races11 (3.7%)

Asian1 (0.3%)

Black or African American1 (0.3%)

Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander1 (0.3%)

Final NCES Common Core of Data membership file, 2023–24. Suppressed or missing cells are not estimated.

Early learning · 2023–24

How much public pre-K is reported?

33Students enrolled in pre-K

4.3Pre-K teachers, full-time equivalent

7.7:1Reported pre-K students per pre-K teacher

Pre-K students as a share of district enrollment

District11.0%

CT3.8%

United States2.9%

Final NCES Common Core of Data membership and staff files, 2023–24. Enrollment shows children attending district-run public pre-K. It does not show open seats, waitlists, private providers, program hours, eligibility or the cost to families.

Current staffing · 2023–24

How many staff members support students?

86.5All district staff, full-time equivalent

35Teachers, full-time equivalent

1School psychologists, full-time equivalent

21.5Instructional aides, full-time equivalent

1Librarians and media specialists, full-time equivalent

1School administrators, full-time equivalent

3.3Student support staff, full-time equivalent

See detailed staffing

Pre-K teachers4.3 FTE

Kindergarten teachers3.8 FTE

Elementary teachers26.9 FTE

Instructional coordinators6.1 FTE

District administrators2.1 FTE

District administrative support0.8 FTE

School administrative support2.8 FTE

Other support staff11.9 FTE

Final NCES Common Core of Data staff file, 2023–24. These are full-time-equivalent positions, not employee headcounts, vacancies or caseloads.

Teachers and staff

Teacher workforce

Loading the district’s workforce comparison…

Community context · 2024

How many school-age children live in poverty?

This Census estimate provides context about families in the district. It does not measure school quality or describe every student enrolled in the district.

384children ages 5 to 17

22estimated to live in families below the poverty line

5.7%about 1 in 18 school-age children

District5.7%

CT12.5%

United States14.4%

U.S. Census Bureau Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024. The estimate covers related children ages 5 to 17 in families in poverty and uses 2024–25 district boundaries.

District geography · 2024–25

What area does this district cover?

NCES publishes a geographic boundary for traditional school districts. Charter agencies and some special-purpose agencies may not have one.

Loading the official district boundary…

Source: NCES EDGE School District Boundaries, school year 2024–25.

Comparable districts

Districts serving a similar student population

These peers are matched using enrollment and available student population measures. Districts in CT receive geographic preference, but a closer national match may appear when it is more comparable. Open any profile for a full comparison.

Salisbury School DistrictLakeville, CT

Students: 303
Community poverty: 5.3%
English learners: 3.5%
Special education: 11.8%

Matched on enrollment, community poverty, English-learner enrollment · View →Elm City Montessori School DistrictNew Haven, CT

Students: 305
English learners: 2.8%
Special education: 5.7%

Matched on enrollment, English-learner enrollment, special-education enrollment · View →Regional School District 01Falls Village, CT

Students: 314
Community poverty: 6.1%
English learners: 2.4%
Special education: 16.8%

Matched on enrollment, community poverty, English-learner enrollment · View →Sprague School DistrictBaltic, CT

Students: 291
Community poverty: 11.4%
English learners: 4.7%
Special education: 13.8%

Matched on enrollment, community poverty, English-learner enrollment · View →The Bridge Academy DistrictBridgeport, CT

Students: 281
English learners: 2.9%
Special education: 19.7%

Matched on enrollment, English-learner enrollment, special-education enrollment · View →

District, state and country

How does this district compare?

State and national figures use the same measure and reporting period. They are weighted by students or staffing whenever the source provides a denominator.

MeasureDistrictCTUnited States

Academic standing2025

63rd percentile48th percentile45th percentile

This district is 15 percentile points higher than the state figure and 18 percentile points higher than the U.S. figure.

Students chronically absent2022–23

10.8%19.3%27.8%

This district is 8.5 percentage points lower than the state figure and 17.0 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.

Revenue per studentFY 2023

$36,276$28,098$19,509

This district is $8,178 per student higher than the state figure and $16,767 per student higher than the U.S. figure.

Spending per studentFY 2023

$31,691$23,867$15,859

This district is $7,824 per student higher than the state figure and $15,832 per student higher than the U.S. figure.

Capital outlay per studentFY 2023

$7$1,665$1,964

This district is $1,658 per student lower than the state figure and $1,957 per student lower than the U.S. figure.

Equipment spending per studentFY 2023

$7$387$336

This district is $380 per student lower than the state figure and $329 per student lower than the U.S. figure.

Special-education spending per studentFY 2023

$5,502$4,845$1,793

This district is $657 per student higher than the state figure and $3,709 per student higher than the U.S. figure.

Salaries per studentFY 2023

$16,917$12,787$8,742

This district is $4,130 per student higher than the state figure and $8,175 per student higher than the U.S. figure.

Benefits per studentFY 2023

$10,512$6,942$3,769

This district is $3,570 per student higher than the state figure and $6,743 per student higher than the U.S. figure.

Debt outstanding per studentFY 2023

$0$5,172$11,715

This district is $5,172 per student lower than the state figure and $11,715 per student lower than the U.S. figure.

Debt retired per studentFY 2023

$2,575$615$869

This district is $1,960 per student higher than the state figure and $1,706 per student higher than the U.S. figure.

Students per teacher2023–24

9:112:115:1

This district is 3.0 students per teacher lower than the state figure and 6.0 students per teacher lower than the U.S. figure.

District staff per 1,000 students2023–24

288.3197.8138.9

This district is 90.5 staff per 1,000 students higher than the state figure and 149.4 staff per 1,000 students higher than the U.S. figure.

Instructional aides per 1,000 students2023–24

71.834.118.5

This district is 37.7 aides per 1,000 students higher than the state figure and 53.3 aides per 1,000 students higher than the U.S. figure.

School psychologists per 1,000 students2023–24

3.32.10.9

This district is 1.2 psychologists per 1,000 students higher than the state figure and 2.4 psychologists per 1,000 students higher than the U.S. figure.

Pre-K students as a share of enrollment2023–24

11.0%3.8%2.9%

This district is 7.2 percentage points higher than the state figure and 8.1 percentage points higher than the U.S. figure.

Students learning English2021–22 · reporting schools

3.7%9.3%12.0%

This district is 5.6 percentage points lower than the state figure and 8.4 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.

Students receiving IDEA services2021–22 · reporting schools

16.3%15.5%14.0%

This district is 0.7 percentage points higher than the state figure and 2.3 percentage points higher than the U.S. figure.

Students with Section 504 plans2021–22 · reporting schools

10.0%6.9%3.9%

This district is 3.0 percentage points higher than the state figure and 6.0 percentage points higher than the U.S. figure.

Teachers reported as certified2021–22 · reporting schools

100.0%98.9%95.8%

This district is 1.1 percentage points higher than the state figure and 4.2 percentage points higher than the U.S. figure.

Enrollment change2021–22 to 2023–24

0.0%+3.1%+0.5%

This district is 3.1 percentage points lower than the state figure and 0.5 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.

Students eligible for free or reduced-price meals2021–22 · valid district records

22.7%39.9%50.6%

This district is 17.2 percentage points lower than the state figure and 27.9 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.

Out-of-school suspension rate · students without disabilities2021–22 · matched enrollment

0.0%3.4%4.5%

This district is 3.4 percentage points lower than the state figure and 4.5 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.

Out-of-school suspension rate · students receiving IDEA services2021–22 · matched enrollment

0.0%8.4%9.0%

This district is 8.4 percentage points lower than the state figure and 9.0 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.

Out-of-school suspension rate · students with Section 504 plans2021–22 · matched enrollment

0.0%4.1%6.7%

This district is 4.1 percentage points lower than the state figure and 6.7 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.

School-age children in poverty2024 Census estimate

5.7%12.5%14.4%

This district is 6.8 percentage points lower than the state figure and 8.7 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.

Learning support · 2021–22 federal snapshot

How many students may need specialized support?

Counts and shares use only schools with a usable value for that measure. The reporting-school denominator prevents missing schools from being counted as zero.

3.7%Students learning English11 students · 1 of 1 schools reported both this measure and enrollment

District3.7%

CT9.3%

U.S.12.0%

16.3%Students receiving IDEA special-education services49 students · 1 of 1 schools reported both this measure and enrollment

District16.3%

CT15.5%

U.S.14.0%

10.0%Students with Section 504 plans30 students · 1 of 1 schools reported both this measure and enrollment

District10.0%

CT6.9%

U.S.3.9%

0.0%English learners also receiving IDEA services0 students · 1 of 1 schools reported both this measure and enrollment

District0.0%

CT1.8%

U.S.1.7%

U.S. Department of Education Civil Rights Data Collection, 2021–22. Public-use counts are privacy-protected. These figures describe the reporting year, not current enrollment, diagnoses, service quality or unmet need.

Teacher quality and early learning · 2021–22

What did the district report about teachers and preschool?

100.0%Teachers reported as certified

29Children ages 3–5 in district preschool

Teacher certification comparison

District100.0%

CT98.9%

United States95.8%

U.S. Department of Education Civil Rights Data Collection, 2021–22. Certification status is district-reported and may not match current staffing. Preschool counts cover the federal reporting year and are not a measure of available seats.

Academic results · 2025

How do results differ among student groups?

White students127 assessments

61 out of 100

A score of 50 marks the national 2019 midpoint. Higher numbers indicate stronger results on the comparable Stanford research scale. This is not a state proficiency rate.

District makeup

What kinds of schools are in the district?

1Elementary schools

1Suburb setting

School levels, settings and types use the NCES 2021–22 directory matched to the federal civil-rights collection.

District finances

How is the district funded, and how does it spend?

Sources of funds

Where the money comes from

Share of district revenue supplied by each level of government.

3%Federal

14.6%State

82.4%Local

Uses of funds

Where the money goes

Annual spending for each enrolled student.

$31,691Total current spending per student

$20,402Instruction per student

$10,140Support services per student

Revenue by source: percentages and dollars

$331KFederal revenue3% of total revenue

$1.6MState revenue14.6% of total revenue

$9MLocal revenue82.4% of total revenue

How operating money was used

$20,402Instructionper student

$10,140Student and instructional supportper student

$5,502Special educationper student

$2,764Building operations and maintenanceper student

$847Student transportationper student

$1,150Food servicesper student

$110Technologyper student

People costs

$5.1MSalaries$16,917 per student

$3.2MEmployee benefits$10,512 per student

Equipment, buildings and debt

$2KEquipmentFY 2023

$2KCapital outlay$7 per student

$0Constructionincluded in capital outlay

$0Debt outstanding at year end$0 per student

$0New debt issuedFY 2023

$775KDebt principal retiredFY 2023

$145KInterest paid on debtFY 2023

Selected federal program revenue

$26KTitle I$86 per student

$174KChild nutrition$578 per student

What changed since FY 2022

Operating spending per student

FY 2022$29,927

FY 2023$31,691+5.9% year over year

Capital spending per student

FY 2022$7

FY 2023$70.0% year over year

Debt outstanding per student

FY 2022$0

FY 2023$00.0% year over year

Revenue shares and spending categories answer different questions and should not be added together. Source: NCES F-33 district finance, FY 2023.

Attendance

How has chronic absence changed?

2020–215%

14 of 278 students

2021–228.5%

23 of 271 students

2022–2310.8%

29 of 268 students

Specialized support and security · 2021–22

What specialized roles were reported?

0Sworn law-enforcement officer FTE1 reporting schools

0Security staff FTE1 reporting schools

Staffing is reported as full-time equivalents in the 2021–22 CRDC collection.

Learning opportunities

What do district schools offer?

Gifted programs1 reporting schools

Shares use only schools for which the program was applicable and reported. A districtwide percentage does not guarantee availability at every grade or campus. Source: 2021–22 CRDC.

Safety and discipline

What was reported across district schools?

0Out-of-school suspensions1 reporting schoolsSee schools →0In-school suspensions1 reporting schoolsSee schools →0Law-enforcement referrals1 reporting schoolsSee schools →0School-related arrests1 reporting schoolsSee schools →

Counts are from the 2021–22 CRDC collection. Open a measure to see the schools behind the district total.

Technology and safety · 2021–22

What access and incident data is available?

100%Schools reporting Wi-Fi1 reporting schools

100%Schools reporting fiber1 reporting schools

0Student devices reported1 reporting schools

0Weapon-possession reports1 reporting schoolsSee schools →0Threats involving a weapon1 reporting schoolsSee schools →0Threats without a weapon1 reporting schoolsSee schools →0Attacks involving a weapon1 reporting schoolsSee schools →0Attacks without a weapon1 reporting schoolsSee schools →0Firearm incidents1 reporting schoolsSee schools →0Robberies without a weapon1 reporting schoolsSee schools →0Robberies involving a weapon1 reporting schoolsSee schools →0Homicide incidents1 reporting schoolsSee schools →

Technology and incident figures are from the 2021–22 CRDC collection. Device counts describe the reporting year, not current inventory.

Six questions parents ask

What the available data says

Each answer shows its reporting year and opens a deeper comparison. Missing and suppressed results are never shown as zero.

Are students making academic progress?5 years of resultsLatest research estimate: 2025Explore and compare →Are students missing too much school?10.8% chronically absent2022–23 · 268 students measuredExplore and compare →Is the district improving?Declined overallCompare the earliest and latest available yearsExplore and compare →Where are student-group gaps largest?1 student groups2025 research estimatesExplore and compare →How much does the district spend?$31,691current spending per studentExplore and compare →Does the district have enough support staff?No counselor ratioStudents per counselor in the 2023–24 federal staffing fileExplore and compare →

Data status

8 of 8 national data layers are matched to this NCES district ID. Identity and school counts use NCES records. Academic estimates use SEDA, attendance uses EDFacts, finance uses NCES F-33, staffing and enrollment use 2023–24 NCES CCD where available, teacher certification, preschool and policy fields use the 2021–22 CRDC, and community poverty context uses Census SAIPE. Four-year graduation rates use 2022–23 EDFacts. Every detailed view preserves its reporting year.

See all sources →