Canterbury School District

Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. District totals are aggregated directly from the schools reporting under this district in the source records. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.

Canterbury, Connecticut - 2 schools

An equity score of 53/100 ranks Canterbury School District #76 of 174 districts in Connecticut (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $23,499 per pupil, Canterbury School District ranks #98 of 191 Connecticut districts by per-pupil spending (Connecticut districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

474
Total Enrollment
2
Schools
$23,499
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, Elementary
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Canterbury School District operates 2 public schools serving 474 students, placing it among the smallest districts in Connecticut. The school portfolio breaks down into 1 combined, 1 elementary schools, a small enough portfolio that most families will interact with nearly every campus in the district at some point. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $23,499 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the lower half of 191 Connecticut districts by per-pupil spending. See how Connecticut compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 52.3% local, 41.0% state, and 6.7% federal, a local-revenue-heavy mix that leaves the district more exposed to property-tax swings and local ballot measures than state-funded peers. The district's equity score is 53/100, ranked #76 of 174 in Connecticut against a state average of 50, in line with the typical spread seen across the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

a 213:1 student-counselor ratio, that meets the ASCA-recommended benchmark, and 6.8% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 85.0% White, 12.3% Hispanic or Latino, 0.9% African American across the district's schools.

Its largest campus is Canterbury Elementary School, enrolling 295 students (58% of the district's total enrollment).

Canterbury Elementary School accounts for 58.1% of all Canterbury School District student enrollment

That is an overwhelming concentration, leaving the rest of Canterbury School District a distant remainder — means Canterbury School District-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: combined. A single dominant campus often anchors a district's program offerings and staffing patterns; the share helps explain why district-wide averages may not reflect the typical neighbourhood-school experience. When one entity dominates a region's footprint, its programmatic and budget decisions effectively set policy for a majority of the affected population.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Canterbury School District student-counselor ratio is 213:1 — low (typically associated with meeting or exceeding the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) recommended 250:1 benchmark, which correlates with stronger college and career counseling capacity)

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment, districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Lower values often correlate with smaller scale and population characteristics rather than higher resource budgets per se.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Canterbury School District chronic absenteeism rate is 6.8% — well below typical (typically associated with unusually small scale or exceptionally high per-unit investment)

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason, illness, family obligations, or disengagement Values this far below typical often correlate with unusually small scale or population characteristics rather than higher resource budgets per se — worth checking whether the underlying denominator is itself an outlier.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

6.7%
Federal
41.0%
State
52.3%
Local

Funding Equity

53
Equity Score
76 / 174
State Rank
50
State Average

This district has moderate funding equity. There may be room to improve funding diversity or resource allocation.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 2 schools in Canterbury School District.

White 85.0%
Hispanic or Latino 12.3%
African American 0.9%
Asian 0.9%
Multiracial 0.8%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

213:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
6.8%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in Canterbury School District

School Enrollment
Canterbury Elementary School
295
Dr. Helen Baldwin Middle School
213

How Canterbury School District Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Connecticut districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Columbia School District Similar size Similar spending More locally funded
Marlborough School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Booker T. Washington Academy District Similar size Lower spending Less locally funded
Highville Charter School District Similar size Lower spending Less locally funded
New Hartford School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix

Comparisons are relative to Canterbury School District's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data and the F-33 Finance Survey.

Nearby Districts in Connecticut

Top districts in the same state, compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Bridgeport School District
19,337 students · 36 schools · $20,908/pupil
Compare vs Canterbury School District →
New Haven School District
19,150 students · 37 schools · $21,911/pupil
Compare vs Canterbury School District →
Waterbury School District
18,701 students · 29 schools · $18,981/pupil
Compare vs Canterbury School District →
Hartford School District
16,774 students · 41 schools · $25,530/pupil
Compare vs Canterbury School District →
Stamford School District
16,158 students · 21 schools · $24,510/pupil
Compare vs Canterbury School District →

Compare Canterbury School District

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs Bridgeport School District →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Canterbury School District?

Canterbury School District has 2 schools, including 1 combined, 1 elementary. Total enrollment is 474 students.

How much does Canterbury School District spend per student?

Canterbury School District spends $23,499 per student. The district has an equity score of 53/100, ranking #76 in Connecticut.

What is the demographic composition of Canterbury School District?

Canterbury School District students are 85.0% White, 12.3% Hispanic or Latino, 0.9% African American, 0.9% Asian, averaged across 2 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Canterbury School District?

Canterbury School District has an equity score of 53/100, ranking #76 out of 174 districts in Connecticut.