Colchester 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.

Colchester, Connecticut - 4 schools

An equity score of 52/100 ranks Colchester School District #80 of 174 districts in Connecticut (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $22,976 per pupil, Colchester School District ranks #106 of 191 Connecticut districts by per-pupil spending (Connecticut districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

2,235
Total Enrollment
4
Schools
$22,976
Per-Pupil Spending
High, Combined
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Colchester School District operates 4 public schools serving 2,235 students, placing it among the smallest districts in Connecticut. The school portfolio breaks down into 1 high, 1 combined, 1 elementary, 1 middle 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 Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $22,976 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 57.8% local, 36.5% state, and 5.8% 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 52/100, ranked #80 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.

Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 4 schools offering Advanced Placement (19 AP courses district-wide), a 184.5:1 student-counselor ratio, that meets the ASCA-recommended benchmark, and 17.4% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 81.1% White, 9.6% Hispanic or Latino, 2.6% African American across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Bacon Academy, with a diversity index of 34.0/100.

Its largest campus is Bacon Academy, enrolling 572 students (27% of the district's total enrollment).

Bacon Academy accounts for 25.6% of all Colchester School District student enrollment

That concentration means Colchester School District-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: high. 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

Colchester School District student-counselor ratio is 185:1 — 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

Colchester School District chronic absenteeism rate is 17.4% — near the typical range (US average ~28) — aligned with the national post-pandemic baseline of roughly 28% chronic absenteeism

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 Variation between sub-units within Colchester School District is typically wider than the Colchester School District-aggregate figure suggests.

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

Where does the funding come from?

5.8%
Federal
36.5%
State
57.8%
Local

Funding Equity

52
Equity Score
80 / 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 4 schools in Colchester School District.

White 81.1%
Hispanic or Latino 9.6%
African American 2.6%
Asian 1.9%
Multiracial 4.8%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 32.9/100

Average Simpson diversity index across Colchester School District's schools, below the Connecticut average of 50.5.

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Bacon Academy 34.0
  2. 2 William J. Johnston Middle School 32.7
  3. 3 Colchester Elementary School 32.6
  4. 4 Jack Jackter Intermediate School 32.5

Programs & Resources

1 / 4
Schools with AP
19 AP courses total
184.5:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
17.4%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Colchester School District

School Enrollment
Bacon Academy
572
Colchester Elementary School
552
Jack Jackter Intermediate School
509
William J. Johnston Middle School
452

How Colchester School District Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Connecticut districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Weston School District Similar size Higher spending More locally funded
Plainville School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Tolland School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Regional School District 10 Similar size Similar spending More locally funded
New Fairfield School District Similar size Similar spending More locally funded

Comparisons are relative to Colchester 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 Colchester School District →
New Haven School District
19,150 students · 37 schools · $21,911/pupil
Compare vs Colchester School District →
Waterbury School District
18,701 students · 29 schools · $18,981/pupil
Compare vs Colchester School District →
Hartford School District
16,774 students · 41 schools · $25,530/pupil
Compare vs Colchester School District →
Stamford School District
16,158 students · 21 schools · $24,510/pupil
Compare vs Colchester School District →

Compare Colchester 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 Colchester School District?

Colchester School District has 4 schools, including 1 high, 1 combined, 1 elementary, 1 middle. Total enrollment is 2,235 students.

How much does Colchester School District spend per student?

Colchester School District spends $22,976 per student. The district has an equity score of 52/100, ranking #80 in Connecticut.

What is the demographic composition of Colchester School District?

Colchester School District students are 81.1% White, 9.6% Hispanic or Latino, 2.6% African American, 1.9% Asian, averaged across 4 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Colchester School District?

Colchester School District has an equity score of 52/100, ranking #80 out of 174 districts in Connecticut.