Meriden School District

Meriden, Connecticut — 13 schools

8,630
Total Enrollment
13
Schools
$20,981
Per-Pupil Spending
Other, Middle
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Meriden School District operates 13 public schools serving 8,630 students, placing it among the smaller districts in Connecticut. The school portfolio breaks down into 6 other, 3 middle, 2 high, 2 elementary schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. Aggregated across those campuses, enrollment totals 8,036 pupils using the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 release, and the district is geographically located in South Central Connecticut Planning Region County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $20,981 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, which aggregates every revenue and spending line reported under federal accounting standards. The funding mix is 30.9% local, 54.9% state, and 14.2% federal — a breakdown that matters because districts leaning heavily on local revenue are more exposed to property-tax swings, while higher federal shares typically track Title I concentration. Average teacher compensation clocks in at $113,548 per NCES F-33, a signal of the district's ability to recruit and retain staff against neighbouring districts. The district's equity score — 42/100, ranked #117 of 179 in Connecticut against a state average of 50 — measures how evenly funding reaches schools within its boundaries.

Academic infrastructure includes 2 of 13 schools offering Advanced Placement (64 AP courses district-wide), a 291:1 student-counselor ratio, above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 26.7% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 62.6% Hispanic or Latino, 18.8% White, 11.2% African American across the district's schools.

Francis T. Maloney High School accounts for 16.1% of all Meriden School District student enrollment

That concentration — well above the 8.4% national median for largest-entity share — means Meriden 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

Meriden School District school enrollment varies 3.6× across entities

Meriden School District school enrollment ranges from 357 students (lowest) to 1,291 students (highest), a spread of 934 students. That relatively narrow ratio reflects an unusually homogeneous campus portfolio — most districts have a wider mix of school sizes. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.

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

Meriden School District has higher-than-average Title I eligibility — 62.9% of the population qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch

free or reduced-price lunch eligibility is the federal threshold for Title I funding allocations, established under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA, 2015). Areas above 75% eligibility receive concentration grants on top of the basic Title I formula. Regions with eligibility this high typically draw a substantially larger federal funding share relative to their local tax base, which can either offset or reinforce existing gaps depending on allocation policy.

Source: ESSA Title I Part A; ED EDFacts file system ESSA Title I Part A; ED EDFacts file system

Meriden School District student-counselor ratio is 291:1 — near the typical range (US average ~408) — within the typical range for U.S. public districts

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

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

Meriden School District chronic absenteeism rate is 26.7% — 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 Meriden School District is typically wider than the Meriden 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?

14.2%
Federal
54.9%
State
30.9%
Local

Funding Equity

42
Equity Score
117 / 179
State Rank
50
State Average

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

Local Rent Costs

Fair Market Rents in South Central Connecticut Planning Region county, where this district is located.

$1,372
Studio/mo
$1,591
1 BR/mo
$1,969
2 BR/mo
$2,433
3 BR/mo
$2,872
4 BR/mo

Average Teacher Salary

$113,548
Average annual teacher salary

Source: NCES CCD F-33 (Finance Survey).

Teacher salary data from NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 13 schools in Meriden School District.

White 18.8%
Hispanic or Latino 62.6%
African American 11.2%
Asian 1.7%
Multiracial 5.6%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

2 / 13
Schools with AP
64 AP courses total
291:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
26.7%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Meriden School District

School Enrollment
Francis T. Maloney High School
1,291
Orville H. Platt High School
1,191
Edison Middle School
773
Lincoln Middle School
684
Casimir Pulaski School
539
Washington Middle School
536
Nathan Hale School
485
Roger Sherman School
457
Hanover School
456
Israel Putnam School
445
John Barry School
418
Thomas Hooker School
404
Benjamin Franklin School
357

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 · $23,852/pupil
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New Haven School District
19,150 students · 37 schools · $24,808/pupil
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Waterbury School District
18,701 students · 29 schools · $20,476/pupil
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Hartford School District
16,774 students · 41 schools · $32,469/pupil
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Stamford School District
16,158 students · 21 schools · $26,248/pupil
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Compare Meriden School District

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Meriden School District?

Meriden School District has 13 schools, including 2 high, 3 middle, 2 elementary, 6 other. Total enrollment is 8,630 students.

How much does Meriden School District spend per student?

Meriden School District spends $20,981 per student. The district has an equity score of 42/100, ranking #117 in Connecticut.

What is the average teacher salary in Meriden School District?

The average teacher salary in Meriden School District is $113,548 per year, according to the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

What is the average rent near Meriden School District?

The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in South Central Connecticut Planning Region County is $N/A/month (2026). This affects housing affordability for families in the district.

What is the demographic composition of Meriden School District?

Meriden School District students are 62.6% Hispanic or Latino, 18.8% White, 11.2% African American, 1.7% Asian, averaged across 13 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Meriden School District?

Meriden School District has an equity score of 42/100, ranking #117 out of 179 districts in Connecticut. This score measures resource distribution fairness across schools in the district.

Federal data Last updated 2026 Free public data

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