Meriden 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.

Meriden, Connecticut - 13 schools

An equity score of 44/100 ranks Meriden School District #107 of 174 districts in Connecticut (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $19,132 per pupil, Meriden School District ranks #165 of 191 Connecticut districts by per-pupil spending (Connecticut districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

8,630
Total Enrollment
13
Schools
$19,132
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, 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 combined, 3 middle, 2 high, 2 elementary schools, a compact enough portfolio that families can compare every campus directly before they move, rent, or enrol. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in South Central Connecticut Planning Region.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $19,132 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 30.9% local, 54.9% state, and 14.2% federal, a state-revenue-heavy mix that insulates the district somewhat from local property-tax volatility, though it ties funding to state budget cycles. The district's equity score is 44/100, ranked #107 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 2 of 13 schools offering Advanced Placement (64 AP courses district-wide), a 291:1 student-counselor ratio, somewhat 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. Its most demographically mixed campus is Benjamin Franklin School, with a diversity index of 64.3/100.

Its largest campus is Francis T. Maloney High School, enrolling 1,291 students (16% of the district's total enrollment). Its smallest is Benjamin Franklin School, at 357 students, a 4x enrollment spread across the district's campuses.

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). Eligibility here is approaching the 75% concentration-grant threshold; it does not yet unlock the extra funding tier but sits meaningfully above the baseline 50% majority mark. 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

44
Equity Score
107 / 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 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.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 55.2/100

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

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Benjamin Franklin School 64.3
  2. 2 Israel Putnam School 62.5
  3. 3 Francis T. Maloney High School 58.8
  4. 4 Edison Middle School 57.5
  5. 5 Nathan Hale School 56.4

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

How Meriden School District Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Connecticut districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Greenwich School District Similar size Higher spending More locally funded
Capitol Region Education Council Similar size No spending data Similar funding mix
West Hartford School District Similar size Higher spending More locally funded
Fairfield School District Similar size Higher spending More locally funded
Bristol School District Similar size Similar spending More locally funded

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

Compare Meriden 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 Meriden School District?

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

How much does Meriden School District spend per student?

Meriden School District spends $19,132 per student. The district has an equity score of 44/100, ranking #107 in Connecticut.

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 44/100, ranking #107 out of 174 districts in Connecticut.