The top reported proficiency rate is 44% in English language arts. The lowest is 19% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Achievement First Hartford Academy District
Achievement First Hartford Academy District serves kindergarten through twelfth grade across Hartford, Connecticut, operating as a charter network with an elementary school, a middle school, and a high school. The district is small, with enrollment spread fairly evenly across grades. The racial composition is predominantly Black, with a substantial Hispanic population and very few white students. Data on free-or-reduced-price lunch eligibility and special populations such as English learners or students with IEPs was not available.
Proficiency on state testing shows a concerning pattern. In the early elementary grades, proficiency in English language arts sits in the mid-range, with fourth-grade ELA performance stronger than third-grade. Math proficiency in grades three and four is modest, dropping significantly in grades five through seven before rising again in grade eight. Overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades places this district below the midpoint among the region's districts. Science proficiency in grade five is very low; grade-eight science data was suppressed. The district's average scale scores on the Smarter Balanced assessments tend to cluster in a narrow band, suggesting consistent testing performance even as proficiency rates vary, but the low proportion of students meeting proficiency thresholds across most grades is a substantial gap a parent should understand clearly. State testing data for high school was not available.
Chronic absenteeism is a notable area of concern. The district's rate sits in the bottom quartile among the region's districts, well above the regional median. This could reflect transportation barriers, economic instability affecting families' ability to get students to school, or other engagement challenges that merit direct conversation with school leadership.
Per-pupil spending is in the lower range compared to other districts in the region. A graduation rate for high school was not reported; the district may serve too few high school students or may not yet have a four-year cohort on record.
Recent changes have shifted how families access these schools. K–8 applications now run through Hartford Public Schools' central choice system rather than directly through Achievement First, so parents seeking a seat must apply via the district's SchoolMint process and must be Hartford residents. The high school application is now open to all Hartford residents as well, widening access beyond students continuing from the K–8 pipeline. Both schools emphasize college preparation; the high school explicitly states a college-enrollment goal and offers SAT prep, intensive college counseling, and tutoring. A parent considering this district should verify current program offerings and speak directly with the schools about how they are addressing the proficiency and attendance patterns evident in the data.
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