The top reported proficiency rate is 39% in English language arts. The lowest is 26% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Learn
LEARN is a Regional Educational Service Center operating magnet schools across four towns in Connecticut. The district runs the Regional Multicultural Magnet School in New London, the Friendship School in Waterford, Marine Science Magnet High School in Groton, and Three Rivers Middle College Magnet School in Norwich. As a RESC, LEARN functions differently from a traditional town district; it draws students from across the region and focuses on specialized programs rather than serving a single geographic community.
The enrollment spans pre-K through grade 12, with a notably large pre-K cohort and a significant secondary population in grades 9-12. The demographic profile is diverse: roughly equal shares of Hispanic and white students each make up about a third of enrollment, a fifth identify as two or more races, and a smaller share identify as Black. Asian students and American Indian/Alaska Native students make up smaller portions. No data on free and reduced lunch eligibility or English learner status appears in the available records, which is common for RESC entities, so a clear picture of economic need is not available.
On state math and ELA assessments, LEARN's proficiency rates in tested grades fall well below the county midpoint for all districts in the Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region. Grade 3 math and ELA proficiency rates are both in the bottom quarter among the county's districts. Grade 4 and 5 results are similarly below the county median in both subjects, with grade 5 ELA showing the strongest result but still below the midpoint. Grades 6, 7, and 8 data are suppressed, likely due to small student counts, which reflects the limited middle grades presence in the district. Science assessment results for grades 5 and 8 are also suppressed. Chronic absenteeism stands in the bottom quartile countywide, well above the county median, which may be a factor worth exploring with the school.
The district's current shape reflects a significant change. Effective in the 2024-25 school year, Connecticut overhauled funding for RESC magnet schools. The state moved from a tuition-based model, where sending towns paid attendance fees, to a weighted student funding formula with substantially higher state support. That shift made attendance at LEARN schools tuition-free or lower-cost for families in Groton, New London, Norwich, and Waterford and stabilized school finances. The June 2025 state budget continued and locked that structure in, capping the tuition operators may charge at a modest portion of the 2024 amount, meaning families and towns can expect predictable, reduced costs going forward rather than a return to higher tuition.
For families considering LEARN magnet schools, the path is a choice enrollment rather than a default district assignment. The program focus—multicultural learning, marine science, middle college pathways—and the magnet framework shape the peer environment and academic direction. The test results and absenteeism data suggest the schools face real learning challenges at this stage, so a parent may want to look into current improvement efforts and what supports are in place, particularly for early elementary grades. The tuition restructuring and state investment are material positives for families and communities weighing magnet enrollment.
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