Original Research by School Decision on Side by Side Charter School
Side By Side Charter School is a state-authorized charter serving pre-kindergarten through eighth grade in Norwalk, operating as its own district. It enrolls a small, diverse student body in what amounts to a neighborhood school within a city of coastal character and mixed residential and commercial areas.
The school's student composition reflects Norwalk's demographics: a substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, and more than half the enrollment identifies as Hispanic, with significant shares of Black and white students and a small Asian population. The enrollment is stable and small, with roughly even distribution across grade levels. The school carries no Title I designation despite the economic profile of its families, as Title I status is determined by federal poverty thresholds that apply differently to charter schools.
Academic performance data for the most recent year show students taking state assessments in English language arts, math, and science. The school reports overall proficiency rates in the mid-to-upper range for those subjects tested. In grades where proficiency rates can be publicly reported, the school shows results slightly above two-thirds of students achieving proficiency. Test participation is complete across all grades. Average scale scores climb from third through seventh grade, indicating students gain ground as they progress. Grade eight data are suppressed for some metrics, a reflection of the small cohort size, so those results cannot be seen individually. Only one prior year of state test data is available, so trends over time cannot be assessed; this is the school's first full year under the current Connecticut testing framework.
The school's setting is downtown Norwalk, on Chestnut Street in a mixed-use area. Norwalk itself is a coastal city organized around multiple neighborhood centers rather than a single downtown. South Norwalk (SoNo) is the recognized entertainment and dining district, while East Norwalk, West Norwalk, Cranbury, and Rowayton are predominantly residential. The city has seen significant housing development in recent years, especially near the South Norwalk train station and along West Avenue, adding thousands of residential units. Despite this new supply, median rents have risen sharply, and the city's Affordable Housing Action Plan identifies a substantial gap in affordable rental units. Housing values in the area are above the state average, and the city benefits from frequent commuter rail service to New York City via Metro-North.
As a charter school, Side By Side operates outside the Norwalk Public Schools system and admits students by lottery open to any Connecticut resident, not just Norwalk residents. The school's recent parent-facing change is the statewide shift in kindergarten entry-age cutoff from January 1 to September 1, effective with the 2024-2025 school year. Families with children who turn 5 after that date must now seek a waiver and assessment for early entry. This is a state-driven change affecting all kindergarten programs in Connecticut, but the school flags it prominently for applicants since it directly reshapes enrollment timing.
The school does not report special education (IEP) enrollment rates or English learner rates in available data, so a parent may want to look into those support structures with the school directly. No data on teacher staffing, course offerings, or discipline practices were available, so those merit direct inquiry as well. The charter operates as a single school and its own district, which means no broader district-level academic strategy or multiple-school context applies. Families considering this school should understand its small size, its diverse student population, its location within a developing city, and should verify directly with the school about specialized services and instructional approaches, since those details fall outside what state-reported data reveal.
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