Shepherd Glen School, Hamden CT - Test Scores & Data

Original Research by School Decision on Shepherd Glen School

Shepherd Glen School is a regular public elementary school serving kindergarten through sixth grade in Hamden, a mid-sized residential suburb of New Haven with multiple neighborhood centers and strong ties to nearby Quinnipiac University. The school enrolls a modest number of students across its seven grade bands and sits within the Hamden School District, which has faced repeated budget constraints in recent years.

The student population is diverse by race and ethnicity, with the largest share identifying as Black, followed by substantial numbers of Hispanic, Asian, and White students. A notable majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting families with lower household incomes. State assessment data was not available for students in kindergarten through second grade, as Connecticut's Smarter Balanced testing begins in third grade. The school's third through sixth grade results show proficiency rates that vary considerably by grade and subject. In math, fourth grade performs strongest, while fifth grade is notably weaker. English language arts results are generally lower, with third and fifth grades showing particularly low proficiency. Science, assessed only in fifth grade, also shows low proficiency. Across all tested grades and subjects combined, the school's overall proficiency index falls below the midpoint compared to other districts in the South Central Connecticut Planning Region.

For families choosing among Hamden's elementary schools, Shepherd Glen's performance suggests students here face academic challenges. The grade-by-grade variation, especially the sharp drop in math and language arts proficiency in fifth grade, may warrant a direct conversation with the school about instruction, student support, and any targeted interventions. The district itself is undergoing curriculum changes in early literacy instruction, shifting to science-of-reading approaches beginning in 2024-25, which may affect instruction at the school.

The broader context for Hamden families is one of fiscal pressure. The district has cut 28 positions and disbanded middle school sports for 2024-25 as part of substantial budget reductions. The prior year brought 17 positions eliminated. These recurring shortfalls stem from the end of COVID-era funding, rising transportation costs, and ongoing housing-affordability pressures that limit the town's tax base. Housing values in the Hamden area are moderate for the region, and the town is working to increase its affordable housing stock through several development projects, which may affect school enrollment and demographics over time. The district's three-year facilities plan includes keeping Shepherd Glen open as a neighborhood school, signaling continued operation, though families should remain attentive to how further budget pressures might affect class sizes, support staff, or programming.

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Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 342%

School 42% · District 35% · ▲ 7 pts above district

▼ 13 pts below state median · ▼ 9 pts below county median

Grade 453%

School 53% · District 37% · ▲ 16 pts above district

even with state median · ▲ 2 pts above county median

Grade 512%

School 12% · District 32% · ▼ 20 pts below district

▼ 31 pts below state median · ▼ 32 pts below county median

Grade 635%

School 35% · District 36%

▼ 4 pts below state median · ▲ 3 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 328%

School 28% · District 29% · ▼ 1 pts below district

▼ 20 pts below state median · ▼ 17 pts below county median

Grade 441%

School 41% · District 41%

▼ 16 pts below state median · ▼ 16 pts below county median

Grade 527%

School 27% · District 41% · ▼ 14 pts below district

▼ 31 pts below state median · ▼ 29 pts below county median

Grade 638%

School 38% · District 46% · ▼ 8 pts below district

▼ 14 pts below state median · ▼ 8 pts below county median

Science

Grade 522%

School 22% · District 41% · ▼ 19 pts below district

▼ 30 pts below state median · ▼ 20 pts below county median

This schoolHamden School District, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 3Lower-income23%Higher-income35%12 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income17%Higher-income40%23 pp gap