The top reported proficiency rate is 20% in Science. The lowest is 10% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on C.b. Jennings International Elementary Magnet
C.B. Jennings International Elementary Magnet is a kindergarten through fifth grade public school in New London serving an enrollment of roughly four hundred and sixty students. Nearly all students in the school qualify for free or reduced-price lunch; the student body is majority Hispanic, with a substantial Black population and smaller shares of white and multiracial students. The school sits within the context of New London's transformation into Connecticut's first and only all-magnet district, organized around three thematic pathways including International Education, STEM, and Visual and Performing Arts.
The school has closed as of the next school year, as announced by the district in April in response to a substantial budget shortfall. Roughly four hundred and sixty students will be reassigned to other schools in the district, and the district is restructuring grade configurations to kindergarten through fourth at elementary schools, fifth through seventh at middle schools, and eighth through twelfth at high school. This is a significant, lasting change for families who chose the school's International Education magnet pathway.
State testing data from the most recent school year shows academic performance that is notably low. In math, proficiency rates range from low single digits in fifth grade to low double digits in third grade; in English language arts, rates are similarly low in grades three and four, with a rate in the low double digits in fourth grade. Fifth grade science proficiency is in the upper teens. These results place the school well below the median among districts in Southeastern Connecticut. Most students participate fully in state assessments, and the school's average scale scores suggest foundational-level understanding rather than grade-level mastery.
The data provided does not include information about the school's English learner population, students with disabilities, chronic absenteeism, discipline patterns, or teacher staffing. Given the school's magnet designation and focus on international education, the design likely includes language instruction or cross-cultural curriculum, but specific program details were not available in the source materials. A parent may want to ask the district directly about how the International Education pathway was structured and whether elements of that program will transfer to students' new placements.
New London itself is a small coastal city on the Thames River with a revitalized downtown, strong historic character, and active cultural calendar centered on its waterfront. The region is experiencing significant growth driven by submarine industry expansion and housing demand, with new residential development concentrated on the Fort Trumbull peninsula and in downtown adaptive reuse projects. Housing values and rents are moderate for the region, and the city offers transit connections including rail, bus, and ferry service. The broader economic context includes General Dynamics Electric Boat as the dominant regional employer, along with higher education institutions and health care.
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