Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
High· 9 schools in district

West Haven High School

One McDonough Plaza, West Haven, CT 06516West Haven School District →
Federal DataRegular SchoolGrades 09–12Non-Charter
1,780
Students
Total enrolled
90%
Grad Rate
Nat'l avg 87%
~avg
$25,875
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
↑ 80% vs nat'l
14.9 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
~avg
48/100
Opportunity Score
Neighborhood outcomes
~avg
⇄ Compare with another school
Large public school
Serves 1,780 students in grades 09–12 in West Haven, Connecticut.
80% above average funding
District spends $25,875 per pupil, 80% more than the national average of $14,347.
Near-median opportunity
Children from this neighborhood historically reach the 48th income percentile as adults, per Harvard/Census Opportunity Atlas data.
About This School

West Haven High School is a very large high in West Haven, Connecticut, serving grades 09–12 with 1,780 students. The district invests $25,875 per student — 80% above the national average of $14,347, with a 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio near the national norm. About 53% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a mixed-income student body. The school's 90% graduation rate — above the national average of 87% — reflects strong completion outcomes for its students.

Student Body & Demographics at West Haven High School

1,780
Total Students
14.9 : 1
Student:Teacher
53%
Free Lunch
120
Teacher FTE
Grade Range
PK
K
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Highlighted grades (09–12) are served by this school
Gender Distribution924 male · 852 female
52%
48%
Male 52%Female 48%
Free / Reduced Lunch Eligibility53%
National avg 52% · 937 students
Student Composition
25%
41%
26%
Asian4%
White25%
Hispanic / Latino41%
Black26%
Multiracial3%
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 090495001041

Academic Outcomes at West Haven High School

Graduation Rate (Adjusted Cohort)
90
High
National avg 87%
Graduation Rate Comparison
This school
90%
State avg
93%
National avg
87%
Neighborhood Opportunity Score
48
/ 100
Near-median opportunity

Children from modest-income families in this neighborhood reach the 48th income percentile as adults. This school is in the 70th percentile nationally.

0 — Low50 — MedianHigh — 100
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census) · Census tract · ZIP 06516

School Resources & Funding

Per-Pupil Expenditure$25,875Above avg
National avg $14,347
Per-Pupil Spending Comparison
This school
$25,875
State avg
$28,931
National avg
$14,347
How School Funding Is Typically Spent
44%
19%
12%
15%
Instruction$11,385
Student Support$4,916
Administration$3,105
Operations$3,881
Other$2,587
Estimated using national average spending distribution (NCES) · School-level breakdowns not publicly reported
Of the $25,875 spent per student, an estimated $11,462 (~44%) goes directly to classroom instruction.
Where Funding Comes From
52%
35%
State government
52.1%
Local (property tax)
35.1%
Federal programs
12.8%
NCES F-33 Finance Survey · District-level data applied to this school
Strengths & Considerations
Strengths
  • 90% graduation rate — well above the 87% national average
  • Above-average funding — $25,875/student vs $14,347 nationally
  • Traditional public school — open enrollment, no application process required
Strengths and considerations are derived from federal data thresholds — not editorial judgements. See data sources below.
K–12 Pathway in District
Elementary
Savin Rock Community SchoolForest SchoolSeth G. Haley SchoolWashington School
+2 more
↓
Middle
Carrigan 5/6 Intermediate SchoolHarry M. Bailey Middle School
School Profile
TypeRegular School
LevelHigh
Grades09 – 12
Location—
CountySouth Central Connecticut Planning Region
CharterNo
VirtualNo
DistrictWest Haven School District →
Phone: (203)937-4360
NCES ID: 090495001041
Who Is This School For?

Best suited for families in West Haven seeking a public high school, especially those prioritizing above-average resources and classroom investment. We always recommend an in-person visit and a conversation with current families before making any enrollment decision.

More in West Haven School District
Mid
Carrigan 5/6 Intermediate School
876 students · 05–06
● 48 opp58% FRL
Mid
Harry M. Bailey Middle School
861 students · 07–08
● 48 opp57% FRL
Elem
Savin Rock Community School
478 students · PK–04
● 48 opp64% FRL
Elem
Forest School
410 students · PK–04
● 48 opp68% FRL
Elem
Seth G. Haley School
383 students · PK–04
● 48 opp50% FRL
Elem
Washington School
372 students · PK–04
● 48 opp72% FRL
Elem
Alma E. Pagels School
371 students · PK–04
● 48 opp53% FRL
Elem
Edith E. Mackrille School
301 students · PK–04
● 48 opp53% FRL
District School Rankings
Location
One McDonough Plaza, West Haven, CT 06516
Data Sources & Transparency
Enrollment & Profile
NCES Common Core of Data. Grades, enrollment, demographics, school characteristics. Updated annually.
Funding & Spending
NCES F-33 Finance Survey. District-level spending data. School-level breakdowns are not publicly reported.
Graduation Rate
EDFacts Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR). High schools only. Small cohorts may be range-coded for privacy.
Opportunity Score
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census Bureau). Census tract outcomes for children born in the 1980s.
Fact-Based Rankings
Best-school rankings are computed from federal metrics only — enrollment, per-pupil spending, student-teacher ratio, opportunity score, and graduation rate. No editorial opinion or paid placements.
Equity Data (Coming Soon)
AP access, counselor ratios, and chronic absenteeism from the CRDC will be added in a future update.

Questions to Ask on Your School Visit

Research shows the most important factors are invisible in the data. Here is what to ask when you visit.

High
1
What percentage of students take AP or dual enrollment courses?
Indicates academic rigor and college prep
2
What college counseling and application support is provided?
Ratio of students per counselor matters
3
What career and vocational pathways are offered?
CTE programs, internships, industry partnerships
4
How does the school support students at risk of not graduating?
Credit recovery, attendance intervention
5
What's the school's culture around attendance and behavior?
Discipline approach, restorative practices
6
What happens after graduation — where do students go?
Ask about college, career, military outcomes
7
What does the school do with student performance data?
How data is used to personalize instruction
8
How would you describe teacher retention here?
High turnover can disrupt continuity of learning
9
What's the culture around student diversity and inclusion?
How differences are celebrated and managed

Frequently Asked Questions

About this school and the data on this page

About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.