Connecticut Narrows Achievement Gap for 4th Year in a Row

Connecticut just delivered some rare good news in education: the achievement gap is actually shrinking.

The state released test scores this week showing that low-income students and students of color improved faster than their peers in 2025-26. It's the fourth consecutive year test scores have climbed for everyone, but this time the students who've struggled most are leading the gains.

The numbers tell a story of steady progress. Black students saw their English proficiency rise from 31.3% to 32.2%, while Latino students jumped from 31.2% to 32.6%. In math, Latino students made even bigger strides, climbing from 26.6% to 27.5% proficiency.

Low-income students narrowed the gap too. Their English proficiency increased 0.7 percentage points compared to 0.4 points for higher-income students. While higher-income students still score better overall, the gap is slowly closing.

Ajit Gopalakrishnan, Connecticut's chief performance officer, says those seemingly small percentages matter more than people realize. "What are seemingly small improvements that you see, they translate to thousands of students statewide who are performing at a higher level," he explained.

One big factor driving the turnaround is attendance. Chronic absenteeism has dropped dramatically since the pandemic, falling from 23.7% in 2021-22 to just 16.4% last year. More kids in class means more kids learning.

Kate Dias, president of the Connecticut Education Association, points to another reason for optimism. Teachers are getting better at recognizing their own biases and creating personalized learning plans for students with different needs. That cultural awareness is making real classroom differences.

The pandemic remains part of the story too. Students are still emotionally recovering from COVID's disruption. As they heal, their academic performance improves naturally.

The Ripple Effect

Four years of gains might not sound revolutionary, but it represents a fundamental shift after decades of stubborn achievement gaps. When thousands more students reach grade-level standards each year, it changes their entire educational trajectory. Better test scores in elementary school lead to advanced classes in middle school, which open doors to college and careers.

The improvements also prove what education leaders have long believed: success is possible for any student in any district. The right mix of attendance, teaching quality, and emotional support can overcome barriers that once seemed permanent.

Connecticut still has work to do. Just 32.5% of low-income students meet English standards and only 26.9% hit math benchmarks, compared to 66% and 62.5% for higher-income students. But for the first time in years, the gap is moving in the right direction.

The progress shows that investing in students who need the most help doesn't just change test scores—it changes lives, one percentage point and one classroom at a time.