Students Are Different Today
Raised in a world of constant connectivity and intuitive technology, they approach learning in ways unlike any generation before them.
National Trends Confirm the Urgency
The challenges facing Bridgeport’s young people reflect a national crisis. Across the country, students are falling behind academically, struggling with attendance and facing unprecedented mental health needs.
The Numbers Tell the Story
Reading Proficiency
Only 31% of 4th graders read at or above proficiency — a steady decline since 2019.
Math Declines
Scores show the steepest drops in decades, hitting low-income students hardest.
Chronic Absenteeism
Nearly 14 million students (28%) missed 10% or more of school in 2022–23.
Mental Health Crisis
In 2024, 40% of students felt persistently sad or hopeless; 1 in 5 seriously considered suicide.
—Tasha, first grade parent
Bridgeport
These Issues Are at A Critical Level
The challenges facing Bridgeport students are not new. They stem from historic gaps in access, resources and opportunity that have shaped the school system for generations. Families, educators and leaders work tirelessly to support students, yet long-standing barriers continue to impact learning.
Academic Performance
Pre-K Access
ELA Proficiency
Post-Secondary Readiness
Well-Being
Bridgeport students’ mental health reflects both national trends and the unique stresses facing communities where families experience higher levels of pressure related to health, work and safety.
Bridgeport students report higher rates of anxiety (18%) and depression (12%) than their peers, underscoring the urgent need for stronger networks of care and consistent support.
Disconnection
Chronic absenteeism, student disengagement, lower educational attainment and access to community supports are not about lack of motivation, they are the result of long-standing challenges that demand collective solutions.
On Track To Graduate
Educational Attainment
Student Spotlights
— Sheldon, rising 9th grader
— Jocelyn, rising 6th grader
