Education in Norwalk, Connecticut facts for kids

Norwalk, Connecticut, is home to many different kinds of schools! You can find public schools (funded by the government), private schools, and parochial schools (often connected to a religious group).

Colleges and Universities in Norwalk

After high school, some students choose to go to a college or university. Norwalk has a few options right in the city:

• Norwalk Community College is located in the West Norwalk area. It offers many different programs.
• University of Phoenix has a campus in Norwalk at 535 Connecticut Ave.
• Post University opened a special "regional center" in Norwalk in 2008.

You can also find other colleges and universities in towns nearby.

Norwalk Hospital works with the Yale School of Medicine for an internship program. They also have a nursing program linked to Norwalk Community College.

Norwalk Public Schools

The Norwalk Public Schools district manages all the public schools in Norwalk.

Here are the main high schools in the district:

• Norwalk High School was started in 1902. Its sports teams are called the Norwalk Bears.
• Brien McMahon High School opened in 1960. It is named after Senator Brien McMahon, who was important in atomic energy. This school is also home to the Center for Global Studies, which focuses on international topics.
• Briggs High School is an alternative school. This means it offers a different way of learning for students who might need a special approach.

Side by Side Community School

The Side by Side Community School is a special type of school called a charter school. It is located in South Norwalk and teaches students from pre-kindergarten all the way through 8th grade. It was started in 1997 by a group of public educators, soon after Connecticut allowed charter schools. Students from Norwalk and nearby towns can attend this school.

Religious Schools

Norwalk has schools that are connected to religious groups:

• The All Saints Catholic School teaches students from pre-kindergarten through 8th grade. It is run by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bridgeport. This school was created by combining three older Catholic elementary schools in Norwalk.
• The Congregation Beth El, a Jewish community, runs two programs:
  • The Nitzan preschool for younger children.
  • The Navasky Hebrew school. This school offers part-time religious lessons for children who attend other elementary schools full-time.

The Connecticut Friends School, a Quaker school, was established in 1998 for grades K-8. In 2008, it bought the White Barn Theatre property in the Cranbury area. The school had plans to build a new campus, but these plans were changed in 2015. The school decided to focus only on preschool for ages 2-5.

Private Schools

Norwalk also has private schools that are not funded by the government:

• The Montessori Middle School for grades 5-8 has been in Norwalk since 2004. It is currently located on Lois Street. This school is connected to The Montessori School for elementary grades in nearby Wilton. Montessori schools use a special teaching method that encourages children to learn at their own pace.
• The Winston Preparatory School of New York City opened a branch in Norwalk in 2007. This school is special because it focuses on helping students with learning differences in grades 4 through 12.