Education

Each installation provides information about the types of schools and programs offered to your child on or near your installation. Learn about the kinds of programs, guidelines, and requirements for each school. Whether you choose to send your child to a Department of Defense School, a private school, or a public school, your installation can help you explore all of your options to make the right decision for you and your child. contact the School Liaison at 860-694-3772 with any questions about the education options for your child.

Education – Introduction

There are no Department of Defense schools in the Groton, Connecticut area. Most students residing in government housing attend Groton Public Schools. Private, charter, and magnet schools are available in the local area. Although located in Connecticut, Naval Submarine Base New London is approximately 15 miles from the Rhode Island border. Therefore, SUBASE New London personnel reside in Connecticut and Rhode Island. All local school districts, as well as most private schools, can be researched on the Internet. It is strongly encouraged that you contact the School Liaison at 860-694-3772 with any questions about the education options for your child.

Local Schools

Cities and towns near Naval Submarine Base New London have schools that are small and responsive to local needs. Children are assigned to public school districts based on where the family resides. Each town manages its school system. Private, charter and magnet schools are also available to families living in government housing and in surrounding communities. For more information on school options, contact the School Liaison at 860-694-3772 or via email.

Enrollment Requirements

Be advised that, in addition to the school-specific forms, the following documents are needed to enroll your children in the area schools:

• Proof of residency - Provide a current driver's license, rental receipt, utility bill or copy of the lease agreement. Some districts require multiple examples of proof of residency.
• Child's birth certificate - The birth certificate must be a valid document with a raised seal from the town or city of birth.
• Child's immunization record - For a complete list of required immunizations, follow the links provided in the Immunization Requirements section.
• Proof of physical exam - All students entering school are required by law to have a complete health assessment. Links to the appropriate state physical forms are found in the Mandatory Physicals section. In Connecticut, a separate health assessment is required for early childhood education.

Additional items to bring for school enrollment include:

• Complete school records
• Past report cards
• IEP/504 plans, testing results and other records

To ensure a smooth transition for your child, it's recommended you have sports physicals completed before arriving at your new duty station. If that's not possible, they can be administered at the Naval Medical Readiness Training Unit at Naval Submarine Base New London with your assigned primary care manager. If not assigned an on-base PCM, you can often obtain required physicals from local walk-in clinics, school-based health centers or your off-base PCM. Specify that you need a sports physical and provide the correct school form for the medical staff. To obtain an appointment with your assigned on-base PCM, please contact the appointment line at 888-628-9633.

Public Schools

Cities and towns near Naval Submarine Base New London have schools that are small and responsive to local needs. Due to the proximity and reasonable travel times to the base, most of the children of service members assigned to Naval Submarine Base New London attend school in the following public-school districts depending upon where the family resides:

• Groton Public Schools - 1300 Flanders Rd., Mystic, CT 06355; Phone: 860-572-2100
• Ledyard Public Schools - 4 Blonders Blvd., Ledyard, CT 06339; Phone: 860-464-9255
• New London Public Schools - 134 Williams St., New London, CT 06320; Phone: 860-447-6000
• Norwich Public Schools - 90 Town St., Norwich, CT 06360; Phone: 860-823-4200
• Waterford Public Schools - 15 Rope Ferry Rd., Waterford, CT 06385; Phone: 860-444-5801
• East Lyme Public Schools - 165 Boston Post Rd., East Lyme, CT 06333; Phone: 860-739-3966
• Old Lyme Public Schools - 49 Lyme St., Old Lyme, CT 06371; Phone: 860-434-7238
• Montville Public Schools - 800 Old Colchester Rd., Oakdale, CT 06370; Phone: 860-848-1228
• Stonington Public Schools - 40 Field St., Pawcatuck, CT 06379; Phone: 860-572-0506
• North Stonington Public Schools - 298 Norwich-Westerly Rd., North Stonington, CT 06359; Phone: 860-535-2800
• Preston Public Schools - 325 Shetucket Turnpike, Preston, CT 06365; Phone: 860-889-6098
• Salem Public Schools - 200 Hartford Rd., Salem, CT 06420; Phone: 860-859-0267
• Lisbon Public Schools - 15 Newent Rd., Lisbon, CT 06351; Phone: 860-376-2403
• Lebanon Public Schools - 891 Exeter Rd., Lebanon, CT 06249; Phone: 860-642-7795
• Griswold Public Schools - 211 Slater Ave., Griswold, CT 06351; Phone: 860-376-7600
• Colchester Public Schools - 127 Norwich Ave., Suite 202, Colchester, CT 06415; Phone: 860-537-7260
• Franklin Public Schools - 206 Pond Rd., North Franklin, CT 06254; Phone: 860-642-7063
• Bozrah Public Schools - 8 Bozrah St. Extension, Bozrah, CT 06334; Phone: 860-887-2561
• Sprague Public Schools - 25 Scotland Rd., Baltic, CT 06330; Phone: 860-822-8264
• Voluntown Public Schools - 195 Main St., Voluntown, CT 06384; Phone: 860-376-2325
• Westerly Public Schools - 23 Highland Ave., Westerly, RI 02891; Phone: 401-315-1500
• Chariho Regional School District - 455A Switch Rd., Wood River Junction, RI 02894; Phone: 401-364-7575

Enrollment requirements:

• Proof of residency
• Child's birth certificate - The birth certificate with a raised seal from the town or city of birth (long form)
• Child's immunization record - A complete list of required immunizations
• Proof of physical exam - All students entering school are required by law to have a complete health assessment record
• Complete school records - Past report cards, IEP/504 plans, testing results and other records

For more information, contact the School Liaison at 860-694-3772 or by email.

Please see the Connecticut or Rhode Island State Department of Education websites or the individual schools website for enrollment, pupil and teacher ratios, graduation rates, state testing results grading systems and specific program offerings.

• Rhode Island Department of Education
• Connecticut State Department of Education

Enrollment Requirements

Be advised that in addition to the school-specific forms, the following documents are needed to enroll your children in the area schools:

• Proof of residency - Provide a current driver's license, rental receipt, utility bill or copy of the lease agreement. Some districts require multiple examples of proof of residency.
• Child's birth certificate - The birth certificate must be a valid document with a raised seal from the town or city of birth.
• Child's immunization record - For a complete list of required immunizations, follow the links provided in the Immunization Requirements section.
• Proof of physical exam - All students entering school are required by law to have a complete health assessment. Links to the appropriate state physical forms are found in the Mandatory Physicals section. In Connecticut, a separate health assessment is required for early childhood education.

Additional items to bring for school enrollment include:

• Complete school records
• Past report cards
• IEP/504 plans, testing results and other records

Eligibility and Entrance Age Requirements for Kindergarten and First Grade

In order to be eligible to enter school in Connecticut:

• Children must be 5 years of age on or before September 1 of the current school year to enter kindergarten
• Children must be 6 years of age on or before September 1 of the current school year to enter first grade

In order to be eligible to enter school in Rhode Island:

• Children must be 5 years of age on or before September 1 of the current school year to enter kindergarten
• Children must be 6 years of age on or before September 1 of the current school year to enter first grade

Immunization Requirements

The State of Connecticut Department of Public Health and the Rhode Island Department of Health implement a comprehensive immunization program. The goal of the immunization program is to stop the spread of diseases that are vaccine preventable. Complete immunizations are required prior to school entrance.

• Immunization requirements for newly-enrolled students at Connecticut Schools for the 2025-2026 school year are listed on the Connecticut Department of Education website
• Immunization requirements for students at Rhode Island schools for the 2025-2026 school year are listed on the Rhode Island Department of Health website

Newly-enrolled students are defined as any students who are new to the school district including preschoolers and all students coming in from private, parochial and charter schools located in the same or another community. All students entering kindergarten, including moving from any public or private preschool program even in the same school district, are considered new students.

To ensure a smooth transition for your child, it's recommended that you have immunizations completed prior to arriving at your new duty station. If that's not possible, they can be administered at the Naval Medical Readiness Training Unit at SUBASE with a primary care manager referral from your assigned PCM. If not assigned an on-base PCM, you can often obtain required immunizations from local walk-in clinics, school-based health centers or your off-base PCM.

Note that according to Connecticut and Rhode Island state statutes, a student must have proof of immunization and physical before registering in the public school system. Any deviation from this requirement must be discussed with the school nurse.

Mandatory Physicals

In order to provide the best educational experience, school personnel must understand your child’s health needs. State law requires complete primary immunizations and a health assessment by a legally-qualified practitioner of medicine, an advanced-practice registered nurse or a registered nurse, a physician assistant or the school medical advisor prior to entrance in Connecticut (per Connecticut General Statute sections 10-204a and 10-206) and Rhode Island (per the R23-1IMM and R16-21SCHO regulations).

A physical is required prior to entry into Connecticut and Rhode Island schools and must have been completed within the previous year.

• Access the Connecticut form at the Connecticut State Department of Education website:
  • K-12 Physical
  • Birth – 5 (prior to entering Kindergarten)
• Access the Rhode Island form at the Rhode Island Department of Health website.

In Connecticut, an immunization update and additional health assessments are required in the 6th or 7th grade and in the 9th or 10th grade. Specific grade levels will be determined by local boards of education.

In Rhode Island, an immunization update and additional health assessments are required in the 7th grade. Children entering kindergarten and all new students must also have a vision screening.

To ensure a smooth transition for your child, it's recommended that you have physicals completed prior to arriving at your new duty station. If that is not possible, they can be administered at the Naval Medical Readiness Training Unit at SUBASE with a primary care manager referral from your assigned PCM. If not assigned an on-base PCM, you can often obtain required physicals from local walk-in clinics, school-based health centers or your off-base PCM.

Sports Physicals

Students who compete or plan to compete in school sports activities in both Connecticut or Rhode Island schools must have a sports physicals completed prior to beginning practice or tryouts. Sports physicals must be completed on a yearly basis. Sports physicals are generally more comprehensive than the school entrance physicals. Contact your local school district for more information and to obtain their district-specific form.

It's recommended that you complete the sports physicals prior to arriving at your new duty station. If that's not possible, they can be administered at the Naval Medical Readiness Training Unit at SUBASE with your assigned primary care manager. If not assigned an on-base PCM, you can often obtain required sports physicals from local walk-in clinics, school-based health centers or your off-base PCM.

Specify that you need a sports physical and provide the correct school form for the medical staff. To obtain an appointment with your assigned on-base PCM, please contact the appointment line at 888-628-9633.

Private/Independent Schools

Southeastern Connecticut offers numerous choices regarding a private education.

• SACRED HEART SCHOOL (PK-8) 50 Sacred Heart Drive, Groton, CT 06340 Phone: 860-445-0611
• MONTESSORI DISCOVERY SCHOOL (PK-6) 218 Dudley Street, Norwich, CT 06360 Phone: 860-889-0340
• ST. JOSEPH SCHOOL (K-8) 25 Squire Street, New London, CT 06320 Phone: 860-442-1720
• PINE POINT SCHOOL (PK-9) 89 Barnes Road, Stonington, CT 06378 Phone: 860-535-0606
• ST. MICHAEL SCHOOL (PK-8) 63 Liberty Street, Pawcatuck, CT 06379 Phone: 860-599-1084
• NORTH STONINGTON CHRISTIAN ACADEMY (PK-12) 12 Stillman Road, North Stonington, CT 06359 Phone: 860-599-5071
• WILDWOOD CHRISTIAN SCHOOL (PK-8) 35 Wawecus Hill Road, Norwich, CT 06360 Phone: 860-887-7830
• ST. PATRICK CATHEDRAL SCHOOL (PK-8) 211 Broadway, Norwich, CT 06360 Phone: 860-889-4174
• SACRED HEART SCHOOL (PK-8) 15 Hunters Avenue, Taftville, CT 06380 Phone: 860-887-1757
• ST. JOSEPH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (PK-8) 10 School Hill Road, Baltic, CT 06330-1029 Phone: 860-822-6141
• THE WILLIAMS SCHOOL (6-12) 182 Mohegan Avenue, New London, CT 06320 Phone: 860-443-5333
• ST. BERNARD SCHOOL (6-12) 1593 Norwich New London Tpke, Uncasville, CT 06382 Phone: 860-848-1271
• ACADEMY OF THE HOLY FAMILY (9-12, FEMALE) 54 West Main Street, Baltic, CT 06330-1300 Phone: 860-822-9272
• ST. THOMAS MORE SCHOOL (8-12, MALE) 45 Cottage Road, Oakdale, Connecticut 06370 Phone: 860-859-1900
• NORWICH FREE ACADEMY (9-12) 305 Broad Street, Norwich, CT 06360 Phone: 860-887-2505

For direct links to the above private schools, visit https://www.navymwrnewlondon.com/programs/e0aad06f-959f-42aa-a1d0-77de8b0b26ce 

You may also contact the school liaison at the Naval Submarine Base New London at 860-694-3772, (SLP) NAVSUBASE NLON Groton, CT. miranda.c.chapman.naf@us.navy.mil.

If a parent chooses not to enroll a child in public or private schools, home-based instruction is a viable alternative. Information on home-schooling in Connecticut or Rhode Island can be found at the Connecticut or Rhode Island State Department of Education.

The Naval Submarine Base New London website below. 

• https://www.navymwrnewlondon.com/programs/e0aad06f-959f-42aa-a1d0-77de8b0b26ce
• You may also contact the school liaison at the Naval Submarine Base New London at 860-694-3772.

Adult education opportunities are available through the local public school systems.
New London, Groton, and Norwich offer adult education classes to get a HS diploma or GED, as well as ESL and Citizenship classes. The programs can be found at: 

• New London Adult Education
• Groton Adult Education
• Norwich Adult Education

Navy College will provide Active Duty personnel with specific details for secondary education options and processes for those seeking further college and technical training.  The Navy College Office can be contacted at 833-330-MNCC (6622). For further information, visit the Education- Training (College-Technical) section of Military Installations.

The School Liaison Program at Phone: 860-694-3772,  Email: miranda.c.chapman.naf@us.navy.mil 

School Liaison Program

The School Liaison Officer is the primary point of contact between the military installation, the local schools, and school districts, transitioning families, and the community at large. The Navy School Liaison Program helps installation and regional commanders work with state departments and local school districts to foster awareness of the stressors on military families caused by frequent transitions and extended deployments. These education professionals are located on all major Navy installations and serve as liaisons between Navy families and area schools. contact the School Liaison they can assist with the following:

• Assisting with inbound and outbound, school transfers
• Providing information for parents to make informed school choice.
• Providing information on local schools and boundaries
• Providing information on graduation requirements
• Helping families understand and navigate the special education process
• Providing information on homeschooling regulations
• Assisting with post-secondary preparations
• Connecting incoming youth with a youth sponsor

This is not an exhaustive list of school liaison services. please contact SLP with your specific questions or concerns. The school liaison can be reached at 860-694-3772 or SLO.SUBASENLON.fct@navy.mil

Graduation Requirements

Connecticut

Local school districts have varying graduation requirements. Some schools have requirements that surpass the basic graduation requirements mandated by the State of Connecticut.

To review the basic graduation requirements at your school, please read the Graduation Requirements information on your assigned high school's website.

Rhode Island

Many local school districts are in the process of adapting their graduation requirements and implementing a proficiency-based graduation requirement and student graduation portfolio project. For the most accurate and up-to-date information on graduation requirements in the Rhode Island schools, please see the school’s website

Graduation requirements frequently change or are modified as states try to lessen the achievement gap. Please contact your local school district for more specific information regarding specific graduation requirements and upcoming changes at your child’s school.

State Testing

State Testing in Rhode Island

The State of Rhode Island has chosen the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers test for its Common Core state testing. For more information on Rhode Island's or the local school district’s implementation of the Common Core, please visit their websites.

State Testing in Connecticut

The State of Rhode Island has chosen the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers test for its Common Core state testing. For more information on Rhode Island's or the local school district’s implementation of the Common Core, please visit their websites.

The State of Connecticut conducts yearly testing to assess student progress. Connecticut has chosen the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium for its Common Core state testing. For more information on Connecticut's or the local school district’s implementation of the Common Core, please visit their websites. Note: in Connecticut, all 11th graders within the state's public schools take the SAT college admissions test [or ACTs].

Common Core

A child's academic success is one of the chief concerns of military parents. Being informed on all aspects of a school's potential is a vital part of making successful school choices for children. Both Connecticut and Rhode Island have adopted the Common Core State Standards. Since the State Board of Education's adoption of the Common Core, districts across Connecticut and Rhode Island have begun implementation of the standards and made preparations for the next generation of assessments. Districts are at different phases of implementation across the states.

Special Needs/Exceptional Children Program
Local districts provide comprehensive special education programs and services. Both in-district and out-of-district programs are made available for students based on their individual needs as determined by the district. The school liaison is a resource to help you navigate the local special education processes. In addition, the Exceptional Family Member Program liaison can provide information on community-based programs, resources and support groups. Contact SUBASE Fleet and Family Support Programs to be connected to an EFMP Case Liaison- 860-694-3383.

School Sports/Activities
Each school district in Southeastern Connecticut has its own specialized sports program. Sports are offered at the high school level and some districts offer limited middle/junior high school sports options. Some districts charge students for participation in sports and other extracurricular activities. For a list of sports and activities offered at your school, please refer to the school's website.

Navy Child and Youth Programs also offers sports programs and other activities throughout the year. These are often at lower cost than programs provided within the community. For more information on the sports and activities offered, please contact the Navy CYP at 860-448-6843.

Before-School and After-School Programs
Limited districts offer before- and after-school programs for students. Contact each district for their specific offerings.

Navy Child and Youth Programs offers the School-Aged Care program. This program is designed to meet the needs of school-aged youth (ages 5-12 years) in the hours before and after school. Organized and supervised activities are conducted at specific times before and after regular school hours. Transportation to and from certain schools may be available for students who participate in the School-Aged Care program.