ABOUT THE CITY OF STAMFORD

from our city's website

Stamford is located in the southwestern portion of Connecticut, along the coast line of Long Island Sound.
Founded: 1641
Population: approx. 117,000
Square Miles: 37.3

National and State Recognition
Ladies Home Journal ranked Stamford #4 in the Education category among the nation’s top 200 cities. The magazine looked at high school graduation rates, student-teacher ratios and the amount of money spent per student, among other factors.

Zero Population Growth’s “Kid Friendly Cities Report Card” rated Stamford ‘A+’ as a place for children to live, ranking it 10th out of 140 cities with a population over 100,000.

Stamford was the first community in Connecticut to establish Universal Preschool for 4 year olds, a model for the nation. The nationally accredited William Pitt Child Development Center is a collaboration between the Stamford Public Schools, the City, and the Child Care Center.
Per pupil expenditure in Stamford is consistently in the leading 2% nationally ($10,100 for 2001-2002) and is competitive within Fairfield County, Connecticut.

Student Honors/Awards
The Stamford Public School district has produced more Presidential Scholars than any other district in Connecticut. The honor is reserved for the nation’s most distinguished high school students, based on academic and/or artistic accomplishment.

In the last six years alone, 19 of our students were named National Merit Scholars.

89% of college-bound Stamford Public Schools graduates were accepted to Most Competitive, Highly Competitive, or Very Competitive colleges.

Approximately 80% of Stamford’s high school graduates pursue a post-secondary education, many at elite colleges and universities.

Collectively, graduating seniors earn more than $2.5 million in academic scholarships for college each year.

Stamford High School Yearbook Awards:
1st Place Winner, American Scholastic Press Association;
1st Place Winner, Columbia Scholastic Press Association;
1st Place Winner, National Scholastic Press Association.

Other student awards include:
National History Day winners
President’s Education Award
All American Scholar
GE Computer Science Award
Berkeley College of Music Award
Connecticut Innovation Scholar Award
Connecticut State Science Fair Award for Scientific Research
Connecticut Mock Trial Competition
UConn Day of Pride Scholars
National School Orchestra Award
U.S. National Band Award
FCIAC Scholar Athletes
Lego Robotics Competition Award.

More about our city, from our city's website:
"Stamford is a diverse community ranging from the multi-acre homes in the wooded sector of North Stamford to the beautiful shores and beaches in the southeastern portion of our community. The central downtown district of our City is home to many corporate headquarters.

We have an elaborate shopping mall, numerous restaurants ranging from various ethnic foods to American cuisine, a modern rail system, public transportation, theaters, outdoor concerts and many other activities and events during special times of the year. We also have a spectacular parade in downtown Stamford just before Thanksgiving which features giant helium balloons and marching bands, and a St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

Stamford is a community which is economically soaring, with major economic development projects currently underway. The Stamford office market is vibrant, unemployment remains at all time lows, and our economy is well diversified. The City continues to be one of the premier business locations in the metropolitan New York market, and the residential sector in Stamford is growing with the addition of hundreds of downtown rental units. Stamford continues to be a people-oriented community with a vibrant and active arts and cultural presence. Located in the core of our downtown are two live theaters - the grand Palace Theater and The Rich Forum where the stars frequent our stages year round.

The City of Stamford is home to many corporate headquarters and the University of Connecticut’s downtown campus. We reflect progress and, at the same time, images of the past still remain which tell stories of Stamford’s history from our founding in 1641. Today we are the 4th largest city in Connecticut, and the 3rd largest corporate headquarters community in the country.

Our Public School System serves an international student body, with 79 percent of Stamford’s students pursuing higher eduation. Our system is innovative, distinctive and resourceful, and diversity is one of our greatest strengths. In fact, Zero Population Growth recently ranked Stamford as the #1 City School District in the Country."