Economic Impact

Wallingford & Greater New Haven

Choate Rosemary Hall has had a long and productive relationship with the Town of Wallingford and surrounding communities. The Choate campus includes several properties of historic significance and its 458 acres provides much of the remaining open space in central Wallingford. Faculty, staff, and students are active participants in community organizations; many of Choate’s most popular student organizations were established to be of service to the town and surrounding areas.

In carrying out its functions as a not-for-profit boarding and day school, Choate receives funds in the form of tuition, gifts, and grants, which the school expends on faculty and staff salaries, purchases, and contracts for services. These expenditures, as well as categories such as student and visitor spending, have a significant positive impact on Wallingford and the greater New Haven area. Following are the results which quantify the school’s positive economic impact on the area reflecting data from the 2011 school year.

School Payroll

Choate is among the largest employers in Wallingford, with 375 faculty and staff, 214 of whom live in the town. An additional 57 people are employed by ARAMARK (food service) and 62 by ABM (custodial services). Following is total gross compensation, exclusive of retirement benefits.

Faculty/Staff Salaries

Wallingford residents: $14.1 million
Total Connecticut residents: $19.8 million

Auxiliary Services Salaries

ABM (campus services) payroll:
Wallingford/Meriden residents: $1.3 million

ARAMARK (food services) payroll:
Wallingford/Meriden residents: $850,000

School Purchases

Wallingford vendors: $5.6 million
Total Connecticut vendors: $26.9 million

Capital Projects expenditures 2011-2012

$6 million

Utilities

$1.9 million

Financial Aid

Wallingford students (approximately 31) receive $1 million annually; average award $31,000 for day students

Visitor Spending

More than 2,000 parents and alumni and other visitors to Choate patronize Wallingford-area restaurants and overnight accommodations throughout the year, as do the nearly 1,000 families with prospective students who visit the school each year.