Middle Schools in Manchester School District

The Manchester School District in Connecticut is home to two middle schools, Illing Middle School and Elisabeth M. Bennet Academy, both serving grades 5-8. While the schools share similar demographics and performance metrics, they face significant challenges in academic achievement and socioeconomic factors.

Both Illing Middle School and Elisabeth M. Bennet Academy have a diverse student population, with over 60% of students identifying as African American or Hispanic. However, the schools' test scores in English Language Arts and Mathematics are consistently below the state and Manchester School District averages, indicating a need for improvement in academic performance. Additionally, the high free and reduced lunch rates, exceeding 55% at both schools, suggest that socioeconomic factors play a significant role in the challenges facing these middle schools.

Despite the relatively low student-teacher ratios, with under 10 students per teacher, the schools' academic performance does not seem to reflect this advantage. The lack of significant differences between Illing Middle School and Elisabeth M. Bennet Academy suggests that the issues facing the Manchester School District are systemic, and a comprehensive approach may be necessary to address the underlying factors and drive improvements in student outcomes.