Walter C. Polson Middle School

Summary:

Walter C. Polson Middle School is a high-performing public middle school in Madison, Connecticut, serving around 520 students in grades 6-8 and part of the highly-ranked Madison School District.

Walter C. Polson Middle School consistently ranks among the top middle schools in Connecticut, with exceptional academic performance. In the 2023-2024 school year, 81.8% of 6th graders, 79.7% of 7th graders, and 77.5% of 8th graders scored proficient or better in English Language Arts, significantly higher than the state averages. Similarly, in Mathematics, 80.7% of 6th graders, 81.4% of 7th graders, and 75.7% of 8th graders scored proficient or better, compared to the state averages of 41.4%, 41.5%, and 38.2%. This places the school in the top 5% of middle schools in Connecticut, with a ranking of 11th out of 250 schools and a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger. The school's exceptional performance extends to various student subgroups, ranking 10th out of 161 Connecticut middle schools for female students and 4th out of 157 for male students.

When compared to nearby middle schools, such as Westbrook Middle School and Haddam-Killingworth Middle School, Walter C. Polson Middle School stands out as a top-performing institution. The school's high per-student spending of around $20,500 and low student-teacher ratio of 9:1 may contribute to its exceptional academic outcomes, which are significantly higher than the state averages and nearby schools in the region.

Detail:

Public 6-8

302 Green Hill Rd.
Madison, CT 06443

(203) 245-6480

District: Madison School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
11^th of 250 Connecticut Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $24,986

Students who attend Walter C. Polson Middle School usually attend:

High:

Daniel Hand High School

Feeder schools for Walter C. Polson Middle School:

Elementary:	Dr. Robert H. Brown Intermediate School
	J. Milton Jeffrey Elementary School
	Kathleen H. Ryerson Elementary School

Student/teacher ratio: 10.2

Number of students: 537

Racial breakdown:

White:

84.0%

Hispanic:

7.4%

Asian:

5.0%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 3.7%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Walter C. Polson Middle School ranks better than 95.6% of middle schools in Connecticut. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 92.14. (See more...)

Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (84%), Hispanic (7.4%), Asian (5%). (See more...)

Compare Details

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Walter C. Polson Middle School is 10.2. (See more...)

Compare Walter C. Polson Middle School employs 52.2 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Walter C. Polson Middle School is $24,986.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Walter C. Polson Middle School:

SchoolDigger ranks Walter C. Polson Middle School 11^th of 250 Connecticut public middle schools. (See Walter C. Polson Middle School in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Female students:

Male students:

White students:

Madison School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Madison School District 8^th of 158 Connecticut school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Walter C. Polson Middle School

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Rank History for all students at Walter C. Polson Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	CT State Percentile
2006	84.80	11^th	248	95.6%
2007	82.82	19^th	250	92.4%
2008	84.56	9^th	252	96.4%
2009	85.20	5^th	255	98.0%
2010	83.94	10^th	268	96.3%
2011	81.83	18^th	269	93.3%
2012	80.88	23^rd	272	91.5%
2013	80.94	23^rd	278	91.7%
2015	87.84	25^th	280	91.1%
2016	76.68	58^th	246	76.4%
2017	69.80	78^th	250	68.8%
2018	70.72	84^th	249	66.3%
2019	69.70	89^th	259	65.6%
2021	92.96	11^th	275	96.0%
2022	87.56	28^th	250	88.8%
2023	92.84	9^th	249	96.4%
2024	92.14	11^th	250	95.6%

See the entire list of Connecticut Middle School Rankings!

Rank History for Special Education students at Walter C. Polson Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	CT State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2021	62.96	79^th	244	67.6%

See the entire list of Best Connecticut Middle Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Female students at Walter C. Polson Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	CT State Percentile
2018	71.58	52^nd	160	67.5%
2019	60.27	83^rd	169	50.9%
2021	92.45	9^th	235	96.2%
2022	85.87	18^th	166	89.2%
2023	91.20	6^th	160	96.3%
2024	89.45	10^th	161	93.8%

See the entire list of Best Connecticut Middle Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at Walter C. Polson Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	CT State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2021	86.06	8^th	104	92.3%

See the entire list of Best Connecticut Middle Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Male students at Walter C. Polson Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	CT State Percentile
2018	68.04	58^th	164	64.6%
2019	64.20	71^st	167	57.5%
2021	90.76	13^th	224	94.2%
2022	83.03	26^th	169	84.6%
2023	93.89	4^th	158	97.5%
2024	94.15	4^th	157	97.5%

See the entire list of Best Connecticut Middle Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for White students at Walter C. Polson Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	CT State Percentile
2018	44.96	95^th	168	43.5%
2019	40.10	102^nd	166	38.6%
2021	85.95	14^th	175	92.0%
2022	76.09	31^st	151	79.5%
2023	87.58	6^th	158	96.2%
2024	82.21	19^th	154	87.7%

See the entire list of Best Connecticut Middle Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Connecticut Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: Connecticut State Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Walter C. Polson Middle School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
2004	598	5	22	3	0	n/a	n/a	0	628
2005	577	6	24	7	0	n/a	n/a	0	614
2006	585	7	22	6	0	n/a	n/a	0	620
2007	611	7	23	5	3	n/a	n/a	0	649
2008	613	6	17	7	2	n/a	n/a	0	645
2009	607	6	19	5	2	n/a	n/a	0	639
2010	574	5	23	5	1	n/a	n/a	0	608
2011	568	3	23	13	0	2	7	0	616
2012	556	5	24	11	1	1	7	0	605
2013	545	6	21	11	1	0	7	0	591
2014	508	2	22	15	1	0	12	0	560
2015	492	3	23	15	2	0	17	0	552
2016	490	3	25	18	2	0	18	0	556
2017	437	1	20	15	1	0	13	0	487
2018	385	3	13	17	0	0	15	0	433
2019	363	3	11	24	0	0	21	0	422
2020	498	3	18	31	2	1	34	0	587
2021	460	4	21	37	2	1	23	0	548
2022	459	2	19	36	0	0	21	0	537
2023	441	1	22	40	0	0	13	3	520
2024	451	3	27	40	0	0	15	1	537

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Walter C. Polson Middle School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2004	628	47.8	13.1	1.9
2005	614	37.9	16.2	n/a
2006	620	41.2	15.0	1.8
2007	649	43.6	14.9	1.4
2008	645	51.7	12.5	1.1
2009	639	56.2	12.1	1.6
2010	608	52.1	11.6	2.8
2011	616	50.7	12.1	4.9
2012	605	50.7	11.9	3.8
2013	591	49.3	11.9	4.9
2014	560	47.3	11.8	5.7
2015	552	47.0	11.7	5.3
2016	556	46.0	12.0	5.2
2017	487	44.9	10.8	3.1
2018	433	42.9	10.0	4.6
2019	422	41.4	10.1	3.8
2020	587	61.9	9.4	3.2
2021	548	62.0	8.8	4.4
2022	537	58.8	9.1	4.3
2023	520	55.8	9.3	3.7
2024	537	52.2	10.2	n/a

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Walter C. Polson Middle School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2004	628	47.8	13.1	1.9
2005	614	37.9	16.2	n/a
2006	620	41.2	15.0	1.8
2007	649	43.6	14.9	1.4
2008	645	51.7	12.5	1.1
2009	639	56.2	12.1	1.6
2010	608	52.1	11.6	2.8
2011	616	50.7	12.1	4.9
2012	605	50.7	11.9	3.8
2013	591	49.3	11.9	4.9
2014	560	47.3	11.8	5.7
2015	552	47.0	11.7	5.3
2016	556	46.0	12.0	5.2
2017	487	44.9	10.8	3.1
2018	433	42.9	10.0	4.6
2019	422	41.4	10.1	3.8
2020	587	61.9	9.4	3.2
2021	548	62.0	8.8	4.4
2022	537	58.8	9.1	4.3
2023	520	55.8	9.3	3.7
2024	537	52.2	10.2	n/a

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Walter C. Polson Middle School

Year	Total Expenditures Per Pupil
2018	$20,462
2019	$20,503
2020	$21,599
2021	$24,339
2022	$24,141
2023	$24,986

Data source: Connecticut Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Walter C. Polson Middle School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 89^th of 259 Middle schools	Ranks 9^th of 249 Middle schools	30.7%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
7th Grade English Language Arts (Walter C. Polson Middle School)	66.7	78.4	11.7%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Madison School District)	66.3	78.4	12.1%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Connecticut)	56.1	48.8	7.3%
7th Grade Mathematics (Walter C. Polson Middle School)	68.5	81.4	12.9%
7th Grade Mathematics (Madison School District)	68.1	81.4	13.3%
7th Grade Mathematics (Connecticut)	46.1	39.9	6.2%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Walter C. Polson Middle School)	54.9	75.7	20.8%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Madison School District)	54.9	75.7	20.8%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Connecticut)	55.8	48.5	7.3%
8th Grade Mathematics (Walter C. Polson Middle School)	51.8	76.3	24.5%
8th Grade Mathematics (Madison School District)	51.8	76.3	24.5%
8th Grade Mathematics (Connecticut)	43.5	36.2	7.3%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	422	520	23.2%
African American	3	1	66.7%
American Indian	0	0
Asian	11	22	100%
Hispanic	24	40	66.7%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	363	441	21.5%
Two or More Races	21	13	38.1%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	3.8%	3.7%	0.1%

Schools Near Walter C. Polson Middle School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				NGSS Science (2024)		SBAC English Language Arts (2024)				SBAC Mathematics (2024)				Per Pupil Expenditures (2023)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	NGSS Science 5th Grade	NGSS Science 8th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 5th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 6th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 7th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 8th Grade	SBAC Mathematics 5th Grade	SBAC Mathematics 6th Grade	SBAC Mathematics 7th Grade	SBAC Mathematics 8th Grade	Total
Walter C. Polson Middle School	Public	6-8	302 Green Hill Rd.	Madison	06443	New Haven County	Madison School District	No	No	No	No	(203) 245-6480	537	52	10.2		451 (84.0%)	3 (0.6%)	40 (7.4%)	27 (5.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (2.8%)	92.1	11^th of 250 public middle schools	95.6%		92.8	9^th of 249 public middle schools	96.4%	2		63.4		81.8	79.7	77.5		80.7	81.4	75.7	$24,986
E. C. Adams Middle School	Public	7-8	233 Church St.	Guilford	06437	New Haven County	Guilford School District	No	No	No	No	(203) 453-2755	482	44	11.0	13.7%	399 (82.8%)	8 (1.7%)	37 (7.7%)	14 (2.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	22 (4.6%)	89.8	19^th of 250 public middle schools	92.4%		87.1	30^th of 249 public middle schools	88.0%	11		71.1			82.6	67.6			72.6	72.8	$20,221
Jared Eliot School	Public	4-8	69 Fairy Dell Rd.	Clinton	06413	Middlesex County	Clinton School District	No	No	No	Yes	(860) 664-6503	431	44	9.7	44.3%	290 (67.3%)	3 (0.7%)	121 (28.1%)	11 (2.6%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.2%)	60.1	97^th of 250 public middle schools	61.2%		60	99^th of 249 public middle schools	60.2%	2	58.3	52.3	50.0	56.9	61.6	38.7	43.5	45.8	56.6	46.4	$27,148
A. Baldwin Middle School	Public	5-6	68 Bullard Dr.	Guilford	06437	New Haven County	Guilford School District	No	No	No	No	(203) 457-0222	483	41	11.6	11.0%	392 (81.2%)	4 (0.8%)	35 (7.2%)	24 (5.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	27 (5.6%)								(n/a)	69.5		77.5	72.9			57.8	72.5			$21,591
Haddam-Killingworth Middle School	Public	6-8	451 Route 81	Killingworth	06419	Middlesex County	Regional School District 17	No	No	No	Yes	(860) 663-1241	395	39	10.0	10.9%	350 (88.6%)	5 (1.3%)	24 (6.1%)	7 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (2.3%)	79	54^th of 250 public middle schools	78.4%		81.4	46^th of 249 public middle schools	81.5%	8		66.7		67.5	70.2	60.4		64.3	58.9	51.4	$25,126
Westbrook Middle School	Public	5-8	154 McVeagh Rd.	Westbrook	06498	Middlesex County	Westbrook School District	No	No	No	No	(860) 399-2010	160	22	7.3	32.5%	119 (74.4%)	2 (1.3%)	34 (21.3%)	1 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (2.5%)	92.8	9^th of 250 public middle schools	96.4%		92.2	11^th of 249 public middle schools	95.6%	2		78.4			74.5	83.8	43.2	65.5	80.4	81.1	$34,639
Francis Walsh Intermediate School	Public	5-8	185 Damascus Rd.	Branford	06405	New Haven County	Branford School District	No	No	No	Yes	(203) 488-8317	795	71	11.2	36.7%	528 (66.4%)	41 (5.2%)	129 (16.2%)	48 (6.0%)	4 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	44 (5.5%)	60.3	96^th of 250 public middle schools	61.6%		53.7	113^th of 249 public middle schools	54.6%	17			58.9	58.7	51.0	49.7	60.2	51.8	47.7	47.6	$23,868
John Winthrop Middle School	Public	6-8	1 Winthrop Road	Deep River	06417	Middlesex County	Regional School District 04	No	No	No	Yes	(860) 526-9546	223	21	10.6	31.4%	191 (85.7%)	2 (0.9%)	19 (8.5%)	1 (0.4%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (3.6%)	49.7	118^th of 250 public middle schools	52.8%					(n/a)		37.5			50.0	40.6			49.5	46.2	$28,253
North Branford Intermediate School	Public	6-8	654 Foxon Rd.	North Branford	06471	New Haven County	North Branford School District	No	No	No	Yes	(203) 484-1500	355	35	10.0	23.1%	303 (85.4%)	2 (0.6%)	36 (10.1%)	7 (2.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (2.0%)	59.1	99^th of 250 public middle schools	60.4%		66.4	86^th of 249 public middle schools	65.5%	13				54.4	55.8	50.9		47.6	48.1	43.4	$21,114
Old Saybrook Middle School	Public	5-8	60 Sheffield St.	Old Saybrook	06475	Middlesex County	Old Saybrook School District	No	No	No	No	(860) 395-3168	301	38	7.8	27.6%	225 (74.8%)	2 (0.7%)	51 (16.9%)	9 (3.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	13 (4.3%)	78.5	57^th of 250 public middle schools	77.2%		66	87^th of 249 public middle schools	65.1%	30	70.4		70.7	69.4	65.5	70.0	69.1	70.5	59.0	45.1	$27,834

Frequently Asked Questions about Walter C. Polson Middle School

What high school do graduates of Walter C. Polson Middle School attend?

Students who attend Walter C. Polson Middle School usually go on to attend Daniel Hand High School

How many students attend Walter C. Polson Middle School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 537 students attended Walter C. Polson Middle School.

What is the racial makeup of Walter C. Polson Middle School?

Students at Walter C. Polson Middle School are 84% White, 7% Hispanic, 5% Asian, 3% Two or more races.

What district is Walter C. Polson Middle School in?

Madison School District

Is Walter C. Polson Middle School a good school?

Yes! Walter C. Polson Middle School is one of the best middle schools in the state. It ranks 11^th of 250 Connecticut middle schools.

Rate Walter C. Polson Middle School!

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Connecticut Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.