Preston Plains School

Q: Is Preston Plains School a good school?

Preston Plains School ranks 112 th of 250 Connecticut middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Preston Plains School is a public middle school serving 125 students in grades 6-8 in Preston, Connecticut. The school is part of the Preston School District, which is ranked 103 out of 158 districts in the state and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Preston Plains School consistently performs above the state average in English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics on standardized tests. For example, in 2023-2024, 57.7% of 6th graders were proficient or better in ELA, compared to the state average of 48.1%. The school also excels for certain student subgroups, ranking 32nd out of 244 Connecticut middle schools for special education students and 7th out of 218 for low socioeconomic status students. However, the student population is predominantly White, ranging from 82.81% to 84% over the past three school years, which is in contrast to some nearby schools like Interdistrict School For Arts And Communication and Bennie Dover Jackson Middle School, which have much more diverse student bodies.

When compared to nearby middle schools, Preston Plains School generally outperforms them academically. For instance, in 2023-2024, its 6th grade ELA proficiency rate of 57.7% was significantly higher than Interdistrict School for Arts and Communication (44.7%), Bennie Dover Jackson Middle School (12.7%), and Kelly STEAM Magnet Middle School (33.3%). However, Preston Plains School also spends more per student ($19,399 in 2018-2019) compared to some nearby schools, such as Interdistrict School for Arts and Communication ($13,271) and Griswold Middle School ($14,085).

Detail:

Public 6-8

1 Route 164
Preston, CT 06365

(860) 889-3831

District: Preston School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
112^th of 250 Connecticut Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $28,244

Feeder schools for Preston Plains School:

Elementary:

Preston Veterans' Memorial School

Student/teacher ratio: 11.9

Number of students: 125

Racial breakdown:

White:

84.0%

Two or more races:

7.2%

Hispanic:

6.4%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 30.4%

See top rated Connecticut middle schools

Compare Preston Plains School to nearby middle schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Preston Plains School ranks better than 55.2% of middle schools in Connecticut. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 54.64. (See more...)

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (84%), two or more races (7.2%), Hispanic (6.4%). (See more...)

Compare Details 30.4% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Preston Plains School is 11.9. (See more...)

Compare Preston Plains School employs 10.5 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Preston Plains School is $28,244.

Schooldigger Rankings:

Preston Plains School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

SchoolDigger ranks Preston Plains School 112^th of 250 Connecticut public middle schools. (See Preston Plains School in the ranking list.)

Preston School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Preston School District 103^rd of 158 Connecticut school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Preston Plains School

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Rank History for all students at Preston Plains School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	CT State Percentile
2006	52.71	148^th	248	40.3%
2007	59.15	129^th	250	48.4%
2008	47.23	160^th	252	36.5%
2009	63.55	123^rd	255	51.8%
2010	70.37	103^rd	268	61.6%
2011	74.18	78^th	269	71.0%
2012	72.89	91^st	272	66.5%
2013	76.25	67^th	278	75.9%
2015	75.25	78^th	280	72.1%
2016	71.97	75^th	246	69.5%
2017	62.57	92^nd	250	63.2%
2019	63.15	103^rd	259	60.2%
2021	52.70	121^st	275	56.0%
2022	41.75	131^st	250	47.6%
2023	68.73	79^th	249	68.3%
2024	54.64	112^th	250	55.2%

See the entire list of Connecticut Middle School Rankings!

Rank History for Special Education students at Preston Plains School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	CT State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2021	78.28	32^nd	244	86.9%

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

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Preston Plains School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	CT State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2021	95.54	7^th	218	96.8%

See the entire list of Best Connecticut Middle Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Preston Plains School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	CT State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2021	53.01	103^rd	235	56.2%

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

Rank History for Male students at Preston Plains School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	CT State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2021	52.46	97^th	224	56.7%

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

Rank History for White students at Preston Plains School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	CT State Percentile
2019	34.19	113^th	166	31.9%
2021	28.84	131^st	175	25.1%
2022	9.42	139^th	151	7.9%
2023	41.65	95^th	158	39.9%

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 Preston Plains School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
1988	152	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	152
1989	160	0	1	0	0	n/a	n/a	161
1990	189	1	1	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	191
1991	179	1	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	180
1992	167	1	0	2	0	n/a	n/a	170
1993	152	0	1	0	0	n/a	n/a	153
1994	158	2	1	0	0	n/a	n/a	161
1995	166	3	2	2	0	n/a	n/a	173
1996	166	3	2	2	0	n/a	n/a	173
1997	149	0	2	1	0	n/a	n/a	152
1998	171	0	2	0	0	n/a	n/a	173
1999	176	0	0	1	0	n/a	n/a	177
2000	183	2	3	3	0	n/a	n/a	191
2001	162	2	3	2	0	n/a	n/a	169
2002	179	2	3	5	5	n/a	n/a	194
2003	179	2	3	5	5	n/a	n/a	194
2004	188	3	5	6	4	n/a	n/a	206
2005	159	2	3	3	4	n/a	n/a	171
2006	107	0	1	2	1	n/a	n/a	111
2007	164	6	3	4	1	n/a	n/a	178
2008	170	7	4	8	3	n/a	n/a	192
2009	145	6	8	6	3	n/a	n/a	168
2010	130	2	5	5	6	n/a	n/a	148
2011	118	1	5	3	3	0	4	134
2012	112	0	3	4	4	0	6	129
2013	114	2	2	4	7	0	5	134
2014	139	4	3	3	5	1	0	155
2015	134	5	3	3	7	1	4	157
2016	130	5	3	6	4	0	4	152
2017	111	4	2	10	5	0	6	138
2018	106	3	3	9	5	0	5	131
2019	113	5	4	11	4	0	8	145
2020	122	3	5	7	1	0	9	147
2021	115	4	3	7	0	1	8	138
2022	106	4	2	8	0	1	7	128
2023	105	1	1	8	0	1	9	125

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 Preston Plains School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	152	19.0	8.0	n/a
1989	161	18.5	8.7	n/a
1990	191	19.5	9.7	n/a
1991	180	19.0	9.4	n/a
1992	170	17.1	9.9	2.9
1993	153	16.9	9.1	0
1994	161	17.9	9.0	6.8
1995	173	15.6	11.1	6.9
1996	173	15.6	11.1	6.9
1997	152	13.7	11.1	5.9
1998	173	13.7	12.6	4.6
1999	177	14.8	12.0	10.2
2000	191	14.8	12.9	13.1
2001	169	15.5	10.9	n/a
2002	194	16.3	11.9	8.2
2003	194	16.3	11.9	8.2
2004	206	16.2	12.7	7.8
2005	171	12.4	13.8	n/a
2006	111	13.0	8.5	7.2
2007	178	13.7	13.0	10.1
2008	192	15.9	12.1	12
2009	168	16.1	11.6	13.7
2010	148	13.6	10.8	10.8
2011	134	13.9	9.6	13.4
2012	129	14.0	9.2	18.6
2013	134	13.9	9.6	21.6
2014	155	12.8	12.1	25.8
2015	157	10.0	15.7	25.5
2016	152	9.0	16.8	26.3
2017	138	11.1	12.4	21
2018	131	8.6	15.2	20.6
2019	145	11.1	13.0	32.4
2020	147	11.0	13.3	32
2021	138	9.4	14.6	34.1
2022	128	11.6	11.0	29.7
2023	125	10.5	11.9	30.4

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 Preston Plains School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	152	19.0	8.0	n/a
1989	161	18.5	8.7	n/a
1990	191	19.5	9.7	n/a
1991	180	19.0	9.4	n/a
1992	170	17.1	9.9	2.9
1993	153	16.9	9.1	0
1994	161	17.9	9.0	6.8
1995	173	15.6	11.1	6.9
1996	173	15.6	11.1	6.9
1997	152	13.7	11.1	5.9
1998	173	13.7	12.6	4.6
1999	177	14.8	12.0	10.2
2000	191	14.8	12.9	13.1
2001	169	15.5	10.9	n/a
2002	194	16.3	11.9	8.2
2003	194	16.3	11.9	8.2
2004	206	16.2	12.7	7.8
2005	171	12.4	13.8	n/a
2006	111	13.0	8.5	7.2
2007	178	13.7	13.0	10.1
2008	192	15.9	12.1	12
2009	168	16.1	11.6	13.7
2010	148	13.6	10.8	10.8
2011	134	13.9	9.6	13.4
2012	129	14.0	9.2	18.6
2013	134	13.9	9.6	21.6
2014	155	12.8	12.1	25.8
2015	157	10.0	15.7	25.5
2016	152	9.0	16.8	26.3
2017	138	11.1	12.4	21
2018	131	8.6	15.2	20.6
2019	145	11.1	13.0	32.4
2020	147	11.0	13.3	32
2021	138	9.4	14.6	34.1
2022	128	11.6	11.0	29.7
2023	125	10.5	11.9	30.4

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 Preston Plains School

Year	Total Expenditures Per Pupil
2018	$20,000
2019	$19,399
2020	$21,221
2021	$23,115
2022	$24,231
2023	$28,244

Data source: Connecticut Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Preston Plains 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 103^rd of 259 Middle schools	Ranks 79^th of 249 Middle schools	8%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
6th Grade English Language Arts (Preston Plains School)	60.4	60.5	0.1%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Preston School District)	59.3	60.5	1.2%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Connecticut)	55.3	48	7.3%
6th Grade Mathematics (Preston Plains School)	64.2	34.9	29.3%
6th Grade Mathematics (Preston School District)	63	34.9	28.1%
6th Grade Mathematics (Connecticut)	45.4	39.6	5.8%
7th Grade Mathematics (Preston Plains School)	52.3	42.1	10.2%
7th Grade Mathematics (Preston School District)	52.3	42.1	10.2%
7th Grade Mathematics (Connecticut)	46.1	37.9	8.2%
8th Grade Mathematics (Preston Plains School)	39.1	55.3	16.2%
8th Grade Mathematics (Preston School District)	38.3	52.5	14.2%
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	145	125	13.8%
African American	5	1	80%
American Indian	4	0	100%
Asian	4	1	75%
Hispanic	11	8	27.3%
Pacific Islander	0	1
White	113	105	7.1%
Two or More Races	8	9	12.5%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	32.4%	30.4%	2%

Schools Near Preston Plains 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
Preston Plains School	Public	6-8	1 Route 164	Preston	06365	New London County	Preston School District	No	No	No	Yes	(860) 889-3831	125	11	11.9	30.4%	105 (84.0%)	1 (0.8%)	8 (6.4%)	1 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.8%)	9 (7.2%)	54.6	112^th of 250 public middle schools	55.2%		68.7	79^th of 249 public middle schools	68.3%	33				57.7				32.7	37.5	60.0	$28,244
Ledyard Middle School	Public	6-8	1860 Route 12	Gales Ferry	06335	New London County	Ledyard School District	No	No	No	Yes	(860) 464-3188	534	42	12.7	27.3%	379 (71.0%)	17 (3.2%)	61 (11.4%)	19 (3.6%)	15 (2.8%)	6 (1.1%)	37 (6.9%)	41.6	137^th of 250 public middle schools	45.2%		37.6	139^th of 249 public middle schools	44.2%	2		52.4		44.3	41.5	39.2		41.2	37.0	29.1	$16,201
Kelly STEAM Magnet Middle School	Public, Magnet	6-8	25 Mahan Dr.	Norwich	06360	New London County	Norwich School District	No	Yes	No	Yes	(860) 823-4211	556	68	8.1	72.5%	151 (27.2%)	109 (19.6%)	207 (37.2%)	40 (7.2%)	3 (0.5%)	2 (0.4%)	44 (7.9%)	20.2	180^th of 250 public middle schools	28.0%		14.4	203^rd of 249 public middle schools	18.5%	23		30.7		33.3	28.3	31.2		25.1	22.7	17.5	$24,824
Teachers' Memorial Global Studies Magnet Middle School	Public, Magnet	6-8	15 Teachers Dr.	Norwich	06360	New London County	Norwich School District	No	Yes	No	Yes	(860) 823-4212	442	65	6.8	75.3%	109 (24.7%)	102 (23.1%)	167 (37.8%)	15 (3.4%)	4 (0.9%)	3 (0.7%)	42 (9.5%)	8.6	225^th of 250 public middle schools	10.0%		9.2	223^rd of 249 public middle schools	10.4%	2		16.5		16.7	15.8	26.3		12.2	9.0	10.2	$27,835
Griswold Middle School	Public	5-8	211 Slater Ave.	Griswold	06351	New London County	Griswold School District	No	No	No	Yes	(860) 376-7630	473	49	9.7	51.8%	357 (75.5%)	8 (1.7%)	57 (12.1%)	7 (1.5%)	3 (0.6%)	1 (0.2%)	40 (8.5%)	47.4	123^rd of 250 public middle schools	50.8%		52.8	116^th of 249 public middle schools	53.4%	7	56.3		52.6	43.1	50.5	60.0	41.5	32.5	35.9	41.3	$16,548
Stonington Middle School	Public	6-8	204 Mistuxet Ave.	Mystic	06355	New London County	Stonington School District	No	No	No	Yes	(860) 536-9613	379	55	6.9	26.1%	304 (80.2%)	2 (0.5%)	28 (7.4%)	10 (2.6%)	2 (0.5%)	1 (0.3%)	32 (8.4%)	78	59^th of 250 public middle schools	76.4%		78.4	54^th of 249 public middle schools	78.3%	5		62.7		70.5	58.8	64.3		69.8	57.0	52.0	$24,621
Leonard J. Tyl Middle School	Public	6-8	166 Chesterfield Rd.	Oakdale	06370	New London County	Montville School District	No	No	No	No	(860) 848-2822	510	45	11.4	45.7%	287 (56.3%)	23 (4.5%)	89 (17.5%)	35 (6.9%)	4 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	70 (13.7%)	42.4	136^th of 250 public middle schools	45.6%		49	121^st of 249 public middle schools	51.4%	15		51.7		49.7	38.3	45.6		37.0	38.9	28.2	$19,386
Groton Middle School	Public	6-8	35 Groton Long Point Road	Groton	06340	New London County	Groton School District	No	No	No	Yes	(860) 446-4200	907	77	11.7	47.3%	441 (48.6%)	66 (7.3%)	225 (24.8%)	47 (5.2%)	6 (0.7%)	5 (0.6%)	114 (12.6%)	41.3	138^th of 250 public middle schools	44.8%		42.3	133^rd of 249 public middle schools	46.6%	5		44.2		42.5	45.1	52.8		31.3	34.6	32.8	$20,077
Interdistrict School For Arts And Communication	Public, Charter	6-8	190 Governor Winthrop Blvd.	New London	06320	New London County	Interdistrict School for Arts and Community District	Yes	No	No	Yes	(860) 447-1003	281	26	10.8	70.8%	34 (12.1%)	51 (18.1%)	171 (60.9%)	4 (1.4%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (6.4%)	39.7	141^st of 250 public middle schools	43.6%		25.2	166^th of 249 public middle schools	33.3%	25				44.7	45.3	53.8		37.6	20.9	32.9	$16,897
Bennie Dover Jackson Middle School	Public	6-8	36 Waller St.	New London	06320	New London County	New London School District	No	No	No	Yes	(860) 437-6480	349	31	11.2	97.1%	22 (6.3%)	58 (16.6%)	236 (67.6%)	4 (1.1%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	27 (7.7%)	4.7	246^th of 250 public middle schools	1.6%		6.6	235^th of 249 public middle schools	5.6%	11		11.8		12.7	11.3	8.4		5.9	5.7		$24,704

Frequently Asked Questions about Preston Plains School

What is the racial makeup of Preston Plains School?

Students at Preston Plains School are 84% White, 7% Two or more races, 6% Hispanic.

What district is Preston Plains School in?

Preston School District

Is Preston Plains School a good school?

Preston Plains School ranks 112^th of 250 Connecticut middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Preston Plains School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 125 students attended Preston Plains School.

Rate Preston Plains 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.