Bristow Middle School

Summary:

Bristow Middle School is a public middle school in West Hartford, Connecticut, serving 315 students in grades 6-8. The school is part of the highly-ranked West Hartford School District, which is among the top 50 districts in the state.

Bristow Middle School stands out for its strong academic performance, with students consistently scoring above state and district averages on standardized tests in English Language Arts and Mathematics. The school also boasts a more diverse student population compared to nearby King Philip Middle School and Sedgwick Middle School, with a student body that is 51.43% White, 8.89% African American, 24.13% Hispanic, and 10.16% Asian. Bristow's performance across different student subgroups, including White and Special Education students, is also impressive, with the school ranking among the top middle schools in Connecticut.

While Bristow Middle School's overall performance is excellent, the nearby King Philip Middle School and Sedgwick Middle School also perform well, suggesting that the West Hartford School District as a whole provides a strong educational environment for its middle school students. Additionally, Bristow's relatively low percentage of free and reduced-price lunch recipients (26.03%) compared to nearby Hartford-based schools indicates that the school serves a more economically diverse student population within the West Hartford community.


Detail:

Public 6-8

 34 Highland St.
       West Hartford, CT  06102


(860) 231-2100

District: West Hartford School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
68th of 250 Connecticut Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $23,697 Help


Feeder schools for Bristow Middle School:

Elementary:    Aiken School
    Braeburn School
    Bugbee School
    Charter Oak International Academy
    More...

Student/teacher ratio:  10.7 Help
Number of students:  312

Racial breakdown:

White:
51.6%
Hispanic:
25.6%
Asian:
9.3%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  29.8% Help


 See top rated Connecticut middle schools

 Compare Bristow Middle School to nearby middle schools!

Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Bristow Middle School ranks better than 72.8% of middle schools in Connecticut. It also ranks 2nd among 3 ranked middle schools in the West Hartford School District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 72.98. (See more...)
Help
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
Help
Compare Details Bristow Middle School has the smallest middle school student body size in the West Hartford School District. Racial makeup is: White (51.6%), Hispanic (25.6%), Asian (9.3%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 29.8% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Bristow Middle School is 10.7, which is the lowest among 3 middle schools in the West Hartford School District! (See more...)
Help
Compare Bristow Middle School employs 29.1 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Bristow Middle School is $23,697, which is the highest among 3 middle schools in the West Hartford School District!
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Bristow Middle School:

SchoolDigger ranks Bristow Middle School 68th of 250 Connecticut public middle schools. (See Bristow Middle School in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Female students:
Male students:
White students:


West Hartford School District:

SchoolDigger ranks West Hartford School District 48th of 158 Connecticut school districts. (See district ranking list.)


What do you think?

Your rating for Bristow Middle School?

Rank History for Bristow Middle School

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Bristow Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CT State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2006 70.31 83rd 248 66.5%
2007 73.42 73rd 250 70.8%
2008 78.03 40th 252 84.1%
2009 77.61 49th 255 80.8%
2010 76.71 66th 268 75.4%
2011 78.63 47th 269 82.5%
2012 74.81 75th 272 72.4%
2013 73.22 96th 278 65.5%
2015 85.78 42nd 280 85.0%
2016 84.55 32nd 246 87.0%
2017 85.69 27th 250 89.2%
2018 78.07 59th 249 76.3%
2019 80.25 59th 259 77.2%
2021 85.45 38th 275 86.2%
2022 76.89 59th 250 76.4%
2023 79.29 51st 249 79.5%
2024 72.98 68th 250 72.8%
See the entire list of Connecticut Middle School Rankings!

Rank History for Special Education students at Bristow Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CT State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 79.63 29th 244 88.1%
See the entire list of Best Connecticut Middle Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Bristow Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CT State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 74.75 42nd 218 80.7%
See the entire list of Best Connecticut Middle Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Bristow Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CT State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 67.60 64th 160 60.0%
2019 71.56 51st 169 69.8%
2021 84.81 27th 235 88.5%
2022 72.80 50th 166 69.9%
2023 77.68 33rd 160 79.4%
2024 62.98 63rd 161 60.9%
See the entire list of Best Connecticut Middle Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Bristow Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CT State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 73.72 44th 164 73.2%
2019 76.75 47th 167 71.9%
2021 81.28 44th 224 80.4%
2022 72.22 51st 169 69.8%
2023 74.02 42nd 158 73.4%
2024 67.27 57th 157 63.7%
See the entire list of Best Connecticut Middle Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Asian students at Bristow Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CT State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 51.37 18th 27 33.3%
See the entire list of Best Connecticut Middle Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for White students at Bristow Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CT State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 84.18 18th 168 89.3%
2019 83.66 19th 166 88.6%
2021 89.97 6th 175 96.6%
2022 78.24 26th 151 82.8%
2023 81.93 17th 158 89.2%
2024 75.56 28th 154 81.8%
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.

Bristow Middle School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 





Data source: Connecticut State Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)
100%

0%

0%

0%

0%

  

Reviews:
by a student
Thursday, May 14, 2020

Open Quote Bristow is fun and pretty laid back I love learning here. Close Quote



Enrollment information for Bristow Middle School

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
2006 2 1 4 6 0 n/a n/a 0 13
2007 279 44 30 62 1 n/a n/a 0 416
2008 287 35 28 58 1 n/a n/a 0 409
2009 299 37 27 56 1 n/a n/a 0 420
2010 295 38 31 56 0 n/a n/a 0 420
2011 276 33 32 64 1 0 17 0 423
2012 275 36 42 54 0 0 16 0 423
2013 268 35 43 49 1 0 24 0 420
2014 262 30 53 47 2 0 24 0 418
2015 253 29 53 55 3 0 28 0 421
2016 251 26 60 53 0 0 32 0 422
2017 256 28 53 53 0 0 27 0 417
2018 261 36 49 53 0 0 21 0 420
2019 260 37 47 59 0 0 14 0 417
2020 243 27 42 58 0 0 16 0 386
2021 202 28 40 58 0 0 21 0 349
2022 176 25 24 68 0 0 16 0 309
2023 162 28 32 76 0 0 17 0 315
2024 161 24 29 80 0 0 18 0 312

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 Bristow Middle School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
2006 13 15.4 0.8 76.9
2007 416 29.4 14.1 13.5
2008 409 34.7 11.8 12.2
2009 420 37.5 12.7 15.2
2010 420 34.4 12.1 18.6
2011 423 33.3 12.7 18
2012 423 35.3 11.9 19.4
2013 420 35.8 11.7 19.5
2014 418 35.6 11.7 19.4
2015 421 34.0 12.3 17.6
2016 422 35.0 12.0 17.5
2017 417 35.8 11.6 17
2018 420 39.6 10.6 18.3
2019 417 33.9 12.3 23.3
2020 386 32.9 11.7 24.9
2021 349 30.5 11.4 23.5
2022 309 27.1 11.4 28.2
2023 315 29.3 10.7 26
2024 312 29.1 10.7 29.8

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 Bristow Middle School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
2006 13 15.4 0.8 76.9
2007 416 29.4 14.1 13.5
2008 409 34.7 11.8 12.2
2009 420 37.5 12.7 15.2
2010 420 34.4 12.1 18.6
2011 423 33.3 12.7 18
2012 423 35.3 11.9 19.4
2013 420 35.8 11.7 19.5
2014 418 35.6 11.7 19.4
2015 421 34.0 12.3 17.6
2016 422 35.0 12.0 17.5
2017 417 35.8 11.6 17
2018 420 39.6 10.6 18.3
2019 417 33.9 12.3 23.3
2020 386 32.9 11.7 24.9
2021 349 30.5 11.4 23.5
2022 309 27.1 11.4 28.2
2023 315 29.3 10.7 26
2024 312 29.1 10.7 29.8

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 Bristow Middle School

Help

YearTotal Expenditures Per Pupil
2018 $17,312
2019 $18,556
2020 $19,476
2021 $20,859
2022 $23,638
2023 $23,697

Data source: Connecticut Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Bristow 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 59th of 259 Middle schoolsRanks 51st of 249 Middle schools
 2.3%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
6th Grade English Language Arts (Bristow Middle School)71.166
 5.1%
   6th Grade English Language Arts (West Hartford School District)68.361.4
 6.9%
   6th Grade English Language Arts (Connecticut)55.348
 7.3%
6th Grade Mathematics (Bristow Middle School)67.667
 0.6%
   6th Grade Mathematics (West Hartford School District)57.158.3
 1.2%
   6th Grade Mathematics (Connecticut)45.439.6
 5.8%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Bristow Middle School)72.259
 13.2%
   7th Grade English Language Arts (West Hartford School District)70.960.9
 10%
   7th Grade English Language Arts (Connecticut)56.148.8
 7.3%
7th Grade Mathematics (Bristow Middle School)55.351
 4.3%
   7th Grade Mathematics (West Hartford School District)55.555.4
 0.1%
   7th Grade Mathematics (Connecticut)46.139.9
 6.2%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Bristow Middle School)78.869.2
 9.6%
   8th Grade English Language Arts (West Hartford School District)73.163.1
 10%
   8th Grade English Language Arts (Connecticut)55.848.5
 7.3%
8th Grade Mathematics (Bristow Middle School)61.463.5
 2.1%
   8th Grade Mathematics (West Hartford School District)6154.1
 6.9%
   8th Grade Mathematics (Connecticut)43.536.2
 7.3%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students417315
 24.5%
African American3728
 24.3%
American Indian00
Asian4732
 31.9%
Hispanic5976
 28.8%
Pacific Islander00
White260162
 37.7%
Two or More Races1417
 21.4%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients23.3%26%
 2.8%


Schools Near Bristow Middle School









Frequently Asked Questions about Bristow Middle School

Bristow Middle School ranks 68th of 250 Connecticut middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Students at Bristow Middle School are 52% White, 26% Hispanic, 9% Asian, 8% African American, 6% Two or more races.

In the 2023-24 school year, 312 students attended Bristow 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.





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