Summary:
The 06518 zip code area of Hamden, Connecticut is home to two schools: Hamden Middle School and West Woods School. While both schools serve diverse student populations, the data reveals a significant performance gap, with West Woods consistently outperforming Hamden Middle School and the Hamden School District on standardized tests.
West Woods School stands out as a high-performing elementary school, with 5th-grade students scoring 68.2% proficient or better in English Language Arts, compared to 42.7% for the district and 51.4% for the state of Connecticut. In contrast, Hamden Middle School lags behind, with only 29.9-47.7% of students scoring proficient or better in ELA and Math across 7th and 8th grades. The middle school's statewide ranking also places it in the bottom half of Connecticut middle schools.
Factors such as socioeconomic status and resource allocation may contribute to the performance gap. Hamden Middle School has a higher free/reduced lunch rate (39.46%) compared to West Woods School (24.83%), indicating a greater proportion of students from lower-income households. Additionally, while Hamden Middle School has a lower student-teacher ratio, this advantage does not seem to translate into better academic outcomes, raising questions about the effective allocation and utilization of resources.
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