Summary:
The city of New Britain, Connecticut is home to three middle schools: Pulaski Middle School, Slade Middle School, and House of Arts Letters and Science (HALS) Academy. These schools serve students in grades 6-8 within the New Britain School District.
Among the three schools, the standout performer is HALS Academy, which has consistently ranked among the top middle schools in the state of Connecticut. In the 2024-2025 school year, HALS Academy achieved exceptional proficiency rates, with 88.2% of 6th graders proficient or better in English Language Arts and up to 90.2% of 8th graders meeting or exceeding math standards. In contrast, Pulaski Middle School and Slade Middle School struggled, with proficiency rates ranging from just 2-14% across grade levels and subjects.
Despite the stark differences in academic performance, the three schools share some common challenges. All three had high chronic absenteeism rates of 17.7% in 2023-2024, significantly above the state average. Additionally, the schools serve student populations with high rates of free and reduced-price lunch eligibility, ranging from 50.74% at HALS Academy to over 75% at the other two schools. While funding and staffing levels do not appear to be the primary drivers of the performance gap, the data suggests that factors such as curriculum, instructional practices, and school culture may be playing a crucial role in the success of HALS Academy.
Thank you for your feedback!