Best Middle Schools in Madison, CT

Madison, Connecticut is home to one middle school, Walter C. Polson Middle School, serving grades 6 through 8 within the highly ranked Madison School District. For parents exploring this area, the standout story is simple: this is one of the best middle schools in Connecticut, with elite rankings, exceptional test scores, and a remarkably supportive learning environment.

Walter C. Polson Middle School has ranked in the top 11 of all Connecticut middle schools for three consecutive years, including 3rd place in 2024-2025 and 8th in 2025-2026 out of roughly 258 schools. That places it in the 97th percentile statewide. Its academic performance far exceeds state averages: in 2025-2026, about 81% of students were proficient in math and ELA, while roughly 85% were proficient in science — a gap of 29 to 38 percentage points above statewide rates. The school’s greatest relative strength is mathematics, especially 7th-grade math, where proficiency hit 84.9% versus 44.1% statewide. Even the lowest subject scores (77-79% proficiency) are far above what most schools achieve.

Beyond test scores, the school benefits from strong attendance and abundant resources. Only 4.5% of students are chronically absent, compared to 16.4% statewide, which likely contributes to steady academic success. The student-teacher ratio is an excellent 9.8:1, and per-student spending is high at $20,503. While about 6.5% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, the school’s performance is uniformly strong across all grades and subjects. There was a slight year-over-year dip in proficiency from 2024-2025 to 2025-2026, but the school remains firmly in the top tier — a dependable, high-achieving choice for middle school families in Madison.