Summary:
The Fairfield School District in Connecticut is a high-performing district ranked 21st out of 153 districts statewide (86th percentile, 4 stars), and it operates three middle schools serving grades 6–8: Roger Ludlowe Middle School, Fairfield Woods Middle School, and Tomlinson Middle School. Together these schools enroll 2,063 students, and all three outperform the state average on combined ELA, math, and science proficiency—the district average is 69.4% proficient versus 48.6% statewide.
Roger Ludlowe Middle School is the clear standout, ranking 11th out of 258 Connecticut middle schools (96th percentile, 5 stars) and leading the district in every subject, with roughly 78.2% of students proficient across ELA, math, and science. Fairfield Woods Middle School is a solid, steadily improving choice, ranking 32nd (88th percentile, 4 stars) with about 70.4% proficiency, and its state rank has improved three years in a row. Tomlinson Middle School is the district's challenge: ranked 79th (69th percentile, 3 stars) at roughly 56.6% proficiency, it dropped from 54th the prior year and is the only district middle school to fall below the state average in 8th grade science (48.6% vs. 50.9%).
The data shows a clear relationship between poverty and performance: Tomlinson has the highest free/reduced lunch rate (30.31%) and highest chronic absenteeism (9.2%), while Roger Ludlowe has the lowest on both measures (8.38% and 6.4%). Spending does not predict results—Tomlinson actually spends the most per pupil ($19,070) with the lowest student-teacher ratio (9.5:1). Across all three schools, math proficiency declines from 6th to 8th grade, with the steepest drop at Tomlinson (66.3% to 54.0%). For parents, Roger Ludlowe is a top-tier school by any measure, Fairfield Woods is a dependable option on the rise, and Tomlinson, despite strong resources, is struggling and may be the district's main improvement priority.
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