West Haven School District

The West Haven School District in Connecticut serves about 5,751 students across nine schools, including six elementary schools, two middle-level schools, and one high school.

For parents, the standout elementary school is Edith E. Mackrille School, which posts the district’s best test scores — 77.8% proficient in 4th grade math versus 52.1% statewide — while serving a student body with nearly 59% free/reduced-price lunch eligibility. At the middle level, Harry M. Bailey Middle School is the strongest, exceeding state averages in 8th grade math, science, and ELA, and its 8th grade math proficiency improved from 40.5% to 47.3% in one year. Seth G. Haley School deserves attention for the district’s lowest chronic absenteeism rate (15.2%) and rising school rank. West Haven High School graduates students at a strong 94.8% rate, above the state average, but only 10% of 11th graders are proficient in SAT math.

Math is the district’s biggest challenge at almost every grade level, from Carrigan 5/6 Intermediate School (24.8% 5th grade math proficiency) to the high school’s 10% SAT math rate. Chronic absenteeism varies widely, from 15.2% at Haley to 28.9% at Savin Rock Community School, which also has the highest poverty rate in the district. Notably, high spending does not guarantee high results: Alma E. Pagels School spends the most per student ($17,795) but is only a mid-tier performer, while Mackrille produces top results at a comparatively modest $15,587 per student. Students appear to gain ground between 6th and 8th grade, as Bailey’s 8th grade scores are stronger than Carrigan’s 5th and 6th grade scores. Overall, West Haven has clear bright spots in Mackrille, Bailey, and Haley, and the most urgent districtwide issue remains math proficiency, followed by chronic absenteeism at several schools.