Beta You're viewing our redesigned school page. Prefer the classic layout?

Dr. Helen Baldwin Middle School

Q: Is Dr. Helen Baldwin Middle School a good school?

Dr. Helen Baldwin Middle School ranks 90 th of 258 Connecticut middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 5-8

90^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 258 Connecticut Middle Schools

Better than 65% of Connecticut middle schools

Summary

Dr. Helen Baldwin Middle School in Canterbury, CT, serves 213 students in grades 5 through 8 and has earned a 3-star rating, placing it 90th out of 258 Connecticut middle schools (65th percentile) for 2025-26. The school has shown steady improvement over the past several years, climbing from the 129th spot in 2021-22 and stabilizing in the high 80s to low 90s since 2023-24 — a particularly notable achievement given that the Canterbury School District overall is rated at the 44th percentile.

Baldwin consistently posts test scores above the Connecticut state average and outperforms most schools in the region. For example, in 2025-26, 8th-grade math proficiency reached 55.1% compared with the state average of 41.9%, placing Baldwin ahead of nearby schools like Killingly Intermediate School (30.3%), Kelly STEAM Magnet Middle School (26.5%), Plainfield Central School (19.7%), Windham Middle School (16.9%), and Teachers' Memorial Middle School (13.8%). Only Mansfield Middle School and Lebanon Middle School regularly outperform Baldwin in the comparison set. The school also stands out for its very low chronic absenteeism rate of 8.4% — roughly half the state average of 16.4% — and its per-pupil spending of $21,431, the highest among nearby middle schools.

About one-third of Baldwin's students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a moderate rate compared with higher-need schools in the region. The school's small size may contribute to its strong results, though its student-teacher ratio of 12.5 is not notably lower than peers. Families should be aware that proficiency rates vary somewhat from year to year and across grade levels; for instance, 8th-grade math jumped from 37.3% in 2023-24 to 55.1% in 2025-26. Overall, Baldwin's positive trajectory, strong attendance, and above-average academics make it a standout option within eastern Connecticut.

213

Students ?

12.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$21,219

Per pupil spending ?

33.8%

Free/discounted lunch ?

45 Westminster Rd.
Canterbury, CT 06331

(860) 546-9421

District: Canterbury School District

Students who attend Dr. Helen Baldwin Middle School usually attend:

High:

Marine Science Magnet High School

Feeder schools for Dr. Helen Baldwin Middle School:

Elementary:

Canterbury Elementary School

Racial breakdown:

White:

85.9%

Hispanic:

12.7%

African American:

0.9%

See top rated Connecticut middle schools

Compare Dr. Helen Baldwin Middle School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 48th percentile in 2016 → 65th in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 17 percentile points since 2016

✓Above the Connecticut median (65th percentile)

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school53%

District avg53%

Connecticut avg49%

90^th of 258

Connecticut public middle schools ?

Top 35%▲ up 17 pts since 2016

From bottom 48% (2016) to top 35% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Connecticut Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

85^th of 153Canterbury School District among Connecticut districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2026	66.4	90 of 258	65.1%	★★★☆☆
2025	66.7	87 of 252	65.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	65.6	88 of 250	64.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	58.3	104 of 249	58.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	43.1	129 of 250	48.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	47.3	135 of 275	50.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	56.3	117 of 259	54.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	56.9	117 of 249	53.0%	★★★☆☆
2017	42.2	137 of 250	45.2%	★★☆☆☆
2016	47.9	127 of 246	48.4%	★★☆☆☆
2015	59.8	116 of 280	58.6%	★★★☆☆
2013	75.3	74 of 278	73.4%	★★★★☆
2012	80.7	28 of 272	89.7%	★★★★★
2011	78.2	51 of 269	81.0%	★★★★☆
2010	80.2	38 of 268	85.8%	★★★★☆
2009	78.1	44 of 255	82.7%	★★★★☆
2008	76.1	60 of 252	76.2%	★★★★☆
2007	70.5	85 of 250	66.0%	★★★☆☆
2006	62.8	118 of 248	52.4%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2021	45.7	117 of 235	50.2%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2021	50.6	102 of 224	54.5%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2024	36.1	99 of 154	35.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	34.3	105 of 158	33.5%	★★☆☆☆
2021	20.2	148 of 175	15.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	27.3	133 of 166	19.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	32.2	116 of 168	31.0%	★★☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Male (2021)54th percentile+4 vs school

Female (2021)50th percentile~ school

White (2024)36th percentile-29 vs school

By subject vs Connecticut (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts59%+7 vs state

Mathematics51%+7 vs state

★

No ratings yet

Be the first to rate Dr. Helen Baldwin Middle School and help other families decide.

Rate Dr. Helen Baldwin Middle School

Have first-hand experience? A quick rating - and a sentence or two about what stands out (teachers, academics, safety, communication) - helps other families know what to expect.

Takes about a minute. We email you a link to verify your review - your address is never shown publicly.

Tap a star to rate

Reviews

No written reviews yet. If you know this school, be the first to share what stands out.

Schools Near Dr. Helen Baldwin Middle School

Load more schools when map is moved

Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				NGSS Science (2026)		SBAC English Language Arts (2026)				SBAC Mathematics (2026)				Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients (2025)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	NGSS Science 5th Grade	NGSS Science 8th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 5th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 6th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 7th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 8th Grade	SBAC Mathematics 5th Grade	SBAC Mathematics 6th Grade	SBAC Mathematics 7th Grade	SBAC Mathematics 8th Grade	Total
Dr. Helen Baldwin Middle School	Public	5-8	45 Westminster Rd.	Canterbury	06331	Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region	Canterbury School District	No	No	No	Yes	(860) 546-9421	213	17	12.5	33.8%	183 (85.9%)	2 (0.9%)	27 (12.7%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	66.4	90^th of 258 public middle schools	65.1%		66.7	87^th of 252 public middle schools	65.5%	3	501.0	810.0	2487.0	59.1	2564.0	2571.0	51.1	2554.0	48.3	55.1	$21,219
Plainfield Central School	Public	6-8	75 Canterbury Rd.	Plainfield	06374	Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region	Plainfield School District	No	No	No	Yes	(860) 564-6437	422	42	10.0	55.9%	367 (87.0%)	20 (4.7%)	12 (2.8%)	6 (1.4%)	3 (0.7%)	4 (0.9%)	10 (2.4%)	36.9	152^nd of 258 public middle schools	41.1%		38.6	143^rd of 252 public middle schools	43.3%	9		799.0		42.4	50.4	38.1		44.7	37.1	19.7	$20,793
Brooklyn Middle School	Public	5-8	119 Gorman Rd.	Brooklyn	06234	Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region	Brooklyn School District	No	No	No	Yes	(860) 774-9153	373	35	10.8	36.7%	287 (76.9%)	8 (2.1%)	49 (13.1%)	10 (2.7%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (4.8%)	61.3	98^th of 258 public middle schools	62.0%		57.3	107^th of 252 public middle schools	57.5%	9	62.8	61.3	58.1	54.9	65.2	57.0	41.9	30.4	48.9	55.4	$19,499
Griswold Middle School	Public	5-8	211 Slater Ave.	Griswold	06351	Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region	Griswold School District	No	No	No	Yes	(860) 376-7630	529	38	14.0	54.3%	390 (73.7%)	17 (3.2%)	68 (12.9%)	11 (2.1%)	3 (0.6%)	1 (0.2%)	39 (7.4%)	40.6	144^th of 258 public middle schools	44.2%		37.9	147^th of 252 public middle schools	41.7%	3	502.0	792.0	2508.0	37.5	56.6	2574.0	36.8	2495.0	30.9	2517.0	$16,816
Killingly Intermediate School	Public	5-8	1599 Upper Maple St.	Dayville	06241	Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region	Killingly School District	No	No	No	Yes	(860) 779-6700	692	56	12.3	52.3%	508 (73.4%)	16 (2.3%)	90 (13.0%)	12 (1.7%)	3 (0.4%)	1 (0.1%)	62 (9.0%)	35.9	154^th of 258 public middle schools	40.3%		31.1	154^th of 252 public middle schools	38.9%		38.5	52.1	45.6	47.8	34.9	47.1	21.9	30.3	23.1	30.3	$17,715
Kelly STEAM Magnet Middle School	Public, Magnet	6-8	25 Mahan Dr.	Norwich	06360	Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region	Norwich School District	No	Yes	No	Yes	(860) 823-4211	593	52	11.4	73.9%	171 (28.8%)	105 (17.7%)	224 (37.8%)	47 (7.9%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.5%)	43 (7.3%)	19.1	190^th of 258 public middle schools	26.4%		20.9	183^rd of 252 public middle schools	27.4%	7		31.9		26.8	27.8	37.6		18.5	20.0	26.5	$23,513
Windham Middle School	Public	5-8	123 Quarry St.	Willimantic	06226	Capitol Planning Region	Windham School District	No	No	No	Yes	(860) 465-2351	583	56	10.4	76.3%	97 (16.6%)	17 (2.9%)	452 (77.5%)	5 (0.9%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (1.7%)	16.6	198^th of 258 public middle schools	23.3%		19.4	188^th of 252 public middle schools	25.4%	10	28.2	785.0	27.6	26.4	33.3	33.1	26.7	14.9	24.2	16.9	$23,976
Teachers' Memorial Middle School	Public, Magnet	6-8	15 Teachers Dr.	Norwich	06360	Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region	Norwich School District	No	Yes	No	Yes	(860) 823-4212	447	41	10.7	82.3%	94 (21.0%)	117 (26.2%)	177 (39.6%)	18 (4.0%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	38 (8.5%)	13	218^th of 258 public middle schools	15.5%		8.6	232^nd of 252 public middle schools	7.9%	14		23.0		32.8	18.6	24.3		27.0	10.9	13.8	$26,755
Mansfield Middle School	Public	5-8	205 Spring Hill Rd.	Storrs	06268	Capitol Planning Region	Mansfield School District	No	No	No	No	(860) 429-9341	414	46	9.0	31.6%	250 (60.4%)	19 (4.6%)	89 (21.5%)	38 (9.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (3.9%)	81.8	42^nd of 258 public middle schools	83.7%		81.8	45^th of 252 public middle schools	82.1%	3	61.7	72.8	49.5	64.6	67.7	68.8	50.0	61.6	62.0	69.6	$30,893
Lebanon Middle School	Public	5-8	891 Exeter Rd.	Lebanon	06249	Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region	Lebanon School District	No	No	No	Yes	(860) 642-4702	265	31	8.6	28.3%	224 (84.5%)	3 (1.1%)	26 (9.8%)	3 (1.1%)	2 (0.8%)	4 (1.5%)	3 (1.1%)	73	73^rd of 258 public middle schools	71.7%		81.8	46^th of 252 public middle schools	81.7%	27	509.0	801.0	2533.0	60.3	67.2	2594.0	45.1	51.5	67.2	51.9	$25,651

Frequently Asked Questions about Dr. Helen Baldwin Middle School

Is Dr. Helen Baldwin Middle School a good school?

Dr. Helen Baldwin Middle School ranks 90^th of 258 Connecticut middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What district is Dr. Helen Baldwin Middle School in?

Canterbury School District

What high school do graduates of Dr. Helen Baldwin Middle School attend?

Students who attend Dr. Helen Baldwin Middle School usually go on to attend Marine Science Magnet High School

What is the racial makeup of Dr. Helen Baldwin Middle School?

Students at Dr. Helen Baldwin Middle School are 86% White, 13% Hispanic.

How many students attend Dr. Helen Baldwin Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 213 students attended Dr. Helen Baldwin Middle School.

Rate Dr. Helen Baldwin Middle School!

Other helpful SchoolDigger resources...

Compare to nearby schools

CTConnecticut Middle School Rankings

CTConnecticut District Rankings

Schools in Canterbury, CT

Sign up for updates!

Be the first to know when there is an update for Dr. Helen Baldwin Middle School!

Latest Connecticut data All new data »

2024–25 through 2025–26 attendance data & graduation ratesAug 31, 2026

2025–26 NGSS, SAT & SBAC test scoresAug 31, 2026

2024–25 school spending dataApr 2, 2026

2024–25 attendance dataNov 6, 2025

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Connecticut Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.