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East Lyme Middle School

Q: Is East Lyme Middle School a good school?

East Lyme Middle School ranks 65 th of 258 Connecticut middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 5-8

65^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 258 Connecticut Middle Schools

Better than 75% of Connecticut middle schools

Summary

East Lyme Middle School, located in Niantic, CT, serves 716 students in grades 5 through 8 and is part of the East Lyme School District, which is one of the top districts in Connecticut. The school has earned a 4-star rating and currently ranks 65th out of 258 middle schools statewide (75th percentile), with a stable record of top-quartile performance over the past decade. In the most recent testing year, East Lyme students exceeded state proficiency averages in every subject and grade level — with math results standing out at 12 to 18 points above the state average, and 8th-grade science proficiency reaching 68.8% compared to 50.9% statewide.

What truly sets East Lyme Middle apart, however, is how it achieves these results. The school has a very low chronic absenteeism rate of 6.7%, well below the state average of 16.4%, and it is particularly effective at supporting students from low-income households — ranking in the 73rd percentile statewide for that subgroup. The school also does this efficiently, spending about $16,520 per student, which is notably less than nearby high-performing schools like Old Saybrook Middle School ($20,396) and Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School ($24,269).

Compared with neighboring schools, East Lyme clearly outranks Ledyard Middle School, Groton Middle School, and Leonard J. Tyl Middle School, while sitting just behind Old Saybrook and Lyme-Old Lyme in overall state rankings. The most comparable peer, Clark Lane Middle School in Waterford, posts similar results, but East Lyme achieves that with a larger student body and lower per-pupil spending. Families should know that the school shows a slight dip in 6th-grade performance and that special education subgroup results have declined in recent years — both worth monitoring. Overall, East Lyme Middle School remains one of the most effective and efficient schools in the region.

716

Students ?

11.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$22,264

Per pupil spending ?

27.7%

Free/discounted lunch ?

31 Society Rd.
Niantic, CT 06357

(860) 739-4491

District: East Lyme School District

Students who attend East Lyme Middle School usually attend:

High:

East Lyme High School

Feeder schools for East Lyme Middle School:

Elementary:	Flanders School
	Lillie B. Haynes School
	Niantic Center School

Racial breakdown:

White:

70.4%

Hispanic:

12.2%

Asian:

9.1%

See top rated Connecticut middle schools

Compare East Lyme Middle School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 81st percentile in 2016 → 75th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Connecticut average (63% vs 49% meeting standards)

✓Above the Connecticut median (75th percentile)

✓Small classes — about 12 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 6 percentile points since 2016

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school63%

District avg63%

Connecticut avg49%

65^th of 258

Connecticut public middle schools ?

Top 25%▼ down 6 pts since 2016

From top 19% (2016) to top 25% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Connecticut Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

36^th of 153East Lyme 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	75.2	65 of 258	74.8%	★★★★☆
2025	79.3	53 of 252	79.0%	★★★★☆
2024	79.9	47 of 250	81.2%	★★★★☆
2023	73.5	72 of 249	71.1%	★★★★☆
2022	73.2	71 of 250	71.6%	★★★★☆
2021	84.3	45 of 275	83.6%	★★★★☆
2019	81.1	55 of 259	78.8%	★★★★☆
2018	80.6	48 of 249	80.7%	★★★★☆
2017	82.8	41 of 250	83.6%	★★★★☆
2016	79.5	46 of 246	81.3%	★★★★☆
2015	84.8	46 of 280	83.6%	★★★★☆
2013	78.8	43 of 278	84.5%	★★★★☆
2012	78.8	41 of 272	84.9%	★★★★☆
2011	78.8	45 of 269	83.3%	★★★★☆
2010	78.5	50 of 268	81.3%	★★★★☆
2009	79.9	33 of 255	87.1%	★★★★☆
2008	78.1	39 of 252	84.5%	★★★★☆
2007	77.0	49 of 250	80.4%	★★★★☆
2006	78.5	46 of 248	81.5%	★★★★☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2023	55.6	9 of 13	30.8%	★★☆☆☆
2021	65.6	10 of 27	63.0%	★★★☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2021	80.7	12 of 104	88.5%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2026	65.1	65 of 164	60.4%	★★★☆☆
2025	73.8	45 of 164	72.6%	★★★★☆
2024	69.8	53 of 161	67.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	68.0	54 of 160	66.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	62.9	64 of 166	61.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	79.0	49 of 235	79.1%	★★★★☆
2019	67.6	65 of 169	61.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	68.7	62 of 160	61.3%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2026	68.0	30 of 112	73.2%	★★★★☆
2025	77.3	22 of 117	81.2%	★★★★☆
2024	63.4	39 of 114	65.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	53.7	43 of 109	60.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	61.9	37 of 106	65.1%	★★★☆☆
2021	86.9	21 of 218	90.4%	★★★★★
2019	88.0	7 of 104	93.3%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2026	69.1	58 of 164	64.6%	★★★☆☆
2025	68.4	55 of 162	66.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	79.3	27 of 157	82.8%	★★★★☆
2023	68.3	53 of 158	66.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	75.6	43 of 169	74.6%	★★★★☆
2021	84.0	32 of 224	85.7%	★★★★☆
2019	81.0	32 of 167	80.8%	★★★★☆
2018	80.2	34 of 164	79.3%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2026	61.8	16 of 36	55.6%	★★★☆☆
2025	58.9	9 of 27	66.7%	★★★★☆
2021	85.1	18 of 244	92.6%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2026	45.7	81 of 150	46.0%	★★☆☆☆
2025	59.7	62 of 153	59.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	60.7	63 of 154	59.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	50.4	84 of 158	46.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	55.2	67 of 151	55.6%	★★★☆☆
2021	67.3	47 of 175	73.1%	★★★★☆
2019	62.7	64 of 166	61.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	60.3	69 of 168	58.9%	★★★☆☆

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)

Disabled (2021)88th percentile+5 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)73rd percentile~ school

Male (2026)65th percentile-10 vs school

Female (2026)60th percentile-14 vs school

Special Education (2026)56th percentile-19 vs school

White (2026)46th percentile-29 vs school

Asian (2023)31st percentile-40 vs school

By subject vs Connecticut (2025-2026) ?

Science68%+16 vs state

English Language Arts65%+13 vs state

Mathematics59%+15 vs state

2.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Thursday, March 21, 2019

East Lyme Middle School has become entrenched in the political left movement. One social science teacher constantly tells her class that white males are the main cause of racism in this country. Students who disagree with the teachers politically are penalized gradewise. Many teachers seem lazy and have the class self teach while they play on the computer. Very disappointed. School has gone downhill since my other child graduated. Close Quote

Schools Near East Lyme Middle School

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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 4th 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 4th Grade	SBAC Mathematics 5th Grade	SBAC Mathematics 6th Grade	SBAC Mathematics 7th Grade	SBAC Mathematics 8th Grade	Total
East Lyme Middle School	Public	5-8	31 Society Rd.	Niantic	06357	Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region	East Lyme School District	No	No	No	Yes	(860) 739-4491	716	61	11.6	27.7%	504 (70.4%)	16 (2.2%)	87 (12.2%)	65 (9.1%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	42 (5.9%)	75.2	65^th of 258 public middle schools	74.8%		79.3	53^rd of 252 public middle schools	79.0%	12	67.7	68.8		70.3	54.5	67.5	70.2		62.2	54.3	62.5	56.3	$22,264
Clark Lane Middle School	Public	6-8	105 Clark Ln.	Waterford	06385	Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region	Waterford School District	No	No	No	Yes	(860) 443-2837	529	47	11.3	33.8%	377 (71.3%)	13 (2.5%)	83 (15.7%)	22 (4.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	34 (6.4%)	77.5	59^th of 258 public middle schools	77.1%		62.2	95^th of 252 public middle schools	62.3%	36		62.8			64.7	64.0	65.1			53.3	70.3	62.8	$25,846
Bennie Dover Jackson Middle School	Public	5-8	36 Waller St.	New London	06320	Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region	New London School District	No	No	No	Yes	(860) 437-6480	343	47	7.2	94.2%	22 (6.4%)	62 (18.1%)	223 (65.0%)	4 (1.2%)	2 (0.6%)	2 (0.6%)	28 (8.2%)	7.4	242^nd of 258 public middle schools	6.2%		6.6	239^th of 252 public middle schools	5.2%	3		24.4			9.6	2444.0	14.3			2386.0	8.8	5.9	$24,593
Science and Technology Magnet Pathway for Middle Grades	Public, Magnet	5-8	36 Waller Avenue	New London	06320	Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region	New London School District	No	Yes	No	No	(860) 437-6480	133	7	19.2	82.7%	18 (13.5%)	24 (18.0%)	62 (46.6%)	4 (3.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (18.0%)	14.1	212^th of 258 public middle schools	17.8%		15.5	200^th of 252 public middle schools	20.6%	12		786.0			32.8	2486.0	2534.0			15.6	14.3	2479.0	$24,593
Interdistrict School For Arts And Communication	Public, Charter	4-8	190 Governor Winthrop Blvd.	New London	06320	Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region	Interdistrict School for Arts and Community District	Yes	No	No	Yes	(860) 447-1003	328	28	11.7	68.3%	42 (12.8%)	51 (15.5%)	191 (58.2%)	4 (1.2%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	36 (11.0%)	46.3	133^rd of 258 public middle schools	48.4%		39.1	142^nd of 252 public middle schools	43.7%	9	510.0	798.0	2476.0	57.7	51.2	53.5	2549.0	2463.0	2520.0	48.8	33.7	30.0	$18,268
Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School	Public	6-8	53 Lyme St.	Old Lyme	06371	Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region	Regional School District 18	No	No	No	Yes	(860) 434-2568	271	27	10.0	18.5%	233 (86.0%)	1 (0.4%)	18 (6.6%)	8 (3.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (4.1%)	85.2	35^th of 258 public middle schools	86.4%		85.8	27^th of 252 public middle schools	89.3%	8		85.1			71.4	61.2	74.5			63.5	62.4	76.6	$27,138
Leonard J. Tyl Middle School	Public	6-8	166 Chesterfield Rd.	Oakdale	06370	Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region	Montville School District	No	No	No	No	(860) 848-2822	519	45	11.5	46.4%	292 (56.3%)	34 (6.6%)	87 (16.8%)	32 (6.2%)	5 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	69 (13.3%)	46.3	132^nd of 258 public middle schools	48.8%		45.1	131^st of 252 public middle schools	48.0%	1		55.9			52.5	46.4	45.4			48.4	28.6	37.5	$20,797
Old Saybrook Middle School	Public	5-8	60 Sheffield St.	Old Saybrook	06475	Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region	Old Saybrook School District	No	No	No	No	(860) 395-3168	307	36	8.5	25.1%	229 (74.6%)	1 (0.3%)	52 (16.9%)	14 (4.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	10 (3.3%)	86.8	30^th of 258 public middle schools	88.4%		82.6	41^st of 252 public middle schools	83.7%	11	506.0	816.0		62.3	78.1	74.1	71.6		47.2	78.1	65.9	59.7	$30,483
Ledyard Middle School	Public	6-8	1860 Route 12	Gales Ferry	06335	Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region	Ledyard School District	No	No	No	Yes	(860) 464-3188	535	45	12.0	28.6%	358 (66.9%)	16 (3.0%)	86 (16.1%)	15 (2.8%)	7 (1.3%)	1 (0.2%)	52 (9.7%)	43.9	138^th of 258 public middle schools	46.5%		44.6	132^nd of 252 public middle schools	47.6%	6		57.4			47.6	35.4	48.4			33.9	34.1	42.6	$18,170
Groton Middle School	Public	6-8	35 Groton Long Point Road	Groton	06340	Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region	Groton School District	No	No	No	Yes	(860) 446-4200	884	76	11.7	80.8%	418 (47.3%)	63 (7.1%)	248 (28.1%)	44 (5.0%)	5 (0.6%)	3 (0.3%)	101 (11.4%)	46.7	129^th of 258 public middle schools	50.0%		38.6	144^th of 252 public middle schools	42.9%	15		45.0			48.9	53.4	49.1			40.1	44.0	31.7	$21,487

Frequently Asked Questions about East Lyme Middle School

What high school do graduates of East Lyme Middle School attend?

Students who attend East Lyme Middle School usually go on to attend East Lyme High School

What is the racial makeup of East Lyme Middle School?

Students at East Lyme Middle School are 70% White, 12% Hispanic, 9% Asian, 6% Two or more races, 2% African American.

Is East Lyme Middle School a good school?

East Lyme Middle School ranks 65^th of 258 Connecticut middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

How many students attend East Lyme Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 716 students attended East Lyme Middle School.

What district is East Lyme Middle School in?

East Lyme School District

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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.