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Plainfield Central School

Q: Is Plainfield Central School a good school?

Plainfield Central School ranks 152 nd of 258 Connecticut middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 6-8

152^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 258 Connecticut Middle Schools

Better than 41% of Connecticut middle schools

Summary

Plainfield Central School is a public middle school in Plainfield, CT, serving 422 students in grades 6-8 as part of the Plainfield School District. The school ranks 152nd out of 258 Connecticut middle schools, placing it in the 41st percentile with a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger — a step down from its 3-star status in the pre-2020 era when it consistently ranked in the low-to-mid 50th percentile. The school serves a moderately high-poverty community, with about 56% of students eligible for free or reduced lunch.

The most striking academic finding is the steep decline in math proficiency as students advance. In 2025-2026, 6th graders scored essentially at the state average in math (44.7% proficient vs. 44.4% statewide), but by 8th grade, only 19.7% were proficient compared to 41.9% statewide — a gap of more than 20 points. This pattern has persisted for multiple years, making 8th grade math the school's clearest academic weakness. Nearby Mansfield Middle School (69.6%), Brooklyn Middle School (55.4%), and Dr. Helen Baldwin Middle School (55.1%) all posted far higher 8th grade math proficiency. English Language Arts results are mixed: 7th grade has been a relative bright spot, at times matching or exceeding the state average, while 8th grade ELA remains a concern. Science, however, is a genuine strength — 8th grade proficiency matched the state average in 2024-2025.

Chronic absenteeism affects 18.2% of students, above the state rate of 16.4% and more than double the rates at higher-performing neighbors like Brooklyn Middle School (6.4%) and Dr. Helen Baldwin Middle School (8.4%). The school maintains a favorable student-to-teacher ratio of 10.0 and per-pupil spending of $15,330, which is lower than many nearby districts. One unusual and encouraging data point: students from low-income families at Plainfield Central ranked at the 50th percentile statewide in 2025-2026, a significant improvement from the previous year. There are building blocks for improvement — 7th grade ELA, 8th grade science, and strong results for low-income students — but the school's overall challenge is ensuring that all students are appropriately challenged and that math learning gains hold through 8th grade.

422

Students ?

10.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$20,793

Per pupil spending ?

55.9%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

75 Canterbury Rd.
Plainfield, CT 06374

(860) 564-6437

District: Plainfield School District

Students who attend Plainfield Central School usually attend:

High:

Plainfield High School

Feeder schools for Plainfield Central School:

Elementary:	Moosup Elementary School
	Plainfield Memorial School
	Shepard Hill Elementary School

Racial breakdown:

White:

87.0%

African American:

4.7%

Hispanic:

2.8%

See top rated Connecticut middle schools

Compare Plainfield Central School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 52nd percentile in 2016 → 41st in 2026

Strengths

✓Small classes — about 10 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Connecticut average (39% vs 48% meeting standards)

!Ranking has slipped — down 11 percentile points since 2016

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school39%

District avg38%

Connecticut avg48%

152^nd of 258

Connecticut public middle schools ?

Bottom 41%▼ down 11 pts since 2016

From top 48% (2016) to bottom 41% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Connecticut Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

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	36.9	152 of 258	41.1%	★★☆☆☆
2025	38.6	143 of 252	43.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	32.5	152 of 250	39.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	41.4	134 of 249	46.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	41.1	133 of 250	46.8%	★★☆☆☆
2021	44.1	143 of 275	48.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	53.7	123 of 259	52.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	58.8	115 of 249	53.8%	★★★☆☆
2017	53.3	119 of 250	52.4%	★★★☆☆
2016	51.7	119 of 246	51.6%	★★★☆☆
2015	33.7	182 of 280	35.0%	★★☆☆☆
2013	63.6	132 of 278	52.5%	★★★☆☆
2012	61.9	141 of 272	48.2%	★★☆☆☆
2011	64.8	132 of 269	50.9%	★★★☆☆
2010	64.3	129 of 268	51.9%	★★★☆☆
2009	67.5	112 of 255	56.1%	★★★☆☆
2008	61.7	124 of 252	50.8%	★★★☆☆
2007	50.0	156 of 250	37.6%	★★☆☆☆
2006	51.1	151 of 248	39.1%	★★☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2021	21.8	80 of 104	23.1%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2026	27.3	116 of 164	29.3%	★★☆☆☆
2025	31.6	110 of 164	32.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	22.9	124 of 161	23.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	30.6	108 of 160	32.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	33.4	115 of 166	30.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	36.6	143 of 235	39.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	52.6	94 of 169	44.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	52.4	93 of 160	41.9%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2026	44.4	57 of 112	49.1%	★★★☆☆
2025	23.8	92 of 117	21.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	34.9	76 of 114	33.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	57.6	35 of 109	67.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	54.5	49 of 106	53.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	50.8	103 of 218	52.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	61.4	41 of 104	60.6%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2026	25.3	118 of 164	28.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	19.3	124 of 162	23.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	22.3	119 of 157	24.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	32.0	107 of 158	32.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	38.5	102 of 169	39.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	42.9	121 of 224	46.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	38.0	111 of 167	33.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	37.2	106 of 164	35.4%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2021	51.9	114 of 244	53.3%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2026	8.6	137 of 150	8.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	8.7	141 of 153	7.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	13.4	137 of 154	11.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	17.3	135 of 158	14.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	15.2	133 of 151	11.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	13.3	157 of 175	10.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	23.4	141 of 166	15.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	29.2	124 of 168	26.2%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

Special Education (2021)53rd percentile+5 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)49th percentile+8 vs school

Female (2026)29th percentile-12 vs school

Male (2026)28th percentile-13 vs school

Disabled (2021)23rd percentile-25 vs school

White (2026)9th percentile-32 vs school

By subject vs Connecticut (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts43%-8 vs state

Mathematics34%-10 vs state

★

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Schools Near Plainfield Central 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/reduced lunch (2024-25)	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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Preston Plains School	Public	6-8	1 Route 164	Preston	06365	Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region	Preston School District	No	No	No	Yes	(860) 889-3831	141	12	11.9	32.6%	109 (77.3%)	5 (3.5%)	16 (11.3%)	5 (3.5%)	1 (0.7%)	1 (0.7%)	4 (2.8%)	50.5	121^st of 258 public middle schools	53.1%		51.5	118^th of 252 public middle schools	53.2%	3		807.0		2524.0	46.0	2587.0		31.7	46.0	53.8	$29,544
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
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 Plainfield Central School

What high school do graduates of Plainfield Central School attend?

Students who attend Plainfield Central School usually go on to attend Plainfield High School

What is the racial makeup of Plainfield Central School?

Students at Plainfield Central School are 87% White, 5% African American, 3% Hispanic, 2% Two or more races, 1% Asian.

What district is Plainfield Central School in?

Plainfield School District

Is Plainfield Central School a good school?

Plainfield Central School ranks 152^nd of 258 Connecticut middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Plainfield Central School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 422 students attended Plainfield Central School.

Rate Plainfield Central School!

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Latest Connecticut data All new data »

2017–18 through 2025–26 immunization rates (updated)NewOct 19, 2026

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

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.