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Michael F. Wallace Middle School

Public Grades 4-8

194^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 258 Connecticut Middle Schools

Better than 25% of Connecticut middle schools

Summary

Michael F. Wallace Middle School is a large public school in Waterbury, CT, serving 1,059 students in grades 4–8 within the Waterbury School District, a high-poverty district where roughly 86% of Wallace students qualify for free/reduced-price lunch. The school's most striking pattern is a dramatic grade-level disconnect: 4th and 5th graders perform exceptionally well—5th-grade ELA proficiency reached 92.7% in 2023–2024 and 79.2% in 2024–2025, far above district and state averages—but scores collapse in grades 6–8, where ELA proficiency drops to 31.6–36.8% and math to just 14.5–17.7%. This consistent "5th-grade cliff" across multiple school years is the school's defining challenge.

Attendance is a genuine bright spot. Wallace has cut chronic absenteeism from 37.1% in 2021–2022 to 14.9% in 2025–2026—now better than the Connecticut state average of 16.4% and well below the Waterbury district average of 23.1%. Wallace is also the top-performing middle school in Waterbury, ranking 194th of 258 Connecticut middle schools (25th percentile), ahead of West Side Middle School (217th) and North End Middle School (237th).

Math in grades 6–8 remains the biggest weakness. While Wallace beats its Waterbury peers in 8th-grade math (14.5% vs. 5.9% at West Side and 8.2% at North End), it trails neighboring districts dramatically—Dodd Middle School in Cheshire posts 71.2% proficiency and John F. Kennedy Middle School in Southington posts 64.7%. Subgroup results are mixed: Hispanic students, English learners, and special education students rank better statewide than the school overall, while low-income students rank below average. Despite the challenges, Wallace's state ranking has improved from the 12th percentile in 2022–2023 to the 25th percentile in 2025–2026, and its strong early-grade results and attendance gains offer a solid foundation for continued progress.

1,059

Students ?

11.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

$20,172

Per pupil spending ?

85.9%

Free/discounted lunch ?

3465 East Main St.
Waterbury, CT 06705

(203) 574-8140

District: Waterbury School District

Students who attend Michael F. Wallace Middle School usually attend:

High:

Crosby High School

Feeder schools for Michael F. Wallace Middle School:

Elementary:	H. S. Chase School
	Margaret M. Generali Elementary School
	Walsh School
	Wendell L. Cross School
	More...
	Woodrow Wilson School

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

61.1%

African American:

22.7%

White:

9.8%

See top rated Connecticut middle schools

Compare Michael F. Wallace Middle School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 10th percentile in 2016 → 25th in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 15 percentile points since 2016

✓Small classes — about 11 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Connecticut average (26% vs 48% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (25th percentile)

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school26%

District avg23%

Connecticut avg48%

Elementary school

389^th of 491

Connecticut public elementary schools ?

Bottom 21%▼ down 36 pts since 2021

From top 43% (2021) to bottom 21% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Connecticut Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Middle school

194^th of 258

Connecticut public middle schools ?

Bottom 25%▲ up 15 pts since 2016

From bottom 10% (2016) to bottom 25% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Connecticut Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 3Middle Schools in the Waterbury School District

144^th of 153Waterbury 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)

Elementary school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2026	16.7	389 of 491	20.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	19.8	368 of 493	25.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	28.5	335 of 497	32.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	10.0	430 of 491	12.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	60.1	230 of 538	57.2%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2024	34.3	74 of 111	33.3%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2021	71.0	64 of 302	78.8%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2021	71.3	77 of 371	79.2%	★★★★☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2026	17.9	194 of 258	24.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	18.8	191 of 252	24.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	13.5	206 of 250	17.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	10.4	218 of 249	12.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	13.6	196 of 250	21.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	16.5	221 of 275	19.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	9.9	225 of 259	13.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	8.4	226 of 249	9.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	7.7	223 of 250	10.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	7.3	221 of 246	10.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	12.5	238 of 280	15.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	19.8	232 of 278	16.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	23.9	214 of 272	21.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	18.2	222 of 269	17.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	21.7	212 of 268	20.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	22.7	197 of 255	22.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	12.7	213 of 252	15.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	11.8	210 of 250	16.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	11.5	210 of 248	15.3%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2026	20.2	28 of 34	17.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	41.2	18 of 32	43.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	34.2	25 of 33	24.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	30.4	25 of 32	21.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	42.8	21 of 40	47.5%	★★☆☆☆
2021	41.8	40 of 80	50.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	28.7	29 of 38	23.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	26.7	29 of 31	6.5%	☆☆☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2021	21.1	86 of 104	17.3%	★☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2022	23.8	13 of 26	50.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	31.6	26 of 34	23.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	17.1	11 of 15	26.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	0.0	13 of 16	18.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2026	10.7	144 of 163	11.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	11.8	137 of 164	16.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	8.6	148 of 161	8.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	7.1	152 of 160	5.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	12.7	145 of 166	12.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	14.8	197 of 235	16.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	4.7	159 of 169	5.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	4.4	154 of 160	3.8%	☆☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2026	32.5	74 of 112	33.9%	★★☆☆☆
2025	37.4	59 of 105	43.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	29.7	72 of 104	30.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	19.4	85 of 99	14.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	25.7	72 of 97	25.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	24.3	112 of 146	23.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	23.8	80 of 97	17.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	22.8	65 of 75	13.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2026	25.8	82 of 111	26.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	24.3	90 of 117	23.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	20.4	95 of 114	16.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	14.7	101 of 109	7.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	26.0	86 of 106	18.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	28.1	157 of 218	28.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	13.3	95 of 104	8.7%	☆☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2026	10.7	141 of 163	13.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	12.1	138 of 162	14.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	7.9	148 of 157	5.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	5.1	154 of 158	2.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	8.8	156 of 169	7.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	13.0	192 of 224	14.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	7.7	159 of 167	4.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	6.3	154 of 164	6.1%	☆☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2022	32.1	15 of 36	58.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	29.4	178 of 244	27.0%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2025	2.1	151 of 153	1.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	2.4	156 of 158	1.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	5.2	144 of 151	4.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	7.7	166 of 175	5.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	0.9	163 of 166	1.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	1.4	165 of 168	1.8%	☆☆☆☆☆

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)

Elementary school

Special Education (2021)79th percentile+22 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2021)79th percentile+22 vs school

Hispanic (2024)33rd percentile~ school

Middle school

Special Education (2022)58th percentile+37 vs school

English Language Learner (2022)50th percentile+28 vs school

Hispanic (2026)34th percentile+9 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)26th percentile~ school

African American (2026)18th percentile-7 vs school

Disabled (2021)17th percentile~ school

Male (2026)13th percentile-11 vs school

Female (2026)12th percentile-13 vs school

White (2025)1st percentile-23 vs school

By subject vs Connecticut (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts34%-17 vs state

Science32%-19 vs state

Mathematics16%-27 vs state

5.0

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What people are saying

by a student
Friday, July 22, 2011

Best School Ever Teachers Are Amazing They Help You Out Their Always There When You Need Them Especially Mr.Rapuano Close Quote

Schools Near Michael F. Wallace 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	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 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 5th Grade	SBAC Mathematics 6th Grade	SBAC Mathematics 7th Grade	SBAC Mathematics 8th Grade	Total
Michael F. Wallace Middle School	Public	4-8	3465 East Main St.	Waterbury	06705	Naugatuck Valley Planning Region	Waterbury School District	No	No	No	Yes	(203) 574-8140	1,059	93	11.4	85.9%	104 (9.8%)	240 (22.7%)	647 (61.1%)	24 (2.3%)	5 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	39 (3.7%)	17.9	194^th of 258 public middle schools	24.8%		18.8	191^st of 252 public middle schools	24.2%	3	32.1	65.0		31.6	32.9	36.8		16.3	17.7	14.5	$20,172
Tyrrell Middle School	Public	6-8	500 Todd Rd.	Wolcott	06716	Capitol Planning Region	Wolcott School District	No	No	No	No	(203) 879-8151	498	54	9.2	35.7%	355 (71.3%)	20 (4.0%)	99 (19.9%)	13 (2.6%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (1.8%)	68.2	88^th of 258 public middle schools	65.9%		71.9	79^th of 252 public middle schools	68.7%	9	54.4			58.6	63.1	68.3		49.3	51.0	54.0	$20,849
Long River Middle School	Public	6-8	38 Columbia Ave.	Prospect	06712	Naugatuck Valley Planning Region	Regional School District 16	No	No	No	Yes	(203) 758-4421	434	39	11.1	29.7%	342 (78.8%)	20 (4.6%)	55 (12.7%)	10 (2.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (1.6%)	80.2	49^th of 258 public middle schools	81.0%		75.7	60^th of 252 public middle schools	76.2%	11	71.7			54.6	73.7	71.9		64.5	59.0	64.7	$21,126
Dodd Middle School	Public	7-8	100 Park Place	Cheshire	06410	Capitol Planning Region	Cheshire School District	No	No	No	No	(203) 272-3249	660	53	12.5	18.3%	477 (72.3%)	24 (3.6%)	61 (9.2%)	61 (9.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	37 (5.6%)	91.8	13^th of 258 public middle schools	95.0%		92.2	13^th of 252 public middle schools	94.8%		77.2				83.1	76.3			75.9	71.2	$19,852
John F. Kennedy Middle School	Public	6-8	1071 South Main St.	Plantsville	06479	Capitol Planning Region	Southington School District	No	No	No	No	(860) 628-3275	659	54	12.2	26.1%	474 (71.9%)	19 (2.9%)	89 (13.5%)	38 (5.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	38 (5.8%)	86	33^rd of 258 public middle schools	87.2%		81.5	48^th of 252 public middle schools	81.0%	15	76.9			68.6	75.6	67.9		68.9	70.1	64.7	$21,072
West Side Middle School	Public	6-8	483 Chase Parkway	Waterbury	06708	Naugatuck Valley Planning Region	Waterbury School District	No	No	No	Yes	(203) 574-8120	848	80	10.6	82.2%	68 (8.0%)	161 (19.0%)	576 (67.9%)	10 (1.2%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (3.7%)	12.8	217^th of 258 public middle schools	15.9%		12.6	208^th of 252 public middle schools	17.5%	9	18.5			30.5	31.3	31.4		15.6	14.7	5.9	$22,056
ACES Chase Academy	Public, Magnet	6-10	565 Chase Parkway	Waterbury	06708	Naugatuck Valley Planning Region	Area Cooperative Educational Services	No	Yes	No	Yes	(203) 639-8403	556	42	13.3	41.7%	192 (34.5%)	94 (16.9%)	216 (38.8%)	12 (2.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	41 (7.4%)	38.9	146^th of 258 public middle schools	43.4%		41.5	139^th of 252 public middle schools	44.8%	7	57.4			42.4	39.8	45.2		31.5	25.2	37.0	$37,229
City Hill Middle School	Public	7-8	441 City Hill St.	Naugatuck	06770	Naugatuck Valley Planning Region	Naugatuck School District	No	No	No	Yes	(203) 720-5246	614	49	12.5	58.8%	227 (37.0%)	81 (13.2%)	263 (42.8%)	11 (1.8%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	30 (4.9%)	35.9	153^rd of 258 public middle schools	40.7%		30.9	155^th of 252 public middle schools	38.5%	2	43.8				46.3	41.1			34.4	26.8	$18,949
North End Middle School	Public	6-8	534 Bucks Hill Rd.	Waterbury	06704	Naugatuck Valley Planning Region	Waterbury School District	No	No	No	Yes	(203) 574-8097	766	77	9.9	86.3%	44 (5.7%)	175 (22.8%)	509 (66.4%)	8 (1.0%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (3.8%)	8.5	237^th of 258 public middle schools	8.1%		8.5	233^rd of 252 public middle schools	7.5%	4	23.6			21.1	18.5	22.8		9.6	9.9	8.2	$22,469
Hillside Intermediate School	Public	5-6	51 Hillside Ave.	Naugatuck	06770	Naugatuck Valley Planning Region	Naugatuck School District	No	No	No	Yes	(203) 720-5260	292	28	10.4	64.4%	110 (37.7%)	24 (8.2%)	140 (47.9%)	3 (1.0%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (4.5%)								(n/a)			37.6	50.6			24.8	36.1			$18,697

Frequently Asked Questions about Michael F. Wallace Middle School

Is Michael F. Wallace Middle School a good school?

Michael F. Wallace Middle School ranks in the bottom 24.8% of Connecticut middle schools.

How many students attend Michael F. Wallace Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,059 students attended Michael F. Wallace Middle School.

What district is Michael F. Wallace Middle School in?

Waterbury School District

What is the racial makeup of Michael F. Wallace Middle School?

Students at Michael F. Wallace Middle School are 61% Hispanic, 23% African American, 10% White, 4% Two or more races, 2% Asian.

What high school do graduates of Michael F. Wallace Middle School attend?

Students who attend Michael F. Wallace Middle School usually go on to attend Crosby High School

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Latest Connecticut data All new data »

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

2025–26 NGSS, SAT & SBAC test scoresNewAug 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.