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Alma E. Pagels School

Q: Is Alma E. Pagels School a good school?

Alma E. Pagels School ranks 313 th of 492 Connecticut elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-4

313^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 492 Connecticut Elementary Schools

Better than 36% of Connecticut elementary schools

Summary

Alma E. Pagels School is an elementary school in West Haven, CT, serving 364 students in grades PK–4 as part of the West Haven School District. The school currently holds a 2-star rating and ranks in the 36th percentile of Connecticut elementary schools, placing it in the middle of the pack locally. About 54% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, and chronic absenteeism has improved sharply — dropping from 29.4% in 2022–23 to 17.3% in 2025–26, which is now below the district rate of 24.6% and essentially at the state average.

The clearest academic bright spot is 4th grade English Language Arts, where 65.4% of students scored proficient in 2024–25 — a remarkable 21 points above the district and 14 points above the state. By contrast, 3rd grade reading is the school's most persistent weakness, with proficiency rates hovering around 34% in recent years, well below the state average of roughly 47%. This consistent 3rd-to-4th grade gap suggests early literacy is the highest-leverage opportunity for growth. The school has also shown past effectiveness with low-income and special education students, earning strong statewide ratings for those groups in recent years.

Within West Haven, Alma E. Pagels School ranks above Savin Rock Community School and Washington School but below Edith E. Mackrille School and Seth G. Haley School. The contrast with Live Oaks School in Milford — just half a mile away — is especially stark: Live Oaks ranks in the 64th percentile with a 5.0% chronic absenteeism rate, though it also serves a much lower percentage of low-income students. Alma E. Pagels spends a relatively high $17,795 per student, suggesting that funding alone isn't driving outcomes. With attendance momentum already in place, focusing on 3rd grade literacy could move the school back toward the 50th percentile range it achieved in 2023–24.

364

Students ?

10.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$17,116

Per pupil spending ?

54.4%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

100%

Kindergartners with all required vaccines (2025-26)

Exemptions: 0% (any vaccine)

26 Benham Hill Rd.
West Haven, CT 06516

(203) 931-6840

District: West Haven School District

Students who attend Alma E. Pagels School usually attend:

Middle:	Carrigan 5/6 Intermediate School
	Harry M. Bailey Middle School
High:	West Haven High School

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

34.6%

White:

28.8%

African American:

25.5%

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Compare Alma E. Pagels School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 38th percentile in 2015 → 36th in 2026

Strengths

✓Small classes — about 11 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Connecticut average (43% vs 51% meeting standards)

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school43%

District avg43%

Connecticut avg51%

313^th of 492

Connecticut public elementary schools ?

Bottom 36%▼ down 19 pts since 2016

From top 45% (2016) to bottom 36% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Connecticut Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

3^rd of 5Elementary Schools in the West Haven School District

119^th of 153West Haven 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	35.4	313 of 492	36.4%	★★☆☆☆
2025	24.2	346 of 493	29.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	54.5	230 of 497	53.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	32.9	317 of 491	35.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	31.2	319 of 490	34.9%	★★☆☆☆
2021	38.3	317 of 538	41.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	35.1	341 of 522	34.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	52.7	265 of 532	50.2%	★★★☆☆
2016	57.8	231 of 518	55.4%	★★★☆☆
2015	42.5	340 of 551	38.3%	★★☆☆☆
2013	58.3	303 of 557	45.6%	★★☆☆☆
2012	45.0	397 of 564	29.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	44.6	396 of 565	29.9%	★★☆☆☆
2010	57.1	331 of 579	42.8%	★★☆☆☆
2009	52.1	361 of 566	36.2%	★★☆☆☆
2008	47.2	375 of 565	33.6%	★★☆☆☆
2007	45.6	390 of 568	31.3%	★★☆☆☆
2006	53.9	343 of 570	39.8%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2023	13.0	202 of 230	12.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	33.5	290 of 455	36.3%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2021	61.9	90 of 302	70.2%	★★★★☆
2019	41.9	35 of 60	41.7%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2023	31.7	162 of 231	29.9%	★★☆☆☆
2021	34.1	271 of 445	39.1%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2021	54.1	154 of 371	58.5%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2026	24.2	214 of 246	13.0%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

Low Socio Economic Status (2021)70th percentile+29 vs school

Special Education (2021)58th percentile+17 vs school

Male (2023)30th percentile-6 vs school

White (2026)13th percentile-23 vs school

Female (2023)12th percentile-23 vs school

By subject vs Connecticut (2025-2026) ?

Mathematics44%-8 vs state

English Language Arts43%-6 vs state

★

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Schools Near Alma E. Pagels 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 Vaccination Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				NGSS Science (2026)	SBAC English Language Arts (2026)				SBAC Mathematics (2026)				Vaccination (2025-26)		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	SBAC English Language Arts 3rd Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 4th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 5th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 6th Grade	SBAC Mathematics 3rd Grade	SBAC Mathematics 4th Grade	SBAC Mathematics 5th Grade	SBAC Mathematics 6th Grade	Vaccination: Kindergartners with all required vaccines	Vaccination: Exemption rate	Total
Alma E. Pagels School	Public	PK, KG-4	26 Benham Hill Rd.	West Haven	06516	South Central Connecticut Planning Region	West Haven School District	No	No	No	No	(203) 931-6840	364	33	10.9	54.4%	105 (28.8%)	93 (25.5%)	126 (34.6%)	28 (7.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	11 (3.0%)	35.4	313^th of 492 public elementary schools	36.4%		24.2	346^th of 493 public elementary schools	29.8%	33		34.4	50.7			44.3	43.5			100%	0%	$17,116
Seth G. Haley School	Public	PK, KG-4	148 South St.	West Haven	06516	South Central Connecticut Planning Region	West Haven School District	No	No	No	No	(203) 931-6810	332	36	9.3	52.4%	111 (33.4%)	74 (22.3%)	110 (33.1%)	12 (3.6%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (7.2%)	44.5	268^th of 492 public elementary schools	45.5%		46.3	259^th of 493 public elementary schools	47.5%	9		49.3	42.4			55.1	2488.0			100%	0%	$20,236
Live Oaks School	Public	PK, KG-5	575 Merwin Ave.	Milford	06460	South Central Connecticut Planning Region	Milford School District	No	No	No	No	(203) 783-3564	272	26	10.2	30.5%	192 (70.6%)	6 (2.2%)	32 (11.8%)	24 (8.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (6.6%)	69.8	179^th of 492 public elementary schools	63.6%		69.7	174^th of 493 public elementary schools	64.7%	5	515.0	51.0	2459.0	77.8		79.6	2509.0			100%	0%	$25,026
Edith E. Mackrille School	Public	PK, KG-4	806 Jones Hill Rd.	West Haven	06516	South Central Connecticut Planning Region	West Haven School District	No	No	No	No	(203) 931-6820	320	26	12.3	58.8%	103 (32.2%)	75 (23.4%)	107 (33.4%)	24 (7.5%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (3.1%)	68.7	186^th of 492 public elementary schools	62.2%		75.2	146^th of 493 public elementary schools	70.4%	40		50.9	63.5			61.8	77.8			94.9%	0%	$17,524
Washington School	Public	PK, KG-4	255 Meloy Road	West Haven	06516	South Central Connecticut Planning Region	West Haven School District	No	No	No	Yes	(203) 931-6880	321	34	9.4	67.3%	71 (22.1%)	54 (16.8%)	148 (46.1%)	21 (6.5%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (8.1%)								(n/a)		2385.0	35.3			2403.0	33.8			98.8%	0%	$19,340
Orchard Hills School	Public	PK, KG-5	185 Marino Dr.	Milford	06460	South Central Connecticut Planning Region	Milford School District	No	No	No	No	(203) 783-3566	350	32	11.0	23.1%	259 (74.0%)	15 (4.3%)	41 (11.7%)	15 (4.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (5.7%)	69.7	181^st of 492 public elementary schools	63.2%		68	184^th of 493 public elementary schools	62.7%	3	505.0	54.9	78.0	65.4		2456.0	74.0	48.1		100%	0%	$24,094
Savin Rock Community School	Public	PK, KG-4	50 Park St.	West Haven	06516	South Central Connecticut Planning Region	West Haven School District	No	No	No	Yes	(203) 931-6850	459	40	11.4	70.8%	88 (19.2%)	107 (23.3%)	197 (42.9%)	42 (9.2%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (5.0%)	27.3	344^th of 492 public elementary schools	30.1%		27.6	335^th of 493 public elementary schools	32.0%	9		38.5	35.2			37.4	42.7			100%	0%	$18,352
Peck Place School	Public	1-6	500 Peck Ln.	Orange	06477	Naugatuck Valley Planning Region	Orange School District	No	No	No	No	(203) 891-8034	386	33	11.6	14.2%	269 (69.7%)	4 (1.0%)	32 (8.3%)	53 (13.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (7.3%)	85.5	69^th of 492 public elementary schools	86.0%		78	122^nd of 493 public elementary schools	75.3%	53	77.0	81.2	72.7	83.6	80.0	88.4	71.2	57.4	64.3			$19,611
Calf Pen Meadow School	Public	K-5	395 Welch's Point Rd.	Milford	06460	South Central Connecticut Planning Region	Milford School District	No	No	No	No	(203) 783-3521	269	25	10.9	21.9%	199 (74.0%)	10 (3.7%)	33 (12.3%)	11 (4.1%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (5.6%)	89	44^th of 492 public elementary schools	91.1%		79.7	112^th of 493 public elementary schools	77.3%	68	81.5	82.5	73.3	77.8		87.5	75.6	79.6		100%	0%	$25,439
Mary L. Tracy School	Public	PK-K	650 School House Lane	Orange	06477	Naugatuck Valley Planning Region	Orange School District	No	No	No	Yes	(203) 891-8028	195	15	13.3	11.8%	134 (68.7%)	7 (3.6%)	24 (12.3%)	23 (11.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (3.6%)								(n/a)										96.3%	2.4%	$20,557

Frequently Asked Questions about Alma E. Pagels School

What is the racial makeup of Alma E. Pagels School?

Students at Alma E. Pagels School are 35% Hispanic, 29% White, 26% African American, 8% Asian, 3% Two or more races.

Is Alma E. Pagels School a good school?

Alma E. Pagels School ranks 313^th of 492 Connecticut elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Alma E. Pagels School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 364 students attended Alma E. Pagels School.

What district is Alma E. Pagels School in?

West Haven School District

What schools do graduates of Alma E. Pagels School attend?

Students who attend Alma E. Pagels School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Carrigan 5/6 Intermediate School
Middle : Harry M. Bailey Middle School
High : West Haven High 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.