Best Middle Schools in Zip Code 06112

Zip code 06112 in Hartford, CT is home to two middle schools—Milner Middle School and M. L. King Junior Middle School—both serving grades 6 through 8 within the Hartford School District, a district ranked 148 out of 153 in Connecticut.

Both schools are among the lowest-performing middle schools in the state, with Milner ranking 257th out of 258 Connecticut middle schools (0th percentile) and M.L. King ranking 251st (3rd percentile) for the 2025–2026 year. In direct comparisons, M.L. King is the relatively stronger school: it has higher ELA proficiency in every grade where both schools report data (e.g., 7th grade ELA at 16.4% vs. Milner’s 10.8% in 2025–2026), a lower chronic absenteeism rate (47.0% vs. 50.6%), and serves a less economically disadvantaged population (82.07% vs. 93.49% free/reduced lunch). M.L. King also spends more per student ($20,441 vs. $17,325) and has a slightly lower student-teacher ratio (9.9 vs. 10.8). Still, both schools remain far below state averages—Milner’s 8th grade ELA proficiency fell to just 6.7% in 2025–2026, and even M.L. King’s best math score (12.7% in 7th grade) is less than a third of the state rate (44.1%). Chronic absenteeism is roughly three times the state average, with nearly half of all students missing significant school days.

These schools face profound challenges. Proficiency rates in reading and math are typically one-fourth to one-fifth of state levels, and both schools rank in the bottom few percentiles statewide. Milner in particular is struggling even relative to its own district: its 8th grade ELA proficiency (6.7%) is far below the Hartford district average (24.4%), and its ranking has dropped from the 4th percentile to the 0th percentile over two years. M.L. King, while better, has also declined from the 9th to the 3rd percentile. High per-student spending and low class sizes have not overcome the impact of extreme poverty and absenteeism. For parents, the key takeaway is that both schools are severely underperforming, with urgent needs around attendance, academic support, and preparing students for the transition to high school.