Summary:
Zip code 06114 in Hartford, CT is home to two middle schools—Burr Middle School and Betances STEM Magnet School—serving grades 5–8 within the Hartford School District. Both schools share the same building at 400 Wethersfield Avenue and serve high-poverty populations, but their outcomes could hardly be more different.
Betances STEM Magnet School is the clear standout. It ranks in the 35th percentile statewide, holds a 2-star rating, and has improved from 198th to 168th in state rank over the past two years. Its chronic absenteeism rate is just 17.1%, nearly matching the state average, and test scores consistently beat district averages by 15–25 points. For example, 7th grade ELA proficiency reached 45.3% in 2024-25, compared to 20.7% districtwide. By contrast, Burr Middle School ranks dead last in Connecticut (258th of 258) with a 0th percentile ranking for three straight years. More than half of Burr's students (54.7%) are chronically absent, and proficiency rates are mostly in the single digits or low teens. No math scores were even reported for Burr.
These two schools illustrate how much school-level factors matter. Burr actually spends about $3,300 more per student ($18,882 vs. $15,589) yet performs far worse, showing that money alone isn't the answer. Both schools have similar poverty rates, but Betances achieves dramatically better results, likely due to its magnet focus and much stronger attendance. Betances is also improving while Burr remains stagnant. For parents, the takeaway is clear: Betances is delivering respectable results in a challenging context and is worth serious consideration, while Burr faces severe challenges around attendance and achievement that any improvement plan must address first.
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