Best Public Schools in Zip Code 06418

Zip code 06418 in Derby, CT, is served by four public schools in the Derby School District: two elementary schools (Irving School and Bradley School), one middle school, and one high school, together enrolling about 1,226 students in grades K-12. The district itself ranks near the bottom of Connecticut (140 out of 153 districts, 0 stars), but there is significant variation within the zip code. Parents should know that this is a high-poverty area—an average of 56.9% of students qualify for free/reduced lunch—yet one school stands out as a consistent bright spot.

Bradley School is the clear standout: it is the only school in the zip code with a multi-star rating (2-3 stars) and the only one that exceeds state averages in several subjects, including 4th grade math (61.4% proficient vs. 52.1% statewide). In contrast, Irving School is the lowest performer, ranking 456 out of 491 schools with 0 stars and posting very low math scores (11.4% in 4th grade math). The 50-point gap in 4th grade math between these two elementary schools is striking, especially since Irving has a higher free/reduced lunch rate (64.9% vs. 46.7%) and spends more per student ($19,483 vs. $18,397). Derby Middle School ranks in the 25th percentile and has the highest chronic absenteeism in the zip code (25.0%), along with very low math scores that decline from 21.8% in 6th grade to 14.0% in 8th grade. Derby High School graduates 83.3% of students—above its district but below the state (91.2%)—and shows a low-level plateau in rankings over the past decade.

Key takeaways for parents: Bradley School proves that strong outcomes are possible even in a struggling district, so its practices may be worth replicating. Irving School, despite high spending and a low student-teacher ratio (9.2), shows that resources alone don't drive results. Derby Middle School's chronic absenteeism and sharp decline in 8th grade ELA (from 49.5% to 30.0%) are red flags that need attention. Derby High School spends the most per student ($20,445) yet still has science proficiency roughly 22 points below the state average. Overall, this is a district with real challenges, but the contrast between Bradley and Irving shows that school-level factors can make a meaningful difference in student achievement.