Summary:
Zip code 06418 in Derby, Connecticut is home to two public elementary schools—Irving School and Bradley School—both serving grades K–5 within the Derby School District, a district ranked 140 out of 153 in Connecticut (0 stars). Combined, these two schools serve about 566 students. Despite being in the same district and same zip code, the two schools produce very different academic outcomes, making this a particularly useful comparison for parents.
Bradley School is the clear standout. It ranked 263 out of 491 Connecticut elementary schools (46th percentile, 2 stars) for 2025–2026, and reached the 53rd percentile (3 stars) in 2024–2025. Bradley outperformed its district in all six reported SBAC subjects and exceeded state averages in 3rd-grade math, 4th-grade ELA, and 4th-grade math. In contrast, Irving School ranked 456 out of 491 (7th percentile, 0 stars) and has remained in the bottom 5–9% of the state for three consecutive years. On the 2025–2026 SBAC tests, Irving fell far below both district and state averages in every subject. The gap is dramatic: in 4th-grade math, just 11.4% of Irving students were proficient versus 61.4% at Bradley.
Several factors stand out. Irving has a much higher poverty rate (64.91% free/reduced lunch vs. 46.72% at Bradley), and poverty is likely a contributing factor to its lower scores. Yet the problem is not simply a matter of resources: Irving actually spends more per student ($19,483 vs. $18,397) and has a lower student–teacher ratio (9.2 vs. 10.6). Attendance also does not explain the gap, since Irving's chronic absenteeism rate (16.8%) is actually slightly better than Bradley's (17.9%). The takeaway is clear: Bradley is a bright spot in a low-performing district, while Irving should be a priority for additional instructional support and intervention.
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