Summary:
There are two middle schools serving zip code 06516 in West Haven, Connecticut — Harry M. Bailey Middle School (grades 7–8) and Carrigan 5/6 Intermediate School (grades 5–6) — together educating about 1,714 students in the West Haven School District. Both schools serve a majority economically disadvantaged population, with roughly 55–57% of students eligible for free or reduced lunch, and both struggle with chronic absenteeism well above the state average of 16.4%.
Bailey is the stronger academic school overall, posting a 46.4% average proficiency across all subjects and grades, and holding a state rank of 123 out of 258 (52nd percentile, 3 stars). It beats Carrigan in every comparable subject, and its 8th-grade math (47.3%) and science (54.5%) proficiency rates actually exceed Connecticut state averages. Carrigan, by contrast, averages just 35.7% proficiency, with its weakest area being 5th-grade math at 24.8% — a full 21 points below the state rate. Notably, Carrigan spends more per student ($16,781 vs. $15,351) but still trails Bailey academically by about 10.7 points, suggesting higher spending does not automatically yield higher scores.
Interesting trends emerge between the two schools. Bailey shows a dramatic grade-level split in math: only 33.9% of 7th graders are proficient versus 47.3% of 8th graders, a 13.4-point swing that may reflect an especially strong 8th-grade cohort or successful interventions. Bailey is also improving in 8th grade, with math jumping 6.8 points and science 3.0 points over the prior year. Carrigan, however, is slipping in 5th grade, with math falling 8.4 points and science 5.0 points. Chronic absenteeism remains a systemic issue, hitting 27.0% at Bailey and 21.4% at Carrigan — both far above the state mark. For parents, the picture is clear: Bailey offers solid middle-of-the-road performance with upward momentum, while Carrigan needs focused attention, especially in early math instruction.
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