Summary:
Zip code 06811 contains exactly one middle school—Westside Middle School Academy, serving grades 6–8 in Danbury, CT—making it the sole mainstream public option for families in this area seeking a middle school placement. The school, part of the Danbury School District, enrolls 736 students and stands out as a clear academic bright spot within a district that ranks in the bottom 12% of Connecticut districts.
Westside significantly outperforms the district average in every tested subject and grade. For example, 8th grade science proficiency is 56.2% versus 34.1% district-wide, and 8th grade English Language Arts is 53.2% versus 34.4%—roughly 19 points higher. The school is also competitive with the state in ELA and science: 8th grade science exceeds the state average by 5.3 points, while ELA scores are nearly even with state levels. Mathematics remains the main weakness, with proficiency rates 8 to 13 points below state averages across grades 6–8 despite being well ahead of the district. Chronic absenteeism is remarkably low at 6.1%, compared to 14.7% for the district and 16.4% statewide, even though 54.2% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch—an important factor that likely supports the school's relatively strong outcomes.
The school's statewide ranking has been moderately volatile: it ranked 119th (52nd percentile, 3 stars) in 2023–2024, dropped to 136th (46th percentile, 2 stars) in 2024–2025, and recovered to 127th (51st percentile, 3 stars) in 2025–2026. Year-over-year test scores show a mixed picture, with 6th grade ELA improving from 41.6% to 50.6% and 8th grade math improving from 32.5% to 39.4%, while 7th grade math declined from 40.8% to 33.2%. Spending per student is $13,403 (2018–2019 data, likely outdated). For parents in 06811, Westside Middle School Academy provides a stable, relatively strong option with excellent attendance and strong ELA/science performance, though math improvement remains the key area to watch.
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