Summary:
Zip code 06880, covering the Westport, Connecticut area, is home to two highly ranked public middle schools serving grades 6–8: Bedford Middle School and Coleytown Middle School, both part of the top-rated Westport School District.
Both schools are exceptional by virtually any measure, but Coleytown Middle School is the clear standout. It ranks 5th in the state for 2025–2026 (98th percentile) and has held a top-10 position for three consecutive years. Coleytown posts higher average proficiency in ELA (83.0% vs. 79.9%), math (82.2% vs. 78.5%), and 8th grade science (84.4% vs. 76.1%) compared to Bedford Middle School. Coleytown also has lower chronic absenteeism (5.9% vs. 8.0%) and a lower free/reduced lunch rate (2.48% vs. 3.52%). Yet Bedford Middle School is elite in its own right, ranking 9th in the state in 2025–2026 and improving impressively from 17th just two years earlier. Its student–teacher ratio is slightly lower (9.8 vs. 10.2), and with 710 students versus Coleytown’s 484, Bedford offers a larger school experience while still maintaining small classes.
Both schools sit far above state averages, with proficiency scores roughly 30–40 points higher than Connecticut’s typical middle school results. Test scores for 7th graders improved at both schools in 2025–2026, but 6th grade scores dipped district-wide, suggesting a cohort effect rather than a single-school issue. Notably, Coleytown’s science performance is outstanding, beating both the district and state averages by wide margins. Per-student spending differs considerably, with Coleytown spending about $5,400 more per student ($27,339 vs. $21,915), though outcomes remain closely matched. Families in Westport have two excellent choices: if you value a smaller, top-5 school with exceptional science and attendance, Coleytown is the pick; if you prefer a larger school with rapid improvement and strong academics, Bedford is a superb option. Both are among the finest middle schools in Connecticut.
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