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Average

#426 of 990 schools in CT

Top 43% in state

Francis Walsh Intermediate School

Middle School · Branford School District

185 Damascus Rd., Branford, CT 06405

Enrollment

795

Student-Teacher

11.4:1

Score

6.6

Grades

5th – 8th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Branford

#4 of 5

public schools

Connecticut middle schools

#84 of 180

In district

#4 of 5

Branford School District

School environment

9.2 / 10

Exceptional

About Francis Walsh Intermediate School

Francis Walsh Intermediate School serves grades five through eight in Branford, Connecticut, drawing approximately 795 students in a large suburban setting. The school maintains a student-teacher ratio of 11.4 to 1, with 70 full-time equivalent teachers on staff. Academically, Francis Walsh is working toward strengthening its core curricula.

In English Language Arts, 55 percent of students demonstrate proficiency or above, while mathematics proficiency reaches 45 percent across grade levels. These results reflect an area where the school is focused on supporting student growth and academic development. The school's MySchoolScout academic score of 5.6 out of 10 places it near the state median, ranking 486th among Connecticut's 996 schools.

As a regular public middle school, Francis Walsh serves as an important educational hub for the Branford community. The suburban location offers families a traditional middle school experience with accessible neighborhood convenience. Parents considering this school should understand the current academic performance landscape and may want to discuss specific support systems and academic initiatives with school administrators to determine the best fit for their child's learning needs.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress5.5Average40%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data3
Annual Change-3.24 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2022
TrendDeclining
Academics6.1Above Average35%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency44%
Reading/ELA Proficiency52%
Overall Proficiency48%
Expected (poverty-adj.)51%
vs. Expected-3.2 pts
Adjusted Percentile45th
Resources & Environment9.2Exceptional25%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio11.4:1
Per-Pupil Spending$27,148

Francis Walsh Intermediate School — Students at Francis Walsh Intermediate School score 48% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 51%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

36.7%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores CT EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 45.3%
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 55.0%
School
State
N/A

Based on 6 test records from CT state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2019
Math
52%
ELA
62%
2021*
Math
40%
ELA
51%
2022
Math
44%
ELA
52%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 5.5/10.

How Francis Walsh Intermediate School Compares

See how Francis Walsh Intermediate School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
6.6/10
57th percentile in CT
Academic
6.1/10
6.1/10
Growth
5.5/10
Above average
Environment
9.2/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
37%
Teaching Staff
11:1 student-teacher ratio
70 teachers

Location

185 Damascus Rd., Branford, CT 06405

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Francis Walsh Intermediate School may also want to explore other middle schools in the area. North Branford Intermediate School (rated 7.5/10, 3.5 miles away, in nearby North Branford), which scores slightly higher. Another option is A. Baldwin Middle School (rated 7.4/10, 4.9 miles away, in nearby Guilford), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, Joseph Melillo Middle School (rated 7.0/10, 4.4 miles away, in nearby East Haven), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Branford, see our Branford schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 5.1 mi
School Distance Rating
Mary R. Tisko School Branford 0.4 mi 6.7
Branford High School Branford 1.0 mi 6.1
John B. Sliney School Branford 1.6 mi 7.5
CELC MIDDLE SCHOOL Branford 1.8 mi
EAST SHORELINE CATHOLIC ACADEMY Branford 1.8 mi 7.1
Mary T. Murphy School Branford 2.1 mi 8.4
Jerome Harrison School North Branford 3.3 mi 6.8
North Branford Intermediate School North Branford 3.5 mi 7.5
North Branford High School North Branford 3.7 mi 5.9
East Haven High School East Haven 4.0 mi 5.9
Deer Run School East Haven 4.0 mi 6.5
Guilford High School Guilford 4.2 mi 8.3
A. Baldwin Middle School Guilford 4.9 mi 7.4
Joseph Melillo Middle School East Haven 4.4 mi 7.0
A. W. Cox School Guilford 4.4 mi 8.1
Dominick H. Ferrara School East Haven 5.1 mi 7.0
Grove J. Tuttle School East Haven 4.8 mi 7.8
Carbone School/East Haven Academy East Haven 5.0 mi 4.8
Bishop Woods Architecture and Design Magnet School New Haven 5.4 mi 3.7
E. C. Adams Middle School Guilford 5.1 mi 6.3

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 06405 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$97,223

Median Home Value

$388,300

Median Rent

$1,529/mo

Population

28,090

College Educated

49.5%

Homeownership

66.8%

Avg Commute

23 min

Poverty Rate

6.6%

Median Age

54.4

Community Profile

The community surrounding Francis Walsh Intermediate School has a median household income of $97,223. It is a well-educated community where 50% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $388,300, with a median rent of $1,529/month. The local poverty rate of 6.6% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 23 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Torrington Middle School Torrington, CT 6.6
East Lyme Middle School Niantic, CT 6.5
Hamden Middle School Hamden, CT 6.5
Avon Middle School Avon, CT 6.7
Smith Middle School Glastonbury, CT 6.7
Fairfield Woods Middle School Fairfield, CT 6.4

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Francis Walsh Intermediate School

What grades does Francis Walsh Intermediate School serve?

Francis Walsh Intermediate School serves students in grades 5th through 8th.

How many students attend Francis Walsh Intermediate School?

Francis Walsh Intermediate School has an enrollment of approximately 795 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Francis Walsh Intermediate School?

The student-teacher ratio at Francis Walsh Intermediate School is 11.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Francis Walsh Intermediate School rank in CT?

Francis Walsh Intermediate School is ranked #426 out of 990 schools in CT.

What is Francis Walsh Intermediate School's MySchoolScout rating?

Francis Walsh Intermediate School has a composite rating of 6.6 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Francis Walsh Intermediate School?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Francis Walsh Intermediate School has 45.3% math proficiency and 55.0% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Francis Walsh Intermediate School a charter school?

No, Francis Walsh Intermediate School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Francis Walsh Intermediate School a Title I school?

No, Francis Walsh Intermediate School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Francis Walsh Intermediate School?

36.7% of students at Francis Walsh Intermediate School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

City Safety
High (1,718/100K)

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Branford). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
5th – 8th
Enrollment
795
Student-Teacher Ratio
11.4:1
Teachers (FTE)
70
Free/Reduced Lunch
36.7%
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Connecticut Planning Region 7
Data Year
2023–2024

District

Branford School District
District Enrollment
2,625
Schools in District
5
Per-Pupil Spending
$28,336
District Rank
#4 of 5

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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