- Enrollment
- 751
- Students per teacher
- 8.7:1
- Resource Index
- 65/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Madison, CT
Walter C. Polson Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Walter C. Polson Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 61/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 090228001480
👥 S:T ratio 61
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 64
📋 Attendance 89
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Walter C. Polson Middle School earns 61/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 82% of Connecticut schools.
- #2 of 5
- public schools in Madison · Resource Index
- 61
- Resource Index · Higher
- 9.8:1
- small classes for Connecticut
- 2.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Walter C. Polson Middle School has class sizes smaller than 82% of Connecticut schools. Computed live against every Connecticut school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Walter C. Polson Middle School ranks #2 of 5 public schools in Madison, CT.
School address
District: Madison School District · Connecticut
NCES ID 090228001480 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+17 students YoY
Walter C. Polson Middle School held near 537 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+17 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 55.8 → 52.2 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+17 students YoY 090228001480 · Madison, CT Middle · MID · TRAD
541 enr · 9.8:1 · 2.9% lunch · RII 61
Nearest enrollment peer: Daniel Hand High School (751 students)
Walter C. Polson Middle School held near 537 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+17 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 55.8 → 52.2 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Connecticut schools → · Find another →
Walter C. Polson Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Daniel Hand Hi
Daniel Hand High School
751 students
- This school
Walter C. Polson Middle School
541 students
- J. Milton Jeff
J. Milton Jeffrey Elementary School
407 students
- Dr. Robert H.
Dr. Robert H. Brown Intermediate School
361 students
- Kathleen H. Ry
Kathleen H. Ryerson Elementary School
314 students
What this shows Walter C. Polson Middle School reports 541 students on the CCD universe file.
How Walter C. Polson Middle School compares
Walter C. Polson Middle School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Connecticut and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Connecticut | Connecticut avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 9.8:1 | ▼ 19% | 12.1:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 2.9% | ▼ 92% | 36.4% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 541 | top 28% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
9.8:1
Leaner classes than 90% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
541
Bigger than 67% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
2.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 92% below the Connecticut average of 36.4%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
9.8:1
students per teacher
- 19% below state mean
Top 18% in Connecticut - lower ratio than 82% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
4.6%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
Below 5%, comfortably under the pre-pandemic national baseline for chronic absenteeism.
Funding equity
$26,847
per pupil, district-wide
- above Connecticut avg of $24,680
Well above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting substantially higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 180 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
18
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 3.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 3.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 79.8%
Hispanic or Latino 9.4%
Two or More 5.4%
Asian 4.4%
African American 0.9%
Largest group: White at 79.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 34.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 34.9, Walter C. Polson Middle School is less mixed than the Connecticut school average of 50.5.
Programs
District finance for Madison School District reports $26,847 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Walter C. Polson Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daniel Hand High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| J. Milton Jeffrey Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Dr. Robert H. Brown Intermediate School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Kathleen H. Ryerson Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Walter C. Polson Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 407
- Students per teacher
- 13.1:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 361
- Students per teacher
- 10.9:1
- Resource Index
- 51/100
- Enrollment
- 314
- Students per teacher
- 10.8:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
Nationwide middle schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~541 students)
Frequently asked questions about Walter C. Polson Middle School
How many students attend Walter C. Polson Middle School?
Walter C. Polson Middle School has 541 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Madison, CT. CCD year-over-year: 520 (2022-23) → 537 (2023-24), nearly flat (+17).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Walter C. Polson Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Walter C. Polson Middle School is 9.8:1, which is 19% lower than the Connecticut average of 12.1:1 and 38% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Walter C. Polson Middle School?
2.9% of students at Walter C. Polson Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Connecticut average of 36.4%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Walter C. Polson Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Walter C. Polson Middle School is White at 79.8% of enrollment, in Madison, CT.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Walter C. Polson Middle School?
Walter C. Polson Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 61/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Walter C. Polson Middle School rank among public schools in Madison?
By Resource Investment Index, Walter C. Polson Middle School ranks #2 of 5 public schools in Madison, CT. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Madison on the city page.
What other schools are in Madison School District?
Besides Walter C. Polson Middle School, Madison School District also operates Daniel Hand High School (751 students), J. Milton Jeffrey Elementary School (407 students), and Dr. Robert H. Brown Intermediate School (361 students). See the Madison School District district page for the complete list.