Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
Middle· 39 schools in district

McDonough Middle School

111 Hillside Avenue, Hartford, CT 06106Hartford School District →
Federal DataRegular SchoolGrades 06–08Non-Charter
317
Students
Total enrolled
$33,005
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
↑ 130% vs nat'l
13.8 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
↓ 11% vs nat'l
37/100
Opportunity Score
Neighborhood outcomes
↓ 27% vs nat'l
⇄ Compare with another school
Mid-sized public school
Serves 317 students in grades 06–08 in Hartford, Connecticut.
130% above average funding
District spends $33,005 per pupil, 130% more than the national average of $14,347.
Below-median opportunity
Children from this neighborhood historically reach the 37th income percentile as adults, per Harvard/Census Opportunity Atlas data.
About This School

McDonough Middle School is a mid-sized middle in Hartford, Connecticut, serving grades 06–08 with 317 students. The district invests $33,005 per student — 130% above the national average of $14,347, and maintains a 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio — smaller than the national norm of 15.4:1. About 83% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting significant economic challenges in the surrounding community. A neighborhood opportunity score of 37/100 — below the national median of 50 — is worth factoring into a fuller picture of long-term student outcomes.

Student Body & Demographics at McDonough Middle School

317
Total Students
13.8 : 1
Student:Teacher
83%
Free Lunch
23
Teacher FTE
Grade Range
PK
K
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Highlighted grades (06–08) are served by this school
Gender Distribution163 male · 154 female
51%
49%
Male 51%Female 49%
Free / Reduced Lunch Eligibility83%
National avg 52% · 262 students
Student Composition
82%
10%
Asian1%
White6%
Hispanic / Latino82%
Black10%
Native American1%
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 090192000371

Academic Outcomes at McDonough Middle School

Neighborhood Opportunity Score
37
/ 100
Below-median opportunity

Children from modest-income families in this neighborhood reach the 37th income percentile as adults. This school is in the 14th percentile nationally.

0 — Low50 — MedianHigh — 100
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census) · Census tract · ZIP 06106

School Resources & Funding

Per-Pupil Expenditure$33,005Above avg
National avg $14,347
Per-Pupil Spending Comparison
This school
$33,005
State avg
$28,931
National avg
$14,347
How School Funding Is Typically Spent
44%
19%
12%
15%
Instruction$14,522
Student Support$6,271
Administration$3,961
Operations$4,951
Other$3,300
Estimated using national average spending distribution (NCES) · School-level breakdowns not publicly reported
Of the $33,005 spent per student, an estimated $14,621 (~44%) goes directly to classroom instruction.
Where Funding Comes From
67%
20%
State government
67.4%
Local (property tax)
20.1%
Federal programs
12.5%
NCES F-33 Finance Survey · District-level data applied to this school
Strengths & Considerations
Strengths
  • Above-average funding — $33,005/student vs $14,347 nationally
  • 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio — smaller classes than the national norm of 15.4:1
  • Traditional public school — open enrollment, no application process required
Worth Considering
  • Below-median neighborhood opportunity score (37/100) — national median is 50
  • 83% of students on free or reduced lunch — a high share that can indicate resource pressure
Strengths and considerations are derived from federal data thresholds — not editorial judgements. See data sources below.
K–12 Pathway in District
Elementary
Dwight-Bellizzi Dual Language AcademyWebster Micro Society Magnet SchoolKennelly SchoolEnvironmental Sciences Magnet at Hooker School
+16 more
↓
High School
Hartford Magnet Trinity College AcademyHartford Public High SchoolWeaver High SchoolBulkeley High School
+5 more
School Profile
TypeRegular School
LevelMiddle
Grades06 – 08
Location—
CountyCapitol Planning Region
CharterNo
VirtualNo
DistrictHartford School District →
Phone: (860)695-4260
NCES ID: 090192000371
Who Is This School For?

Best suited for families in Hartford seeking a public middle school, especially those prioritizing above-average resources and classroom investment. We always recommend an in-person visit and a conversation with current families before making any enrollment decision.

More in Hartford School District
High
Hartford Magnet Trinity College Academy
963 students · 06–12
● 39 opp76% FRL
High
Hartford Public High School
709 students · 09–12
● 41 opp82% FRL
High
Weaver High School
643 students · 09–12
● 34 opp88% FRL
Elem
Dwight-Bellizzi Dual Language Academy
626 students · PK–08
● 37 opp82% FRL
Elem
Webster Micro Society Magnet School
615 students · PK–08
● 41 opp62% FRL
Elem
Kennelly School
598 students · PK–08
● 37 opp85% FRL
Other
Capital Preparatory Magnet School
584 students · PK–12
● 39 opp78% FRL
Elem
Environmental Sciences Magnet at Hooker School
556 students · PK–08
● 37 opp71% FRL
District School Rankings
Location
111 Hillside Avenue, Hartford, CT 06106
Data Sources & Transparency
Enrollment & Profile
NCES Common Core of Data. Grades, enrollment, demographics, school characteristics. Updated annually.
Funding & Spending
NCES F-33 Finance Survey. District-level spending data. School-level breakdowns are not publicly reported.
Graduation Rate
EDFacts Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR). High schools only. Small cohorts may be range-coded for privacy.
Opportunity Score
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census Bureau). Census tract outcomes for children born in the 1980s.
Fact-Based Rankings
Best-school rankings are computed from federal metrics only — enrollment, per-pupil spending, student-teacher ratio, opportunity score, and graduation rate. No editorial opinion or paid placements.
Equity Data (Coming Soon)
AP access, counselor ratios, and chronic absenteeism from the CRDC will be added in a future update.

Questions to Ask on Your School Visit

Research shows the most important factors are invisible in the data. Here is what to ask when you visit.

Middle
1
How does the school support the transition from elementary?
Orientation programs, peer mentoring
2
What electives and clubs are available?
Arts, STEM, sports, extracurriculars
3
How are students grouped for core subjects?
Tracking policies can affect equity
4
What is the school's homework and study policy?
Look for balance and academic support
5
How is bullying and social pressure addressed?
Anti-bullying policies, counselor availability
6
What advanced or enrichment options exist?
Honors courses, gifted programs
7
What does the school do with student performance data?
How data is used to personalize instruction
8
How would you describe teacher retention here?
High turnover can disrupt continuity of learning
9
What's the culture around student diversity and inclusion?
How differences are celebrated and managed

Frequently Asked Questions

About this school and the data on this page

About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.