The top reported proficiency rate is 71% in Science. The lowest is 52% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Hilltown Cooperative Charter Public (district)
Hilltown Cooperative Charter Public (District) is a single-school charter district in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, serving kindergarten through eighth grade. Because it is a charter district, the term “district” refers to one school. The school is small, with an enrollment of just over two hundred students, which gives it an intimate feel that many families in a cooperative charter seek. The student body is predominantly white, with a notable share of students identifying as Hispanic and a smaller share as two or more races. Data on economic disadvantage, special education identification, and English learner status were not reported, so it is not possible to assess the extent of those needs from this source.
Academically, Hilltown Cooperative Charter Public School performs well relative to other Hampshire County districts. Its overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades lands in the top quartile among the county’s districts, meaning that a majority of students meet state standards. In math and English language arts, just over half of students scored proficient or above on the state’s Next Generation MCAS assessments. In science, a strong majority of students met the bar, and in eighth-grade social studies, a similar majority reached proficiency. The school does not serve high school grades, so there is no graduation rate to report; families looking for a K–8 option will find that the academic pathway ends at eighth grade, and they would need to plan for a high school placement elsewhere.
The chronic absenteeism rate is low compared with other districts in the county, also landing in the top quartile for favorable outcomes. That suggests that student attendance is generally steady, and most students are present regularly. Per-pupil current spending falls in the middle range of Hampshire County districts, on the lower side of that middle. Without more detailed program or staffing data, it is hard to judge how that spending level translates to classroom resources, but the school’s academic results indicate that the model is producing competitive outcomes.
The district’s most significant recent event is the renewal of its Commonwealth charter in 2025, securing authorization to operate through 2030. For a single-school charter, renewal is the decisive event that confirms the school’s continued existence. Families considering enrollment can be confident that the school will remain open under its current model for the foreseeable future. The district brief also noted that the school has been renewed at several earlier intervals, consistent with a stable history.
Because the district is a single school, the peer environment is the same as the school’s student body. The small size means that students know each other and staff well, a characteristic of cooperative charter schools that often appeals to families wanting a close-knit community. The school does not report free-or-reduced-price lunch data, so the economic diversity of the student body is not measurable from this data. The cooperative model typically involves a high degree of family participation, though that information is not directly covered in the available records.
Overall, Hilltown Cooperative Charter Public (District) presents as a solid K–8 option with academic outcomes that are comfortably above the county median. Its small size, strong proficiency in science and social studies, and stable charter renewal make it a viable choice for families in Hampshire County who want a public charter alternative through middle school. The absence of data on special populations and economic background means that some questions about student support and diversity cannot be answered from these sources alone. A parent may want to ask the school directly about its approach to serving students with disabilities, English learners, and those from low-income households if those factors matter to their decision.
See more original research from School Decision →