Up-island Regional, MA - District Data

Original Research by School Decision on Up-island Regional

Up-Island Regional is a public school district that serves students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade in three of Martha’s Vineyard’s towns: Chilmark, West Tisbury, and a small part of Tisbury. Because the district ends at grade 8, families must plan for high school elsewhere, typically by sending students to the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School, which is a separate district. The district enrollment is small, with grades running from pre-K through eighth. The student body is composed predominantly of white students, with a substantial Hispanic minority, a small number of students who identify as two or more races, a very small number of American Indian or Alaska Native students, and a very small number of Black and Asian students. Data on economic disadvantage, special education, and English learner status were not available in the data provided.

Academically, the district’s performance on the NextGen MCAS tests sits at the higher end of the local landscape. When compared with other districts in Dukes County, Up-Island Regional places in the top quartile for overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades. In math and English language arts for grades 3–8, just over half of tested students scored proficient. In science for those grades, a larger share, about two-thirds, scored proficient. The district also tests eighth graders in social studies, where about two-fifths of students scored proficient. The overall proficiency index for the district is the highest among the four Dukes County districts that had data, which positions this district as the academically strongest elementary and middle school option on the island.

Chronic absenteeism data was available, and the district’s rate is in the top quartile among Dukes County’s districts, meaning a smaller share of students are chronically absent compared to many of its neighbors. That said, the absolute rate was still high enough that a parent may want to look into this further with the school to understand the context. Per-pupil current spending is in the middle range but on the upper half of the county’s five districts, reflecting a meaningful investment in each student.

Because the district serves only grades PK through 8, there is no high school graduation rate. The district operates two elementary schools: Chilmark Elementary and West Tisbury Elementary. The data did not include any recent strategic changes or district initiatives, so none are reported here.

Housing in the towns that feed into the district is among the most expensive in Massachusetts. Home values in Chilmark, West Tisbury, and the Tisbury portion of the district are well above both the state and national medians, with the weighted district value nearly three times the state average. This is a high-cost area, and the data did not include rental rates or income specifically for these towns. A family considering a move here should be prepared for a housing market that reflects the island’s desirability and limited inventory.

For a parent, this district represents a small, academically strong set of schools for elementary and middle school years. The peer environment is one where the majority of students are white and the economic profile is likely affluent, though income data at the district level was not available. The pathway is clear: strong elementary and middle grades, followed by a transition to a separate high school. The growth context on the island is constrained by geography and housing costs, meaning enrollment is likely stable. Student support data such as special education and English learner services were not present in the data, so a parent with a child who has specialized needs would need to contact the district directly. Overall, Up-Island Regional fits a family that values strong academic proficiency in the early and middle grades, can navigate the high-cost housing market, and is comfortable planning for a high school transition at the end of eighth grade.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

398

Grades

PK–08

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 14%

Black 2%

White 73%

Asian 1%

Two+ 7%

Am. Indian / AK Native 4%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr 3

—

68%

Gr 4

36%

58%

Gr 5

—

40%

Gr 6

14%

55%

Gr 7

27%

44%

Gr 8

40%

85%

Gr 38

34%

57%

Math

Gr 3

—

65%

Gr 4

38%

61%

Gr 5

—

53%

Gr 6

29%

50%

Gr 7

36%

44%

Gr 8

70%

Gr 38

38%

57%

Science

Gr 5

—

63%

Gr 8

—

74%

Gr 38

56%

68%

Social studies

Gr 8

—

44%

Schools in this District

2 schools are officially reported under this district.

Chilmark Elementary

West Tisbury Elementary

Academic Performance

Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.

Mathematics

1 grade reported

52%

Grades 3-8

English Language Arts

1 grade reported

51%

Grades 3-8

Science

1 grade reported

65%

Grades 3-8

Social Studies

1 grade reported

40%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

Data as of April 2026 | District-weighted from constituent ZIP codes

Home Values

Typical home value$1.90M

Year-over-year change+2.8%

Range across 3 ZIP codes$1.4M to $2.2M

vs. state typical2.87x

vs. national typical5.16x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (3 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
02535	Chilmark	$2.2M	+2.9%	49.3%
02575	West Tisbury	$1.7M	+2.7%	46.1%
02568	Tisbury	$1.4M	+4.3%	4.6%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$9,589/mo

Home price / national median income22.7x

Comparison

State typical home value$661,755 (+1.5% YoY)

National typical home value$368,198 (+0.6% YoY)

State ZHVI trend (12 months)

National ZHVI trend (12 months)

Economic Context

30-year fixed mortgage rate6.48%

National unemployment rate4.3%

National median household income$83,730

CPI: Rent of shelter (index)447.05

30-year fixed mortgage rate (12 months)

National unemployment rate (12 months)

National median household income (12 months)

CPI: Rent of shelter (index) (12 months)

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (Zillow Group), Realtor.com via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)

Data Currently Unavailable

Civil Rights Data (CRDC)

This profile is derived exclusively from publicly available federal and state datasets. It may not reflect the most current information available. We encourage parents and families to supplement this data with information published directly on the school’s website, which may include more recent figures, additional programs, or updated enrollment data.