The top reported proficiency rate is 29% in Math. The lowest is 18% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Alma Del Mar Charter School (district)
Alma del Mar Charter School operates as a single-district charter school in Bristol County, Massachusetts, serving kindergarten through eighth grade across two campuses with plans for a third. It is a school of choice: families apply, and demand far outpaces supply, as publicly reported. The district brief notes that the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education certified Alma del Mar in 2024 to grow from its current enrollment to a larger maximum capacity, and the school maintains a waitlist well into the hundreds. For a parent considering this school, the immediate reality is that securing a seat may require planning and persistence.
The student body is large for a K-8 charter, and its composition is markedly diverse. The largest share of students are Hispanic, with a substantial white population and a notable Black enrollment. Smaller numbers of students who are Asian, American Indian or Alaska Native, and two or more races round out the community. Data on the share of students eligible for free or reduced-price meals, as well as counts of students with disabilities or English learners, were not available in the records reviewed. A parent should ask the school directly about the level of support for these groups, as the demographic profile suggests a wide range of needs may be present.
Academically, state testing results for the most recent school year show proficiency rates that are modest when placed alongside other Bristol County districts. In both math and English language arts across grades three through eight, the proportion of students scoring proficient or above was below the county midpoint; among the twenty-one districts with available data, the overall proficiency index landed in the bottom quartile. Science and social studies proficiency rates were lower still, and those assessments are only given in certain grades. These figures describe the school’s current results, not its trajectory or the growth of individual students. Massachusetts charter schools often serve populations with higher concentrations of students from historically underserved backgrounds, and a parent evaluating the school should compare these outcomes to those of the district of residence, not just county-wide averages.
Chronic absenteeism—the share of students missing a substantial number of school days—was above the midpoint among Bristol County districts, falling in a range where about a fifth of students were chronically absent. That rate is not the highest in the county, but it is elevated relative to the median, and it is a metric worth understanding in context. The school’s per-pupil spending was in the upper range among districts in the county, reflecting the typical funding pattern for Massachusetts charters, which receive a blend of local and state dollars.
A distinctive element of Alma del Mar is its Fisher Fellows program, launched publicly in 2021, a multi-year initiative to recruit, develop, and retain educators of color. This program shapes staffing and instructional culture in an ongoing way, and it may appeal to families who value a diverse teaching corps and a school that explicitly invests in that goal.
Because Alma del Mar is a K-8 district, there is no high school graduation rate to report; students typically transition to other schools after eighth grade. The school’s growth plan—adding a third campus—introduces both opportunity and uncertainty. Existing campuses have their own cultures, and a new campus will take time to establish its own patterns. Families who enroll now will be part of a school in active expansion.
Taken together, Alma del Mar offers a choice option in a region where many families seek alternatives to traditional district schools. The school commands strong demand, invests in educator diversity, and serves a diverse student body. Academic proficiency results, however, are lower than those of many neighboring districts, and chronic absenteeism is a meaningful concern. A parent should weigh the school’s mission and community fit against these academic and attendance figures, and should ask the school directly about student progress over time and support for learners who enter below grade level.
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