The top reported proficiency rate is 41% in Social studies. The lowest is 12% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Up Academy Charter School of Dorchester (district)
The UP Academy Charter School of Dorchester district serves a single school of the same name, covering early childhood through eighth grade in Boston’s Dorchester neighborhood. It is a charter district in Suffolk County, and because it operates as a single-site charter serving grades PK through 8, there is no high school and thus no graduation rate to report.
The student body is predominantly Black and Hispanic, together making up the large majority of the enrollment. The district's racial composition reflects the Dorchester community it serves. Data on the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, the share with Individualized Education Programs, and the share classified as English learners were not available in the records used for this profile, which limits a full picture of student support needs.
On the 2024-25 Massachusetts Next Generation MCAS assessments, proficiency rates fell below the statewide averages across all tested subjects. In math, roughly one in every eight students scored proficient or above. In English language arts, roughly one in every five did. In science, again roughly one in eight students reached that bar. Eighth-graders tested in social studies posted a higher result, with about two in every five scoring proficient or above, though Massachusetts changed the cut scores for that assessment in the same year, so that figure should be read with that adjustment in mind. Compared with other Suffolk County districts, the district's overall proficiency, averaged across tested subjects and grades, sits below the midpoint of the county.
The chronic absenteeism rate, at a level the comparison data places above the county midpoint, is a soft spot that a parent may want to ask the school about directly. The district's per-pupil current spending falls in the lower range among Suffolk County districts, which is notable given that charters in Massachusetts operate on a different funding formula than traditional public districts.
The district comprises one school, so there is no variation across campuses to consider. Because this is a charter school of choice, families opt in through a lottery. The academic pathway is a K-8 experience, meaning students who stay through eighth grade will then need to apply to high schools in the Boston area, whether charter, district, or private.
A search for recent changes at the district level turned up only administrative and accountability data, not information that would alter a family's day-to-day decision. The school itself will be the primary source for details on its curriculum, extended-day or extended-year schedules, and the particular academic model it uses, all of which are characteristic of the UP Academy network.
See more original research from School Decision →