Holyoke, MA - District Data

Original Research by School Decision on Holyoke

Holyoke Public Schools serves the city of Holyoke, Massachusetts, from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. The district educates an enrollment approaching five thousand students. The student body is majority Hispanic, with a smaller white population and smaller shares of Black, Asian, multiracial, and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander students. Data on the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals, hold an individualized education program, or are English learners were not available.

State assessment results are the principal window into academic performance here, and they show a district working from a low baseline. Across the grades that are tested, proficiency rates in mathematics, English language arts, science, and eighth-grade social studies are all below one in eight students. The district's own state accountability classification for the most recent year is "Requiring assistance or intervention," with the overall label "In need of focused/targeted support." The comparison among Hampden County's districts places Holyoke's overall proficiency index in the bottom quartile. A parent should know that the district is in the early stages of a long improvement trajectory, and that the academic numbers indicate that most students are not yet meeting grade-level standards.

The chronic absenteeism rate is high, and when placed among the county's districts, Holyoke is in the bottom quartile on this measure as well, meaning absenteeism is more severe here than in most neighboring districts. A family may want to ask the district directly about its attendance initiatives and what supports are in place for students who are frequently absent.

Holyoke Public Schools has been under state receivership since a prior date, a governance shift that removed most local school committee authority. That receivership continues. The state's accountability classification for the district, and for nine of its ten schools, reflects the ongoing intervention. District revenue comes overwhelmingly from state sources, with a smaller share from the city and a modest federal portion. That funding structure means the district's budget is tied closely to state education funding decisions rather than to local property tax growth, a reality that families should weigh when considering the district's financial stability and program continuity.

The housing market in Holyoke shows home values and rents that are lower than the Massachusetts statewide benchmark, a pattern that makes the city more affordable than many communities in the state. The county-level market data indicate a moderate number of active listings and a median listing price that has risen slightly year over year. Pending listings have increased substantially, and median days on market are short, suggesting demand is outpacing supply. The rent-to-income ratio for a typical household is modest, and the gap between renting and owning is relatively narrow, meaning that both renting and buying are within reach for many households. A parent looking at the district should know that housing affordability here is a relative strength, but that the district's own financial constraints are a separate factor.

The district's per-pupil current spending, when compared among Hampden County's districts, sits in the upper range. That spending level may reflect the costs associated with serving a high-need population under state receivership. A family may want to inquire which specific programs and interventions that funding supports.

Holyoke Public Schools runs nine open schools, including Holyoke High, a middle school, and several elementary schools, plus the Holyoke STEM Academy. One school listed in the records, the William R. Peck School and the Holyoke Middle School, is closed. The district covers the city of Holyoke, a single community, so there is no variation among towns within the district's boundaries. The city itself is an old industrial center with a substantial stock of older housing and a compact downtown. A parent considering the district should factor in both the academic challenges and the fact that the district is operating under a state-directed improvement plan with limited local control. The low proficiency rates and high absenteeism are the central academic facts, and the receivership is the central governance fact.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

4,898

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 81%

Black 4%

White 12%

Asian 1%

Two+ 2%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr 3

11%

45%

Gr 4

14%

30%

Gr 5

28%

Gr 6

17%

Gr 7

15%

Gr 8

25%

Gr 38

27%

Math

Gr 3

31%

Gr 4

26%

Gr 5

21%

Gr 6

Gr 7

Gr 8

14%

Gr 38

18%

Science

Gr 5

37%

Gr 8

22%

Gr 38

28%

Social studies

Gr 8

24%

Schools in this District

12 schools are officially reported under this district.

Holyoke High

Kelly Elementary

Lt Clayre Sullivan Elementary

Lt Elmer J McMahon Elementary

Maurice A Donahue Elementary

Morgan Full Service Community School

Joseph Metcalf School

E N White Elementary

William R. Peck School

H.B. Lawrence School

Holyoke STEM Academy

Holyoke Middle School

Academic Performance

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

Mathematics

1 grade reported

Grades 3-8

English Language Arts

1 grade reported

11%

Grades 3-8

Science

1 grade reported

Grades 3-8

Social Studies

1 grade reported

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

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

Home Values

Typical home value$328,774

Year-over-year change+3.3%

vs. state typical0.50x

vs. national typical0.89x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (1 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
01040	Holyoke	$329K	+3.3%	100.0%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$1,677/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (1 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
01040	Holyoke	$1,677	—	100.0%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$1,659/mo

Home price / national median income3.9x

Annual rent / national median income24.0%

Rent exceeds est. mortgage by$18/mo

Market Activity: Hampden County

Median listing price$375,000

Median listing price YoY+5.7%

Median price per sq ft$245

Median price per sq ft YoY+4.7%

Median days on market22.8 days

Median days on market YoY-1.1%

Active listings427

Active listings YoY+12.4%

New listings404

Pending listings591

Pending listings YoY+384.4%

Hotness: median listing price$365,000

Hotness: median listing price YoY+5.8%

Supply score99.1

Supply score YoY+1.1%

Demand score99.1

Demand score YoY+0.3%

Median listing price (12 months)

Median price per sq ft (12 months)

Median days on market (12 months)

Active listings (12 months)

New listings (12 months)

Pending listings (12 months)

Hotness: median listing price (12 months)

Supply score (12 months)

Demand score (12 months)

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.