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 School
Hilltown Cooperative Charter Public School is a kindergarten-through-eighth-grade charter school located in Easthampton, Massachusetts. It is its own single-school district. The enrollment is relatively small for a K-8 school, and the student body is predominantly white, with a modest share of students who identify as Hispanic and a small share who identify as Asian or as two or more races. Data on the share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, receiving special education services, or classified as English learners was not available in the sources reviewed.
Academically, the school's performance on state assessments places it in a strong position compared to other districts in Hampshire County. Its overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades falls in the top quartile among the county's districts. On the most recent state tests in English language arts, roughly half of students scored proficient or above. In math, a similar share reached that level. Science results, which are based on a smaller group of test-takers, were higher, as were social studies results for eighth graders, though a change in the social studies assessment that year means scores are not directly comparable to prior years.
A look at the school's multi-year achievement data shows some fluctuation. English language arts proficiency has moved within a range over the past several years, with the most recent result returning near the middle of that range. Math proficiency has also moved within a range, with the most recent result similar to levels seen several years earlier. A parent may find it useful to ask the school about instructional strategies it is using to sustain and improve performance.
The school's charter was renewed in 2025, extending its authorization to operate for another five-year term. For a single-school charter district, renewal is the decisive event that secures its continued existence, so families considering the school can rely on it remaining open under its current model through that period.
The school is located on an industrial parkway in Easthampton, a city that has maintained a mix of residential neighborhoods, small businesses, and repurposed mill buildings. Easthampton originally developed around textile and rubber-thread manufacturing and has since attracted artists and younger residents drawn by housing costs lower than neighboring Northampton. Small farms and small businesses remain the economic core. The city's downtown centers on a traditional New England grid with small storefronts and mill buildings, and the monthly Art Walk Easthampton contributes to street life. Key civic anchors include Nashawannuck Pond, the Manhan River, and Mount Tom State Reservation with its hiking trails and Pioneer Valley views. Interstate 91 and US Route 5 connect Easthampton to Northampton and Holyoke.
The housing market in the area is priced moderately below the state benchmark. With a mortgage rate environment that has been moving in a narrow band, prospective homebuyers would find a mix of older homes and repurposed mill units. Easthampton's population has remained relatively stable in recent years, so the housing market reflects steady demand rather than rapid growth pressure.
Hilltown Cooperative Charter Public School is not a district with traditional neighborhood attendance boundaries. It is a charter school, meaning families from Easthampton and surrounding towns must apply for admission. The school's location in an industrial park means the physical campus is separate from the residential and downtown fabric of the city. There is no data on whether the school offers before- or after-care, extracurricular programs, or transportation, so families interested in those supports will need to ask directly.
This is a school that fits families looking for a small K-8 charter environment with a track record of academic performance above the county median, set in a community with an arts-influenced downtown and a stable housing market. Families who want to understand how the school serves students with different learning needs, or who need logistical details about the school day, should follow up with the school directly, as several data points were not available from the sources used here.
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