The top reported proficiency rate is 52% in English language arts. The lowest is 44% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Benjamin J Phelps
Benjamin J Phelps is a regular public school in Agawam serving kindergarten through fourth grade. It draws its students from a suburban community that blends rural atmosphere with residential neighborhoods, situated across the Connecticut River from Springfield. The school is one of several elementary schools in the Agawam district.
Academically, Phelps students take the Massachusetts Next Generation MCAS in grades three and four. The most recent results show reading and language arts proficiency reaching a level that places the school in the top quarter of districts in Hampden County when looking across all tested subjects. Math proficiency is lower, though still above the typical school in the county. The multi-year pattern shows some fluctuation. In reading, proficiency moved within a consistent band from year to year, with a recent year matching the higher end of that band. Math has been more variable, with some years notably stronger than others. A parent new to the school might want to ask how the school supports students whose math scores fall short of the reading scores, since the gap has persisted over time. Because Phelps serves only early grades, there is no graduation rate or chronic absenteeism data to report; those metrics apply to secondary schools.
The student body is small for an elementary school. The composition is predominantly white, with Hispanic students forming the next largest group, followed by smaller shares of Asian, Black, and multiracial students, and a very small number of American Indian students. Data on economic disadvantage, special education, and English learner status was not available in the school’s reporting, so a parent would need to contact the school directly to learn about these populations and the support programs in place. The school does not appear to receive Title I funding, though the data was not definitive on that point.
Agawam itself is a car-dependent town with limited walkability. The community has a mix of historic homes, farm fields, and village centers, and is known for being affordable relative to the broader region. Six Flags New England is a prominent local landmark and employer. Population growth has been very slow. For families considering the district, the town recently approved construction of a new high school or major renovations to the existing one, with work expected to begin in late 2024. That project will increase property taxes, a factor worth weighing for home buyers. The housing market in the area shows median home values that are below the state average but above the national figure, and homes have been selling relatively quickly.
Phelps sits at the bottom of the district’s grade span, so families who enroll here will eventually move on to the district’s middle school and high school. The elementary years at Phelps appear to provide a solid foundation in reading, while math is an area the school may be working to strengthen. The school’s peer environment is homogeneous in terms of race and ethnicity, something a family may consider alongside the available academic data. For a parent looking for a small, neighborhood elementary school in a stable suburban town with a modest cost of living and a district that is investing in its facilities, Benjamin J Phelps is a plausible option. The missing data on economic and special education populations means a thorough picture will require a conversation with the school principal.
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