The top reported proficiency rate is 37% in Math. The lowest is 36% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Clifford M Granger
Clifford M Granger Elementary is a regular public school in Feeding Hills, a primarily residential section of the city of Agawam, serving kindergarten through fourth grade. The school is one of four elementary schools in the Agawam district, and it shares its neighborhood with the district’s junior high school.
The student body is predominantly white, with a sizeable Hispanic population and small shares of Asian, Black, and multiracial students. The school’s enrollment is moderate for a K-4 building, with a fairly even spread across each grade level. Data on the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals and on students with disabilities or English learner status was not available, so a family looking at the school’s overall profile should ask the district for this information.
On the state’s NextGen MCAS assessments, Granger’s proficiency rates in both math and English language arts landed at a level that was above the midpoint among districts in Hampden County. While this relative position within the county is a positive signal, the rates themselves suggest that a substantial portion of students are not yet scoring at the proficient level. In the most recent testing year, roughly a third of students scored proficient or above in both subjects. Looking at the school’s recent history, there was a clear drop in math proficiency from several years ago, and scores in both subjects have generally trended lower over time, with no evidence of a significant upward shift in the most recent data. This pattern is one a prospective parent may want to discuss with the school to understand what instructional supports are in place.
The school spans only the early elementary grades, so there is no graduation rate or high school program data here. Students from Granger feed into the district’s middle and high schools later. The school’s environment is shaped by its setting. Feeding Hills is described as having a quiet, almost rural atmosphere, with older, well-established single-family homes and a car-oriented layout. Commercial activity is concentrated in shopping centers rather than a walkable main street, and most residents commute to nearby Springfield or Chicopee for work. The area is under active land development, particularly around Provin Mountain, with several farms sold off for new housing and an increase in the real estate market in recent years.
For the district as a whole, a major capital project is underway. A new high school or major renovations to the existing one were expected to begin in late 2024, and this project is anticipated to increase local property taxes. This is a direct financial consideration for any family moving into the district, as it affects both the quality of the high school facility and the household tax burden. The housing market in the area shows a median listing price that is well below the statewide benchmark, which may be relevant for families weighing affordability against school performance.
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