The top reported proficiency rate is 42% in Math. The lowest is 38% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on James Clark School
James Clark School serves kindergarten through fourth grade in the town of Agawam, a suburban and residential community on the west bank of the Connecticut River across from Springfield. Agawam presents as a place with traditional farm fields, historic homes, and a low tax rate, where most residents commute by car and owner-occupied housing is common. Housing values in the area fall well below the state median, and the market is active with a relatively short time on market. The school district is facing a major capital project, with construction or significant renovations to Agawam High School expected to begin in late 2024, a change that will increase local property taxes.
For its grade span, the school is a regular kindergarten-to-fourth-grade building with an enrollment that makes it a mid-sized elementary school. The student body is predominantly white, with a noticeable Hispanic presence and a small share of Asian and Black students. Data on the share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch was not available, nor were figures for students with disabilities or English learners. A parent may want to ask the school directly about these student support indicators.
State testing results for both math and English language arts fall below where they stood in earlier years. On the 2024-25 NextGen MCAS assessments, the share of students scoring proficient or above was in the low forty percent range in math and below forty percent in English language arts. This places the school in the top quarter of Hampden County districts when combining tested subjects, but the overall proficiency rates themselves show that more than half of students are not meeting the state benchmark. Looking back over the previous several years, the school’s math proficiency rate reached above sixty percent in the late 2010s before dropping sharply in the 2020-21 school year, and it has since recovered only into the low forties. English language arts proficiency followed a similar trajectory, declining from around sixty percent pre-pandemic levels to the high thirties and low forties in recent years. The most recent year’s results show no improvement from the prior year in math and a slight decline in English language arts.
Because the school serves only grades kindergarten through four, there is no graduation rate to report. Many offerings that become relevant in middle and high school, such as Advanced Placement courses or career pathways, are not applicable here. The school’s academic focus is on the early elementary years, and the test results provide a snapshot of how students are performing as they build foundational skills.
The town of Agawam has seen very slow population growth in recent years. Six Flags New England is a notable commercial anchor and employer, along with healthcare, retail, and hospitality sectors. Recreational assets include a state park, golf courses, a bike path, and trail access along the Metacomet Ridge. The school is part of the Agawam district, which also includes other elementary schools, a middle school, and a high school. The upcoming high school construction project signals a district investing in its facilities, though families should factor the associated tax increase into their planning.
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