The top reported proficiency rate is 73% in Science. The lowest is 65% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on High Plain Elementary
HighPlain Elementary is a kindergarten-through-fifth-grade public school in Andover, Massachusetts, serving as one of the neighborhood elementary schools within the Andover Public Schools system. It is a regular school with no charter or magnet status, and it sits in a residential area of a town that blends suburban character with a significant corporate and institutional presence. Andover is home to regional offices for companies such as Raytheon, Pfizer, and Schneider Electric, as well as Phillips Academy, a prestigious private boarding school. The town has a walkable historic downtown centered on Main Street and Old Town Hall, and it offers two MBTA Commuter Rail stops connecting to Boston. Housing values in the area are high, reflecting the community’s affluence and desirability among professionals and families.
The student body at High Plain Elementary is moderately large for an elementary school, drawing from the surrounding neighborhood. Ethnically, the school is diverse: roughly half of the students are white, about a quarter are Asian, and smaller shares identify as Hispanic, Black, or two or more races. Data on the share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, on students with individualized education plans, and on English learners are not reported in the available information, making it difficult to assess the school’s economic and special-education makeup. Parents may want to ask the school directly about these supports if they are a priority.
Academically, High Plain Elementary performs at a strong level. On the state’s NextGen MCAS assessments, proficiency rates in mathematics and science are notably high, with a solid majority of students meeting or exceeding grade-level expectations. English language arts proficiency is also solid, though it trails the other subjects slightly. When compared with other districts across Essex County, the school’s overall proficiency across tested grades and subjects places it in the top quartile—a strong showing that aligns with the broader affluence and educational resources of the community.
A closer look at multi-year trends reveals a more nuanced picture. In English language arts, the share of students scoring proficient or above has declined gradually over the past several years, from a higher level to a lower one. Mathematics proficiency, by contrast, has been steadier, with some year-to-year fluctuation but no sustained downward drift. The reasons for the ELA trend are not evident from the data alone; a parent considering the school may want to discuss this pattern with the principal or teaching staff to understand what steps the school is taking.
Because High Plain Elementary serves only the elementary grades, there is no graduation rate to report, and no course-access or program data for specialized offerings like advanced placement or career pathways—those become relevant at the middle and high school levels. The school does not have a Title I designation, which suggests the student population is not predominantly low-income.
Overall, High Plain Elementary fits families who value a high-performing, well-resourced elementary school in an established, affluent suburban town with a strong employment base, convenient transit options, and a historic downtown. The school’s academic record is solid, particularly in math and science, and the community context is one of stability and investment. The gradual decline in reading scores is a soft spot that warrants a conversation with the school, but it does not offset the generally strong picture. For a family moving to the area or already in Andover, this is a school that delivers the kind of academic foundation one would expect from a top-tier district in Massachusetts.
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