The top reported proficiency rate is 46% in Math. The lowest is 38% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Hajjar Elementary
Hajjar Elementary serves kindergarten through fourth grade in Billerica, a suburban town roughly halfway between Boston and Lowell. The school is one of five elementary schools in the Billerica public school system, which also has two middle schools and one comprehensive high school. Billerica itself is a largely residential community with a modest industrial and technology employer base, and its elementary schools are spread across separate campuses in the town’s various village sections rather than clustered in a single walkable downtown.
Hajjar’s enrollment is modest for its grade band, drawing from a surrounding population that is predominantly white, with a notable share of Hispanic students and smaller populations of Asian and Black students. The school serves only early elementary grades, which means certain measures common to older schools do not apply here. There is no graduation rate because the school does not serve high school grades, and state science testing data comes from a prior assessment cycle that is no longer directly comparable to current tests.
The most current state assessment results, from the NextGen MCAS, show that in mathematics just under half of students scored at the proficient level or above, while in English language arts the share was slightly lower. These proficiency rates place the school below the midpoint among elementary schools in Middlesex County districts when measured by an overall index across tested subjects. A parent looking at these numbers will want to note that the school’s ELA proficiency has fluctuated noticeably over the years covered in available trend data, from a peak above the midpoint of the scale to a lower point in more recent years before a slight uptick. Mathematics has also moved around, with no clear upward or downward direction. The most recent year’s results show a dip in math from the prior year, while ELA held fairly steady. A family interested in this school may want to ask the principal about what instructional strategies and supports are in place to build consistent proficiency, especially in reading and writing.
No data was reported for the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, nor for students with disabilities or English learners. Those are important dimensions of a school’s context and resource allocation, and their absence means a parent cannot assess from this data alone the range of student needs the school serves. The school’s website may provide that information.
The housing market in Billerica’s zip code reflects a high-cost region. Home values place the area well above the national benchmark, though somewhat below the Middlesex County median. Rents are also high, and the estimated monthly mortgage payment significantly exceeds the typical rent, which means renting is the more affordable option for now. For a family considering relocation to Billerica for its schools, the cost of entry is steep. The county market data show a high number of active and pending listings, suggesting a market that is moving but not frozen. Homes sell relatively quickly, but the median listing price has edged down year over year, which could signal some softening.
No recent district-level changes or strategic priorities were surfaced in the research available. Billerica closed one elementary school a few years ago, which may reflect demographic shifts in the school-age population, but the district brief turned up little of lasting impact for families to weigh.
Hajjar is a neighborhood elementary school in a mid-sized suburban district. Its state test results are in a range that many families will want to investigate further, particularly in English language arts, where the share of students meeting the state bar is modest. The school serves only through fourth grade, so a family enrolling here will need to plan for a transition to one of Billerica’s middle schools after a few years. The lack of data on poverty, disability, and language status leaves a gap in the picture, but for a family focused on a straightforward elementary experience in a community with good access to Boston via commuter rail and major highways, Hajjar is worth a closer look and a direct conversation with the school.
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