The top reported proficiency rate is 30% in English language arts. The lowest is 25% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Sumner Elementary School
Sumner Elementary School is a regular Boston public school serving prekindergarten through sixth grade in the Roslindale neighborhood. The school is part of the Boston Public Schools district. Roslindale is a primarily residential neighborhood southwest of downtown Boston, with a walkable commercial village center, tree-lined squares, and a mix of housing types from single-family homes to triple-deckers and apartments. The area has seen renewed commercial life around Roslindale Square in recent years, and families here have access to the MBTA Commuter Rail and bus lines.
Sumner enrolls a student body that is majority Hispanic, followed by a substantial share of White students and a smaller share of Black students, with small Asian and multiracial populations. The school has a moderately large enrollment for an elementary and middle school combined. Information on the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, receive special education services, or are English learners was not available in the data.
On the Massachusetts Next-Generation MCAS assessments, Sumner’s overall combined proficiency across tested subjects, when positioned among districts within Suffolk County, falls in the top quartile. This means the school’s academic performance on these tests compares well with many of its county peers. The specific numbers show that in the most recent testing year, roughly a quarter to just under a third of students scored at the proficient level or above in math, English language arts, and science. Participation rates on the assessments were very high, near all students tested.
Looking at trends over time, Sumner’s ELA proficiency rates have moved within a moderate range. In the years before the pandemic, the rate was higher than it is now, peaking in 2019. It declined in 2021 and has since settled in the low thirties. Math proficiency followed a somewhat similar pattern, with a drop in 2021 and a recovery that brought it near pre-pandemic levels. The current figures in both subjects are below their earlier high points, but the school has not experienced a sustained decline from year to year.
Because Sumner serves grades PK through 6, there is no graduation rate data for this school. A parent interested in high school outcomes would need to look to the district’s secondary schools. The data also did not include information on chronic absenteeism, discipline, staffing, or specific program offerings such as arts, music, or enrichment. A family may want to follow up with the school directly about the availability of specials, after-school activities, and student support services.
Housing costs in the Roslindale area are high relative to national averages, and the local housing market shows home values that have edged down slightly in the past year while rents have risen modestly. The area is relatively expensive for both buying and renting, which is consistent with its position within the Boston metro region.
For a family considering Sumner, the school offers a neighborhood setting with a diverse student body and a track record of participation in state assessments. The performance data places it favorably within Suffolk County, though the share of students reaching proficiency is below what some families may be accustomed to seeing in higher-scoring suburban districts. A parent may want to ask about recent school improvement efforts, instructional approaches, and the specific programs available to understand how the school supports its students day to day. The school does not appear to have a magnet or charter designation, so attendance is likely tied to the neighborhood assignment zone within Boston Public Schools.
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