The top reported proficiency rate is 12% in Math. The lowest is 9% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Mason Elementary School
Mason Elementary School is a regular public school in the Roxbury neighborhood of Boston, serving students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. It is part of the Boston Public Schools district.
The school enrolls a small student body. The student population is predominantly Black and Hispanic, with a small share of white students and a similarly small share of students who identify as two or more races. Data on the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, on students with disabilities, and on English learners was not reported, so a family looking for that information would need to ask the school directly.
The most notable data point for this school is its performance on the state's NextGen MCAS assessments. In math, English language arts, and science, the share of students scoring proficient or above is in the low double digits. A small number of students reached that bar. The school's overall proficiency index, which averages performance across tested subjects and grades, places it in the bottom quartile among schools in districts across Suffolk County. This is a soft spot a parent should explore further with the school to understand what academic support and intervention programs are in place.
Looking at the trend over time, the proficiency rates in both math and English language arts were notably higher a decade ago, in the mid to high twenties and low thirties. Those rates have generally declined since, with the most recent year's results on par with the post-pandemic low. A family considering this school would want to ask about recent instructional changes or initiatives aimed at lifting those numbers back up.
Roxbury is a densely populated urban neighborhood, the historic center of Black culture in Boston. It is a diverse area with African American, Hispanic, and Asian families, along with young professionals. The main commercial hubs are Nubian Square, Crosstown, and Grove Hall. Housing stock is a mix of historic brick row houses and traditional triple-deckers. The neighborhood has a high rate of walking and public transit use, and Nubian Square is a major transit hub for MBTA buses and the Silver Line. Civic and institutional anchors are integrated into the commercial center rather than set apart on a campus, including the Boston Public Schools headquarters, Roxbury Community College, and several high-profile public schools. The area has a large amount of parkland, most notably Franklin Park, the largest park in Boston and part of Frederick Law Olmsted's Emerald Necklace. The neighborhood is described as being in a period of renewal, with new businesses and housing development reshaping its commercial corridors, and its property values remain relatively affordable compared to other parts of Boston, attracting newcomers.
A search for recent district-level changes within Boston Public Schools that directly affect Mason Elementary did not turn up any specific policy or budget items. A parent may want to check in with the school or the district directly for any current initiatives or rezonings that could affect their child's experience. On the housing front, home values in the area have held fairly steady, while rents have seen a slight increase, and the typical home in the area is priced well above the national median, with the cost of renting consuming a substantial share of a typical household's income.
Mason Elementary is a small, neighborhood school in a dynamic urban setting, but its academic performance on state assessments is low relative to other schools in the county, and the trend has been downward for several years. A family considering this school would want to have a direct conversation with the principal or teaching staff to understand the school's academic approach and the specific supports being offered to students.
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