The top reported proficiency rate is 21% in Science. The lowest is 11% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Russell Elementary School
Russell Elementary is a regular public school in the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston, serving students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. As part of the Boston Public Schools system, it sits within one of the city’s densest and most diverse residential areas, a place defined by triple-deckers, commercial squares, and a strong immigrant presence. Dorchester is large enough to have distinct sub-neighborhoods, each with its own civic core, and the school draws from that fabric.
Academically, the school’s state test results place it in a difficult position. On the 2024-25 NextGen MCAS assessments, a small share of students reached proficiency in math, and a somewhat larger but still limited share did so in English language arts. Science proficiency, tested at a single grade level, was similar. The multi-year trend lines show that performance has declined noticeably from levels seen before the pandemic. In English, about two-fifths of students were proficient in the 2018-19 school year; by the most recent year that share had fallen by half. In math the decline was sharper, dropping from a high point around half proficient to a low single-digit share in the most recent two years. The trend is consistent and downward, a pattern that a parent may want to explore further with the school.
Compared to other districts in Suffolk County, Russell Elementary’s overall proficiency falls below the midpoint among the cohort. The comparison is made against districts across the county, not just within Boston, and it confirms that the school’s academic results are weaker than many peers in the area.
The student body is diverse. A majority of enrolled students are Hispanic, with a substantial Black population and smaller shares of White, Asian, and multiracial students. Data on free or reduced-price lunch eligibility, students with disabilities, and English learner status were not available in the reported information, so it is not possible to describe those dimensions of the student population from this source.
Because the school serves only elementary grades, there is no graduation rate to report. The school environment data, including discipline rates, attendance, and staffing, were also not available. These gaps mean a parent would need to seek additional information from the school or district to get a fuller picture of school climate and student support.
The neighborhood itself offers a rich community context. Dorchester has multiple MBTA Red Line stations, active commercial districts like Fields Corner and Uphams Corner, and extensive waterfront parks. Housing costs in the area are high, roughly in line with the broader Boston metro market. Rent and home values reflect the pressure of a competitive urban housing market. The school’s location on Columbia Road places it near the transit corridor, though the immediate area is a mix of auto-oriented roads and residential streets.
The district brief for Boston Public Schools turned up few recent policy or budget changes of lasting impact, so the narrative around district-level shifts is minimal.
Russell Elementary is a neighborhood school serving a diverse, urban student body in a high-cost city. Its academic results are low by state and county standards, and the downward trend in test scores over the past several years is a clear concern. Families considering this school will likely want to speak directly with the school about its academic strategies, support services, and how it is working to reverse the decline.
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