The top reported proficiency rate is 9% in English language arts. The lowest is 5% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Higginson-lewis K-8 School
Higginson-Lewis K-8 School is a regular public school serving third through eighth grade in the Roxbury neighborhood of Boston. Roxbury is a densely populated urban community that functions as the city's center of Black culture, with a mix of historic brick row houses and traditional triple-decker homes, and main commercial corridors at Nubian Square, Crosstown, and Grove Hall. The neighborhood is diverse, with African American, Hispanic, and Asian families alongside young professionals, and it has been in a period of renewal, with new businesses and housing initiatives revitalizing its main districts. It has a large amount of parkland, including Franklin Park, the largest park in Boston, and civic institutions like the Boston Public Schools headquarters and Roxbury Community College are woven into the neighborhood.
The school enrolls over a hundred and fifty students. The student body is predominantly Hispanic and Black, reflecting the community it serves. Information on the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, who have an Individualized Education Program, or who are English learners was not available in the data provided, so a full picture of the student support needs the school addresses is incomplete. State testing data was available for the most recent school year, and the results are very low. In math, English language arts, and science, the share of students scoring proficient or above was in the single digits. The school's overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades placed it in the bottom quartile among districts in Suffolk County. Trend data shows that proficiency rates in both math and English have been in this single-digit range consistently for several years, with no upward movement. A parent considering this school will want to understand how the school is working to improve academic outcomes and what supports are in place for students who are behind grade level.
The school is a regular K-8 within the Boston Public Schools system, the largest district in Massachusetts. Boston Public Schools serve the entire city, and Higginson-Lewis is one of many elementary and middle school options families in Roxbury may choose from. The data did not include information on the school's programs, course access, staffing ratios, discipline rates, or attendance. Without this information, it is hard to assess the full climate of the school or what additional programming, such as arts, music, or after-school activities, is available.
The housing market in Roxbury is expensive, with home values and rents well above national averages, and the cost of both renting and buying represents a substantial share of household income. The neighborhood’s proximity to downtown Boston and its relative affordability compared to other parts of the city have been attracting new development. For families, this means that living near the school is a significant financial commitment, though the neighborhood itself is walkable, with strong street life and transit access via MBTA buses and the Silver Line. A family choosing Higginson-Lewis K-8 should go in with a clear understanding that the academic proficiency numbers are very low and have been so for some time, and should ask the school directly about its instructional approach, interventions, and how it supports students toward meeting grade-level standards.
See more original research from School Decision →