The top reported proficiency rate is 18% in Science. The lowest is 11% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Brookfield
Brookfield is an elementary school serving pre-kindergarten through fifth grade within the Brockton Public Schools system in Plymouth County. As a regular public school, it offers a standard curriculum and serves as a neighborhood-level entry point for the district, which is one of the larger and more urban systems in southeastern Massachusetts.
The student body is diverse and predominantly non-white. The largest group is Black or African American students, who make up a substantial share of enrollment. Hispanic or Latino students and white students each account for notable portions, and there are smaller populations of Asian students, American Indian or Alaska Native students, and students who identify as two or more races. Data on the share of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, as well as counts of students with individualized education plans (IEPs) and English learners, were not available in the data provided.
On the Massachusetts Next-Generation MCAS assessments, Brookfield’s proficiency rates across tested subjects are low relative to the state. The data shows that in the most recent testing year, the proportion of students scoring at the proficient or advanced level in English language arts was below average for the state, and in mathematics the proportion was similarly low. Science proficiency, tested at certain grade levels, was also below typical state levels. Compared to other school districts in Plymouth County, Brookfield’s overall performance across tested subjects and grades places it in the bottom quartile. A family considering the school should be aware that these are weak outcomes; a parent may want to investigate what academic supports and interventions are in place at the school.
Looking at the multi-year trend available for both English language arts and mathematics, the pattern is one of long-term stagnation or decline. In both subjects, proficiency rates in the most recent year are lower than they were several years earlier, with a noticeable dip in the aftermath of the pandemic. The school has not shown a consistent upward trajectory.
Because Brookfield only serves elementary grades, there is no graduation rate data to report. This is not a missing metric; it does not apply to the school’s grade configuration.
The school is located within Brockton, an urban city that historically was a center of shoe manufacturing and has since diversified its economy toward healthcare, education, and retail. Brockton has a dense, traditional New England street grid, with a downtown core anchored by city hall and commercial activity along Main Street. It is known for having one of the largest Cape Verdean American communities in the United States, and as of the 2020 census it became the first majority-Black city in New England. The city is served by multiple MBTA Commuter Rail stations, providing a connection to Boston, and has local bus service.
The housing market in Plymouth County has been competitive. Active and new listings were up compared to the prior year, and the median listing price in the county was in the mid-range for the region, with homes spending a relatively short time on the market. The affordable housing calculation suggests that buying a home requires a household income well above the national median, and rents also take up a significant share of typical income. For a family moving to the area, housing costs are a practical consideration.
The Brockton district itself has been under state-level scrutiny. The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education classified Brockton Public Schools as requiring assistance or intervention in its most recent accountability report, citing a low graduation rate at the district high school and moderate progress toward targets. In early 2024, Brockton High School drew national attention when four school committee members requested National Guard assistance to address reported violence and staffing shortages at the school, a request the mayor opposed. These district-level challenges may have downstream effects on elementary schools like Brookfield, as they reflect broader operational and resource pressures in the system.
Data on programs such as art, music, physical education, or other specialized offerings was not available, and there was no information on staffing ratios, disciplinary incidents, or chronic absenteeism. A visit to the school and conversations with the principal would be the natural next step for a parent wanting a fuller picture of the day-to-day environment.
See more original research from School Decision →