The top reported proficiency rate is 32% in Science. The lowest is 22% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on John F Kennedy
John F. Kennedy is a regular public elementary school in Brockton, serving kindergarten through fifth grade. The school is part of the Brockton Public Schools district, a large urban system that has drawn state oversight in recent years. Families considering Kennedy should understand what the school offers academically and what the broader district context looks like.
The most direct evidence of academic performance comes from state testing, and here the picture is clear. On the Massachusetts NextGen MCAS assessments, math and English language arts proficiency rates for all students tested in grades three through five were below the midpoint among tested schools in the county. Science proficiency, tested at grade five, was higher than math or ELA but still below the median for the county’s elementary schools. When compared against all districts in Plymouth County, overall proficiency across these subjects fell in the bottom quarter. A parent looking at these results should know that state testing data is the most widely used measure, and Kennedy’s numbers reflect a school where a majority of students are not yet reaching the proficient level. There is no graduation rate for this school because it serves only elementary grades.
Looking at the trend data, the pattern has been fairly flat for several years. In math, the rate has fluctuated within a modest band over the past decade, with the most recent figure similar to where it was a few years ago. In English language arts, the rate has moved within a similar range, showing no sustained upward trend. A parent may want to ask the school about specific supports and interventions they are using to address student learning, since the trend data does not show improvement.
The student body is racially and ethnically diverse. Black students make up the largest share of enrollment, followed by Hispanic students, then white students, with smaller numbers of Asian, multiracial, and American Indian or Alaska Native students. The school does not publicly report the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, or the share who receive special education services or are English learners, so a parent should ask the school directly about these important support populations.
The school’s environment is urban. Brockton is a mid-sized city that has been a regional commercial and transportation hub for southern Greater Boston. It is densely developed with a mix of residential neighborhoods, commercial corridors, and industrial areas. The city has three MBTA Commuter Rail stations connecting it to Boston, and local bus service. Housing values in the city’s ZIP code are above the national median but below the state median, and the rental market shows a rent-to-income ratio that is a bit higher than average. Families moving into the area for Kennedy should know the school is a neighborhood elementary school serving its local attendance zone.
The district context matters. Brockton Public Schools has been classified by the state as requiring assistance or intervention, with low graduation rates at the high school level flagged as a reason. In early 2024, Brockton High School received significant public attention after school committee members requested National Guard assistance to address violence and security staffing shortages, a request the mayor opposed. While this directly concerns the high school, it speaks to broader district-level challenges that may affect resource allocation, staffing stability, and family confidence across all grade levels. A parent considering Kennedy should factor in that the school sits within a district under active state oversight and with well-publicized safety concerns at its flagship high school.
Program offerings at Kennedy were not available in the data, so there is no information to report about specific enrichment, arts, music, or after-school activities. A parent should ask the school office directly about what is available.
John F. Kennedy is a neighborhood elementary school in a diverse, urban city, serving kindergarten through fifth grade. Its state test results place it below the county median in both math and English language arts, with a multi-year trend that does not show improvement. The school is part of a district facing state intervention and high-profile challenges at the high school level. A parent considering Kennedy may want to arrange a visit, ask about academic supports and enrichment, and understand how the district’s broader circumstances affect day-to-day operations at the school.
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