The top reported proficiency rate is 32% in Science. The lowest is 28% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Litwin
Litwin is a regular public elementary school in Chicopee, Massachusetts, serving kindergarten through fifth grade. It is one of several neighborhood schools in a city that formed from the merging of former mill villages such as Aldenville, Willimansett, and Chicopee Falls. Chicopee itself has a blue-collar, industrial character with a strong Polish and French Canadian heritage, though its neighborhoods are now home to a more culturally varied population. The city’s economy is anchored by Westover Air Reserve Base, specialty manufacturing, health care, and Elms College. Housing in the area is moderately priced relative to the state, and the city’s growth has been steady rather than rapid, with infill development filling in former open space.
On state assessments, Litwin’s overall proficiency across math, English language arts, and science places it above the midpoint among Hampden County’s districts. Still, the share of students scoring proficient or above is lower than one might hope for. In the most recent testing year, roughly one in three students met that bar in math and in science, and about one in four in ELA. The school’s multi-year trends show that proficiency rates have declined over the past several years, particularly in ELA, where earlier levels were higher. The data available does not extend back far enough to establish a clear pre-pandemic baseline for all subjects, but the direction in recent years has been downward. Parents may want to ask the school how it is working to raise achievement, especially given that the rates are lower than those seen a decade ago.
Litwin’s enrollment is small for a K-5 school. Its student body is diverse: about half of students are white, a substantial share are Hispanic, and smaller percentages are Black, Asian, or identify with two or more races. Information on the share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price meals, students with disabilities, and English learners was not provided, so it is difficult to assess the level of economic need or the range of support services at the school. The school does not have a magnet or charter designation, and its Title I status was not reported.
Because Litwin serves only elementary grades, there is no graduation rate to report. The school environment section yielded no data on discipline, chronic absenteeism, staffing ratios, or course access. Those are meaningful gaps that a parent would want to explore directly with the school or district. The Chicopee district itself has not seen major parent-relevant changes publicly reported in recent years; no new construction, redistricting, or curriculum overhauls were flagged in research.
For a family living in or moving to Chicopee, Litwin offers a neighborhood elementary option in a city with a mix of older walkable villages and more car-dependent newer subdivisions. The housing market is accessible compared to many parts of Massachusetts, and the city’s industrial and military economic base provides a stable backdrop. The academic results are modest and have been trending down, which is a legitimate concern. A parent looking at this school would want to learn more about classroom instruction, supports for students who are below grade level, and what enrichment or intervention programs exist. Without data on special populations or school climate, a visit and a conversation with the principal would be the best next step.
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