The top reported proficiency rate is 47% in English language arts. The lowest is 40% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Palmer River
Palmer River is a regular public school serving pre-kindergarten through fourth grade in Rehoboth, part of the Dighton-Rehoboth Regional School District. The school is one of several elementary buildings serving a regional district that also covers the neighboring town of Dighton. Because Palmer River ends at fourth grade, there is no graduation rate to report, and the school’s available academic data comes from the state’s NextGen MCAS assessments administered in grades three and four.
On the most recent state tests, Palmer River’s proficiency rates for all students fell below the midpoint when compared among districts in Bristol County. In English language arts, slightly less than half of students scored at the proficient level or above, while in math the rate was a bit lower, with just under two out of every five students meeting the proficiency benchmark. The school’s overall proficiency index lands near the middle of the county pack, but on the lower side of that midpoint. Looking at trends over the past several years, Palmer River’s ELA scores have moved around. They were at their highest in the years just before the pandemic, declined for several years after, and then ticked back up in the most recent testing cycle, though they remain below the pre-pandemic peak. Math scores have followed a somewhat different pattern, holding fairly steady through the early 2000s, dipping during the pandemic year, recovering somewhat, and then edging down again in the latest results. A parent evaluating the school will want to consider these results in the context of the early grades, where foundational skills are still developing and test participation was very high.
The student body is large for an elementary school serving PK through fourth grade. The racial and ethnic composition is predominantly white, with smaller shares of Hispanic students, students who identify as two or more races, Black students, and Asian students. Data on the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, and on students with disabilities or English learners, was not available in the school’s reporting, so a family interested in understanding the school’s support for those populations would need to follow up directly with the district.
Housing in Rehoboth sits at a level above the national typical home value and below the state typical home value. Rehoboth itself is a mostly rural and residential town with a low population density, spread over a large land area with dispersed villages and no dense commercial core. The town has been growing steadily in population in recent decades and is a Right to Farm community, with much of its landscape still hilly and swampy, draining into the Palmer River. There is no major employer within the town, and residents commonly commute to nearby cities such as Providence, Taunton, or Attleboro. The built environment is car-dependent, with limited walkability or street life.
The Dighton-Rehoboth district has made a significant building change in recent years, swapping the use of two school buildings in Dighton: the former Dighton Middle School became Dighton Elementary School, and the former Dighton Elementary School became Dighton Middle School, a shift made because the newer building was judged better suited for elementary grades. This does not directly affect Palmer River’s campus, but it reflects a district-level attention to facility fit. The district’s transportation cost allocation formula between the two towns is also under legislative review, a process that could eventually affect how each town contributes to school budgets.
Palmer River offers a straightforward elementary pathway for families in Rehoboth. The school serves a large, predominantly white student population in a rural-suburban setting. Academic performance on state tests has been around the middle of the county range, with recent ELA scores showing some recovery after a multi-year decline, while math scores have been more stable but slipped in the latest year. For a family weighing this school, the key questions beyond test scores will center on the specific support available for students who need extra help, the school’s climate and culture, and how well the early grades prepare students for the middle school years in the regional district.
See more original research from School Decision →