The top reported proficiency rate is 58% in Science. The lowest is 41% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Mapleshade
Mapleshade is a regular public school in East Longmeadow serving grades three through five, a narrow upper-elementary band that feeds into the district’s middle and high schools. The school sits in a primarily residential suburb a short drive southeast of downtown Springfield. East Longmeadow is car-dependent by design, with a notable rotary at its commercial core and a bike path on a former rail line providing a recreational corridor rather than a walkable downtown. The town has seen modest population growth in recent decades and adopted a city form of government under Massachusetts law. Housing values in the area are moderate for the region, and the county’s housing market shows some activity.
The student body at Mapleshade is diverse in its composition but leans predominantly toward one racial background. Most students are White, and the remainder is made up of students who are Hispanic, Asian, Black, and of two or more races. Data on the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, receive special education services, or are English learners was not available, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about the extent of these support programs.
State testing results from the most recent school year show a mixed picture relative to the broader trends in Massachusetts. In math, the share of Mapleshade students scoring proficient or above is above the median among districts in Hampden County. In English language arts, the proficiency rate is lower than the math figure and sits in a similar range to many area schools. Science, which is tested only at grade five at this level, shows the strongest result, with a majority of tested students reaching proficiency. Across the three subjects combined, the school’s overall proficiency level places it in the top quartile among districts in Hampden County, a competitive position for the region.
However, the trend over time is worth noting. Available data from earlier years, going back several years, shows that English proficiency rates at Mapleshade were substantially higher at that point, then declined to a lower plateau in more recent years and have stayed in that lower range. Math proficiency followed a similar pattern, with a noticeable drop in one pandemic-era year followed by partial recovery. The most recent year’s results show math and English holding steady at this lower plateau. A parent may want to look into this further with the school, especially regarding reading and writing instruction in the upper elementary grades and how the school is addressing the change.
Because Mapleshade only serves grades three through five, it has no graduation rate to report, and chronic absenteeism data was not available for this profile.
The school itself is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet, and Title I status was not reported. No information was available on discipline rates, course access beyond core subjects, or staffing ratios. The district brief found no recent changes publicly reported that would affect a family’s decision, such as a boundary shift, a new program launch, or a budget cut. The parent district is East Longmeadow, which operates a single elementary school at the early grades before Mapleshade and a single middle school and high school afterward.
For a family considering this school, the context is a solid suburban elementary building with a student body drawn from an established residential community. The academic results are mixed: decent for the county in math and science, but English arts has settled at a level that families paying close attention may want to discuss with the school and the district. The lack of data on economic disadvantage and special programs leaves a gap in understanding who is in the building and what support exists. The town itself offers the usual suburban amenities of parks, a library, community events, and a modest commercial strip, with Springfield a short drive away for broader employment and services.
See more original research from School Decision →