The top reported proficiency rate is 52% in Science. The lowest is 36% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on East Fairhaven
East Fairhaven is a regular public elementary school serving pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in Fairhaven, Massachusetts. It is one of two elementary schools in the Fairhaven Public Schools district, a primarily residential coastal community with a strong maritime heritage, a historic town center, and a mixed-use retail corridor along Route 6. The town itself has seen minimal population growth over the past decade, and its housing market reflects coastal New England patterns with values above the national median. Parents considering the school should understand both its academic profile and the broader district context.
On state assessments administered through the NextGen MCAS, East Fairhaven’s students as a group show a varied picture across subjects. Overall proficiency across tested grades and subjects places the school above the midpoint among districts in Bristol County, though results are uneven. Reading and math proficiency rates in the most recent testing year are lower than they were several years ago, with math in particular showing a noticeable decline from a higher point reached a few years earlier. The school’s science results, which come from a smaller cohort of fifth graders, are stronger than its English and math performance. The multi-year trend data available shows that reading proficiency has fluctuated in a broad range over the past several years, while math has similarly cycled up and down, with the most recent year’s performance at the low end of that range. Participation rates on all tests were extremely high, meaning the results reflect nearly the entire student body.
The school serves a modest-sized enrollment for its grade band. The student body is predominantly white, with a Hispanic population that represents roughly one-tenth of students and small shares of students who are Asian, Black, American Indian, or multiracial. Data on the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, receive special education services, or are classified as English learners was not available in the current data; a parent may want to ask the school directly about these supports and the school’s approach to serving different learners.
The community context is relevant for families. Fairhaven is a town where residents work in fishing, marine repair, retail, hospitality, and construction, and it is home to the Acushnet Company (Titleist) and other industrial employers. The town center includes historic civic buildings, a public library, and a rail trail connecting to Mattapoisett. Bus service links Fairhaven to New Bedford, and commuter rail extension to New Bedford is underway. Housing values are above the national median, and the county market shows moderately priced listings with a quick pace of sales.
Two recent district-level developments directly affect East Fairhaven families. Starting in the 2025-2026 school year, a new district-wide cell phone policy bans phones for all pre-K through eighth grade students during the entire school day. This represents a clear pedagogical shift toward limiting screen distractions in elementary and middle grades. Separately, Fairhaven Town Meeting approved a Proposition 2½ override for the schools to close budget deficits and prevent staff cuts, adding a lasting increase to local property taxes. That decision signals that the district needed additional local funding to maintain current staffing and programs, and residents should expect a sustained tax impact.
For a parent evaluating East Fairhaven, the school sits in a stable coastal town with small elementary classes, a mixed academic record that bears continued attention, and a district that has recently made visible choices about both school climate and funding. There are no advanced course offerings or high school outcomes to consider here since the school ends at fifth grade; students move on to Elizabeth Hastings Middle School and then Fairhaven High School, both part of the same district. Families would want to look at those schools’ profiles as well to understand the full K-12 pathway.
See more original research from School Decision →