The top reported proficiency rate is 62% in Math. The lowest is 58% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Leroy Wood
Leroy Wood is an elementary school serving pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in Fairhaven, a primarily residential coastal town in southeastern Massachusetts. The school is one of two elementary schools in the Fairhaven Public Schools district and sits on Sconticut Neck Road, a commercial corridor that serves as the main retail hub for the area. The town retains a strong maritime heritage from whaling and shipbuilding days, with working waterfront elements, and its population has been essentially flat in recent decades.
On the 2024-25 NextGen MCAS state assessments, the school's proficiency rates in math, English language arts, and science all fell within a band from the high 50s to the low 60s. Participation was very high. This places the school in the top quartile for overall proficiency when compared with other districts in Bristol County, a clear strength. Looking back over the last several years, math proficiency has bounced around but has generally held in the range of the high 40s to mid 60s, with the most recent year near the upper end of that band. English language arts results have moved more, from the low 50s up to the mid 60s at different points, with the most recent year in the high 50s. A parent who values consistent academic performance at a level above many surrounding districts will see this as a solid choice.
Enrollment is moderate for an elementary school serving these grades. The student population is predominantly white, with smaller shares of Hispanic students, students identifying as two or more races, Asian students, and Black students. Data on the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch was not available, nor was information on students with individualized education programs or English learners. A parent would want to ask the school directly about these support populations if they are relevant to their child. The school is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet, and its Title I status was not reported.
The Fairhaven district has made two recent changes that matter for families. In February 2025, the school committee approved a new cell phone policy that took effect in the 2025-2026 school year. It bans phones for students in grades PK through 8 during the entire school day and requires high schoolers to keep phones in their lockers during class time, with use permitted between classes and at lunch. This is a deliberate pedagogical choice that sets a clear expectation about technology and focus. Separately, town meeting approved a Proposition 2½ override for the schools, a lasting property-tax increase that funds the district's budget and prevents staff cuts. A resident buying a home in Fairhaven should factor that into their carrying cost.
Fairhaven itself offers a distinct town center with historic civic buildings donated by philanthropist Henry Huttleston Rogers, including the Town Hall and Millicent Library. The Phoenix Rail Trail provides a paved path connecting Fairhaven Center to Mattapoisett Center. Bus service connects Fairhaven to New Bedford, and the MBTA is extending commuter rail to neighboring New Bedford. The town's housing stock is modestly priced relative to state benchmarks. Key employers include the Acushnet Company, manufacturer of Titleist golf equipment, and Nye Lubricants. The local economy also includes fishing, marine repair, maritime work, retail, construction, and hospitality.
For a family looking at this school, the main takeaway is straightforward. Leroy Wood delivers above-average academic results for its county, operates in a stable coastal town with a clear identity, and sits within a district that has made explicit choices about cell phone use and school funding. The missing demographic and special-population data are gaps a prospective parent should fill by visiting or calling the school. There is no graduation rate or program offerings to report because the school serves only elementary grades, and no chronic absenteeism data was available. The school's size and grade span mean the academic focus is foundational: building literacy and numeracy before students move to Elizabeth Hastings Middle School and then to Fairhaven High School, the town's prominent landmark building on Route 6.
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