The top reported proficiency rate is 47% in Math. The lowest is 33% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Crocker Elementary
Crocker Elementary is a regular public school in Fitchburg, serving grades one through five. It is one of the elementary schools in the Fitchburg district. The school is located on Bigelow Drive. As a school that does not serve the tested grade for high school graduation, no graduation rate data applies here, and no chronic absenteeism data was available in this profile.
The student body is diverse. The largest racial or ethnic group is Hispanic, representing a substantial majority of the enrollment. White students make up a significant share, followed by smaller populations of students who are Black, two or more races, Asian, and American Indian or Alaska Native. The school’s enrollment totals a large elementary school, with roughly even numbers of students in each grade from first through fifth. Data on the share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, as well as the share of students with disabilities or who are English learners, was not available in this profile.
On the Massachusetts NextGen MCAS assessments, the school’s results show a mixed picture. In math, a share of students scored at the proficient level or above, placing the school above the midpoint among districts in Worcester County for overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades. However, in English language arts, a smaller share of students reached that threshold, which was below the rate at which students demonstrated proficiency in math. In science, proficiency was reported for a portion of students as well. The state testing data comes from the most recent school year available.
Looking at multi-year trends, the school’s performance has shifted over time. In English language arts, proficiency rates were higher in earlier years and have declined to a lower level in recent years. In math, a similar decline occurred, and the current rate, while above the recent low, has not returned to the level seen before the pandemic. A parent may wish to ask the school about the specific strategies being used to support literacy and numeracy.
The school’s setting is Fitchburg, a former 19th-century industrial mill city that has transitioned toward a service-oriented economy, with major employers including Fitchburg State University, health care providers, and manufacturing firms like Simonds International. The city’s downtown sits along Main Street and the Nashua River, with a traditional grid of Victorian-era commercial and civic buildings, and walkability there is moderate; much of the city is more car-dependent. Civic anchors include the Fitchburg Public Library, the Fitchburg Art Museum, and parks such as Coolidge Park and Flat Rock Wildlife Sanctuary. The Montachusett Regional Transit Authority provides bus service and connects to the MBTA Commuter Rail.
Fitchburg’s growth trajectory has focused on post-industrial redevelopment, including the razing of a former brownfield site and investment in a large water resort project projected to create many permanent jobs. Housing values in the area are below the statewide average, and rents are moderate, placing the community at a more accessible point in the regional market. No significant recent district-level changes were identified in publicly reported sources, so the district’s offerings and leadership context appear stable for the purposes of this portrait.
For a family considering Crocker Elementary, the school offers a setting with a diverse student body and a math proficiency rate that positions it competitively within the county. The weaker English language arts results, and the downward trend in both subjects over time, point to an area where the school’s instructional approach warrants a conversation with the principal or classroom teachers. The community context of Fitchburg offers a mix of downtown and residential neighborhoods, with anchors like a university and arts museum, and a housing market that is relatively affordable for Massachusetts.
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