The top reported proficiency rate is 18% in Math. The lowest is 17% in Social studies.
Original Research by School Decision on Great Falls Middle
Great Falls Middle serves students in grades six through eight as part of the Gill-Montague Regional School District in Montague, Massachusetts. Montague is a town of five villages—Montague Center, Montague City, Turners Falls, Millers Falls, and Lake Pleasant—with a mix of residential neighborhoods, historic mill buildings, and working farmland. Turners Falls, the main business district, is a planned industrial community dating to the 19th century, described by the town as having a “funky art scene” and a public arts program called RiverCulture. The school itself is one of four public schools serving the district, with Hillcrest Elementary (K–1) and Sheffield Elementary (2–5) feeding into it, and students moving on to Turners Falls High School.
On state assessments, Great Falls Middle reports proficiency rates in math, English language arts, science, and social studies that are well below statewide averages. When compared with other districts in Franklin County, the school’s overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades sits in the bottom quartile. This means that a relatively small share of students are meeting the state’s proficiency benchmarks on the NextGen MCAS. The available trend data shows that proficiency in both ELA and math has been declining over the past several years, with rates lower now than they were in the years before the pandemic. Parents looking into the school will want to understand the specific academic supports in place, though detailed program offerings were not included in the data reviewed.
The school’s enrollment is small and serves a student body that is predominantly white, with a notable Hispanic presence and very small numbers of Black, multiracial, and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander students. Information on the share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price meals, receiving special education services, or identified as English learners was not available. Data on discipline, staffing ratios, and chronic absenteeism were also absent from the available records. For families weighing the peer environment, the school draws from across Montague’s villages, and the district’s grade configuration means children typically attend elementary school in one location, then transition to this middle school for three years before moving to the high school.
The housing market in the area reflects a moderately priced, relatively tight supply. Home values in the zip code are below the Massachusetts state median but above the national median. County-level indicators show a limited number of active listings, a moderately short time on market, and stable prices. For families considering a move into the district, Montague offers a mix of historic homes, smaller villages, and a walkable center in Turners Falls with a library, town hall, and some commercial amenities. The town is served by state routes, and the Connecticut River and Turners Falls Bikeway provide recreational access. No fixed-route public transit was identified in the search.
The district brief did not surface any recent parent-relevant changes such as new programs, boundary adjustments, or major facility projects. The school’s academic profile is the main consideration for families. For those who value a small, rural middle school setting and are prepared to investigate the academic supports more closely, Great Falls Middle may be a fit. For families prioritizing higher test performance or a wider range of program offerings, the data suggests this school would benefit from additional scrutiny on how it supports student learning and addresses the trends evident in its assessment results.
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