The top reported proficiency rate is 0% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Bartlett School and Assessment Center
Bartlett School and Assessment Center in Haverhill, Massachusetts, serves students in grades two through eleven, but it is not a conventional neighborhood school. The data classifies it as a regular public school, yet its student body of about that size for its grade band and the complete absence of any students scoring proficient on state assessments in either English language arts or math suggest this is a specialized setting for students who need academic intervention or alternative pathways.
The school’s name, Bartlett School and Assessment Center, points to its dual function. It provides instruction across a wide grade span, from elementary through high school, while also serving as an assessment center, likely for students being evaluated for special education placements or other needs. The enrollment is small, and the student composition is predominantly Hispanic, followed by white students, with Black students also represented. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available, which is a notable gap given that a school of this type typically serves a high proportion of both groups. A parent should confirm these figures directly with the school or district.
On state testing, the picture is stark. In both math and reading, none of the tested students reached the proficient level, and this pattern held for every year the data covers, stretching back to before the pandemic. The average scale scores were well below the state standard. This is not a school where typical academic growth is the primary measure. Rather, it appears designed for students who have struggled in mainstream settings and need intensive support, small-group instruction, or a therapeutic environment before they can return to a regular classroom or transition to another placement. Graduation rate data was not available, which is consistent with a school that serves many students temporarily and may not graduate them directly.
The broader context of Haverhill matters for understanding the district that runs Bartlett. Haverhill is a mid-sized city on the Merrimack River with a history as a shoe-manufacturing center that has since diversified into electrical goods, services, and retail. The city has distinct neighborhoods, including Bradford across the river, and it offers MBTA commuter rail service to Boston, making it a feasible commute for families who work in the city. Housing values in the area are above the national median but below the state benchmark, and the market shows steady demand with limited inventory, typical of the region. The district has recently completed the reconstruction of Hunking Middle School and is building a new campus for Dr. A.B. Consentino Middle School, signaling investment in its physical plant. No district-wide strategic changes of lasting impact were identified in the research, so the district’s priorities remain outlined in its public documents, which a parent may want to review.
Because Bartlett School and Assessment Center sits outside the typical accountability framework, its state testing results should not be read as a measure of school quality in the usual sense. For families whose child has been recommended for an alternative setting, the relevant questions are about the school’s specific programs, its ratio of staff to students, the clinical or behavioral supports available, and the plan for transitioning the student back to a comprehensive school or into a post-secondary path. None of those details were available in the data reviewed. A parent would want to speak directly with the district’s special education or student support office to understand whether Bartlett matches their child’s needs.
See more original research from School Decision →