The top reported proficiency rate is 61% in Science. The lowest is 42% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Holland Elementary
Holland Elementary serves students from pre-kindergarten through sixth grade in the rural town of Holland, Massachusetts, a small residential community in the southeastern corner of Hampden County known for its lakes and recreational opportunities. The school is the only public elementary school in the Holland district, and after sixth grade students move on to regional junior high and high school campuses in neighboring Sturbridge. The town itself is not growing; its population has been declining, and the housing market shows typical constraints of a rural area where home values sit above the national benchmark but below the state average. For families considering this school, the setting is quiet and car-dependent, with no downtown walkability and limited civic infrastructure beyond the town hall and library.
Academically, Holland Elementary performs as a solid but uneven school when measured by Massachusetts state assessments. In the most recent testing year, student proficiency across math and English language arts placed the school in the top quartile among districts in Hampden County when subjects are averaged together. That overall position is a genuine strength and suggests that compared with many other schools across the county, Holland Elementary’s students are generally performing well. However, the pattern varies by subject. In math, roughly half of students scored proficient or above, a rate that has fluctuated over the past several years after dipping in 2021 and then recovering. In English language arts, proficiency was lower, at just above two in five students, and the mult-year trend shows a gradual decline from mid-2010s levels. Science results were stronger, with over three in five students proficient, but these results come from a very small group of test-takers and should be interpreted with caution. A parent considering this school may want to ask the school directly about how reading and writing instruction is evolving, especially given the downward trend in ELA.
The school is small, with an enrollment that fits its single-building, rural character. The student body is predominantly white, with a modest share of Hispanic students and very small numbers from other racial and ethnic groups. Information on free or reduced-price meal eligibility and special education enrollment was not available in the data, so it is unclear what share of students come from low-income households or receive individualized learning support. This is a notable gap; parents with children who might qualify for additional services should raise these questions with the school. Similarly, there is no reported data on staffing ratios, discipline, or course access, though for a pre-K through sixth grade school, program offerings are typically less differentiated than in high schools.
The district itself has a simple structure: Holland Elementary operates within School Union 61, and the district brief found little in the way of recent curriculum changes, referenda, or other parent-relevant shifts. This stability may appeal to families who prefer a consistent, low-drama environment. The school’s academic record, while showing some soft spots in literacy, is strong relative to other Hampden County districts, and the rural setting offers a close-knit, nature-oriented community with access to lakes and state parks. Families moving to the area should weigh the declining town population and limited local services against the school’s competitive overall proficiency and the appeal of small-town life. For those seeking a larger range of middle school options or more urban amenities, the regional secondary schools in Sturbridge may present a different character, but for elementary years, Holland Elementary provides a straightforward, community-rooted option.
See more original research from School Decision →