The top reported proficiency rate is 7% in Science. The lowest is 1% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on William R. Peck School
William R. Peck School is no longer open. The state lists it as closed, which means the building is not currently operating as a public school under the Holyoke Public Schools umbrella. For anyone looking at this school today, the most important fact is that it does not serve students. Families considering the Holyoke area should contact the district to learn which schools are currently enrolling.
The last available academic data comes from the 2022-23 school year, when the school was still active and participated in the state's NextGen MCAS assessments for grades three through eight. In math, a very small share of students scored proficient or above, and the share in English language arts was similarly low. In science, the proficiency rate was also low. Nearly all students took the tests, so the results reflect the performance of the student body at that time. These scores are considerably below statewide averages, and a family with a student at this school would have wanted to understand what academic supports were in place.
Because the school has closed, enrollment, demographic, and free-or-reduced-price lunch data for its final years are not available here. It had been a regular public school, and it served a grade span that included the tested years, but the precise grade configuration is not specified in the available records. No information about course offerings, class sizes, or staffing was in the data.
The school was located in Holyoke, a small industrial city in western Massachusetts with a deep manufacturing history, especially in paper. Holyoke’s population peaked decades ago and has since declined, though the city remains an important employment center with specialty manufacturing, a research computing facility, and two hospitals. The city’s Hispanic or Latino population now makes up a substantial majority of residents. The housing market in the wider Hampden County area shows moderate home values and a competitive rental market, with many buyers and renters seeking inventory.
Holyoke Public Schools, the district that operated William R. Peck School, has been under state receivership for years and was classified in the most recent state accountability report as requiring assistance or intervention. The district’s funding comes overwhelmingly from the state, with only a small share from local property taxes, making it vulnerable to shifts in state education budgets. Nearly every school in the district received a similar accountability designation. This governance context is the backdrop for any Holyoke school a family might consider.
For a parent or resident researching William R. Peck School, the closed status is the central takeaway. The test results from its final year show very low proficiency rates across all subjects, and the school’s performance was consistent with a district that the state has identified as needing targeted support. Anyone looking for a school in this neighborhood should reach out to Holyoke Public Schools to find out which elementary or middle school now serves the area and what the current academic and support programs look like.
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