The top reported proficiency rate is 33% in Math. The lowest is 25% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Harris Brook Elementary School
Harris Brook Elementary School serves students in grades two through five in Ludlow, Massachusetts, a suburban town northeast of Springfield. The school is one of two public elementary buildings in the Ludlow district; younger children attend East Street School for preschool through first grade, and Harris Brook picks up from there. Because the school ends at fifth grade, there is no graduation rate to report, and no high school metrics apply.
The student body is predominantly white, with a substantial Hispanic or Latino population and small numbers of Asian, Black, and multiracial students. Information on the share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, students with an Individualized Education Program, and English learners was not available in the data. A parent may want to ask the school directly about these figures, as they can shape the kind of support a child receives.
On the 2024-25 Massachusetts Next-Generation MCAS assessments, Harris Brook’s results place it below the midpoint for overall proficiency when compared with other districts in Hampden County. In math, roughly a third of students tested scored at the proficient or advanced level. In English language arts, about a quarter did. In science, which is tested only in grade five, roughly a quarter of students also reached proficiency. Participation rates were nearly complete, so the results reflect nearly all enrolled students.
Looking at the multi-year trend for math, the school’s proficiency rate has held in a narrow band over the past several years, moving from below a third to just above that mark. In English language arts, proficiency has also been relatively stable, though it dipped slightly in the most recent years. The pattern suggests a consistent, if modest, level of academic performance that has not shown a clear upward or downward shift.
The school environment data, such as discipline rates, staffing ratios, and attendance figures, was not available. The same is true for course access offerings, which at this grade band typically covers the core subjects of English, math, science, and social studies, along with art, music, and physical education. No information on specific programs, such as gifted and talented offerings or afterschool activities, was included in the data.
Housing context in Ludlow is typical of the region. Home values in the area are noticeably below the statewide Massachusetts benchmark but align roughly with the national average. The local housing market shows strong demand and a relatively low supply of homes, with homes going under contract quickly. For a family considering a move, Ludlow offers a more affordable entry point than many communities in eastern Massachusetts.
Ludlow itself has a distinctive character. It began as a mill town, anchored by the Ludlow Company jute mill, and later evolved into a streetcar suburb and then an automobile suburb of Springfield. The town retains a strong Portuguese-American identity, with Polish and French Canadian heritage also present. The built environment is suburban and largely auto-oriented, with commercial corridors along Center Street, East Street, and Winsor Street, and local bus routes connecting to Springfield. The town center around the Ludlow Town Green and Hubbard Memorial Library provides some walkable civic life, but the overall density is low. Schools are on separate campuses, with Harris Brook located on Fuller Street, not adjacent to the downtown center. The population has grown steadily since the 1950s when Interstate 90 brought new subdivisions, and the town continues to see modest residential growth.
The Ludlow school district itself did not show any recent major changes in property tax policy, curriculum, or school referendums that would be of immediate note to parents. The absence of such changes means the district has been operating on a relatively stable footing in the near term.
For a family deciding whether Harris Brook fits, the picture is one of a standard suburban elementary school serving a middle stretch of grades. The academic results are below the county midpoint, which a parent should weigh against the town’s affordable housing, stable community identity, and the convenience of a school that feeds into a single middle school and high school within the same district. The missing data on student support programs and demographics means questions about specialized services are best answered by a call to the school office.
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