The top reported proficiency rate is 67% in Science. The lowest is 62% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Old Hammondtown
OldHammondtown is a public school serving grades four through six in Mattapoisett, a suburban coastal town in southeastern Massachusetts. The school is the sole upper-elementary and middle-grade building within the Mattapoisett district; younger students attend Center School, and older students go on to Old Rochester Regional Junior High and High School, which sit on Route 6 near the Marion line. With just over a hundred and seventy students across three grades, Old Hammondtown is a small school, and its size allows for a contained, community-oriented setting during the pre-adolescent years.
Academically, the school performs well. On the state’s NextGen MCAS assessments, the share of students reaching proficient or above in English language arts, math, and science each lands in the sixties, with science showing the highest rate. Measured against other districts in Plymouth County, the school’s overall proficiency across tested subjects sits in the top quarter, a clear strength. A look at year-to-year results shows some variation. In recent years, ELA proficiency has moved from around sixty percent to the mid-sixties, and math has stayed in the low to mid-sixties after being higher in pre-pandemic years. These figures are solid but not at the peak levels the school saw five to eight years ago. Families may want to ask about the specific supports in place for students who need to build foundational skills. Participation on test day was full, and the scale scores indicate an average above the state’s proficiency cut, which aligns with the strong proficiency rates.
The student body is predominantly white, reflecting the town’s demographic makeup. A modest share of students are Hispanic or identify as two or more races; Asian and Black students are present in very small numbers. Data on free or reduced-price lunch eligibility, special education, and English learner status was not available for this profile, so a parent with a child who has a specific learning need should reach out to the school directly to learn about available services. The school is not a Title I school, and no information about course access, staffing ratios, or discipline was provided.
Mattapoisett itself is largely a residential suburb. Most residents commute to Fall River, New Bedford, Providence, or Boston. The town has a compact harbor village, several beaches, and a state-managed wildlife area. Housing values are high: the typical home in the area is valued well above the national average, and a sizable down payment is needed for a purchase. The rental market is tight. The town’s economy is driven by commuting and summer tourism rather than a single large employer. Residents passed a Proposition 2½ override in 2024 to fund the regional school district, aiming to preserve current staffing and programs. That override affects property taxes in Mattapoisett directly.
Old Hammondtown does not offer high school programs or a graduation rate because it does not serve those grades. Its academic record, when placed among the county’s districts, is a clear positive. A family looking for a solid-performing, small middle school in a town with high housing costs, a strong tax base, and a regional secondary system may find Old Hammondtown a good fit. The school’s modest size and suburban setting give it a contained feel, and its performance numbers suggest students are, on the whole, meeting state expectations at a higher rate than many peers in the county.
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