The top reported proficiency rate is 24% in English language arts. The lowest is 12% in Social studies.
Original Research by School Decision on Keith Middle School
Keith Middle School is a regular public school in New Bedford serving grades six through eight. It is a large middle school by enrollment, and its student body reflects the diversity of the wider city. The largest demographic groups are students who identify as Hispanic and students who identify as White, each making up roughly similar shares of the population. Black students and students of two or more races also make up meaningful parts of the community, while smaller numbers of Asian and American Indian or Alaska Native students round out the enrollment. The data did not include the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals, nor did it include counts for students with disabilities or English learners, so the full socioeconomic and support profile is not available from the information provided.
On statewide academic assessments, Keith Middle School shows proficiency rates that place it in the bottom quartile of schools relative to districts in Bristol County. In English language arts, roughly a quarter of students scored at or above the proficient level, a figure that has been stable for the past several years. In mathematics, the share of students reaching proficiency was similar, and it too has remained in a narrow range dating back to the 2016-2017 school year. Science proficiency was lower, while the smallest share was in eighth-grade social studies, where about one in nine students scored proficient. These results are for all students taking the NextGen MCAS, and participation rates were high across all subjects. A parent considering the school will want to ask how the school identifies and supports students who are not yet at proficiency, and whether there are targeted interventions or programs designed to address these patterns. The data does not include a graduation rate because the school does not serve the grades where that measure applies.
New Bedford is a port city with a dense, walkable downtown and a strong cultural identity tied to its commercial fishing industry and a large Portuguese-American community. The city is also an emerging hub for the offshore wind industry, which is a stated focus of local development. Housing in the area for the period covered was on an upward trend in value, with rents also rising. The median home value in the ZIP code was below the statewide benchmark but above the national one. The district, New Bedford Public Schools, has an approved three-year strategic plan for 2024-2027 that prioritizes expanding early childhood education, improving literacy, and increasing college and career readiness. The district also approved a budget increase for fiscal year 2025 with investments in curriculum, technology, and social-emotional learning support. At the same time, the district has been experiencing declining enrollment, leading to discussions about potential school facility consolidation, a change families may want to track as it could affect attendance boundaries or school assignments in the coming years.
Keith Middle School is a large, urban middle school whose state assessment results suggest a significant number of students are not yet meeting grade-level standards in core subjects. The school and district have identified improvement in literacy as a priority, and the district has put resources behind that goal. Families exploring this school will likely want to learn about the specific academic supports in place, particularly around math and literacy, and to understand how the developing district facility plans might affect the school.
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