The top reported proficiency rate is 58% in Science. The lowest is 48% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Jackson Street
Jackson Street is an elementary school in Northampton, Massachusetts, serving kindergarten through fifth grade. It is one of the elementary schools in the Northampton Public Schools district, which underwent a significant reconfiguration of its elementary grade spans and school boundaries that was approved in 2024. This change consolidated the district’s elementary schools and altered which buildings serve which grades, meaning that for families entering the district, school assignments and bus routes have shifted and community ties to specific school buildings may be in a period of adjustment.
The school is located within the city of Northampton, a small city in the Pioneer Valley of western Massachusetts that functions as an academic, artistic, and countercultural hub. Northampton is home to Smith College, a large and influential institution that is both a major employer and a presence integrated with the downtown area. The city has a politically liberal character, a lively commercial downtown with shops and restaurants, and cultural venues such as Forbes Library. Its economy is service-dependent, and its civic anchors include the Three County Fairgrounds, which hosts the oldest continuously running agricultural fair in the United States, and a significant amount of permanently protected open space within city limits. The villages of Florence and Leeds are also part of Northampton’s broader boundaries. For a family considering this school, the setting offers a dense, walkable downtown core and a mix of residential neighborhoods, though data on specific growth trends or new housing developments in the city was not available.
Jackson Street itself is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet school. Its enrollment is moderate for an elementary school serving these grade levels. The student body is diverse in its composition, with the largest share of students identifying as white, followed by a substantial Hispanic population and smaller proportions of students who identify as Asian, Black, or two or more races. Information on the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, as well as data on students with Individualized Education Programs or English learner status, was not provided, so a parent seeking a full picture of the school's support services may want to ask the school or district directly about these populations.
On state assessments, which for this school are the NextGen MCAS administered to grades three through eight, Jackson Street’s results were solidly mid-range for its county. When compared with other districts in Hampshire County, the school’s overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades landed in the top quartile. In specific subjects, a majority of students scored proficient or above in English language arts and in science. In math, just under half of students met that proficiency benchmark. This pattern — a strength in ELA and science, with math as a relative soft spot — is common in many elementary schools and worth noting for a family whose child might need extra math support. Participation rates on these tests were very high, meaning the results reflect nearly all enrolled students.
Looking at multi-year trends, the school’s proficiency rates have fluctuated somewhat over the past several years, which is typical for a school of this size. After a dip in both subjects during the 2021-22 school year, scores recovered to previous levels and have held relatively steady in the years since. There is no clear upward or downward trajectory, but rather a pattern of year-to-year variation within a moderate range.
As an elementary school, Jackson Street does not have a graduation rate to report, nor does it offer advanced coursework, career pathways, or other high-school-level programs, as those are not applicable to its grade band. The school environment data on discipline, chronic absenteeism, and staffing was not available, which limits a full picture of school climate. A parent interested in these aspects should look into them directly with the school. The housing market for the area is at a level that is generally considered high relative to national benchmarks, with home values and rents reflecting the desirability of the Northampton region, a factor any family should weigh when considering a move to the attendance zone.
For a family, Jackson Street offers a mid-sized elementary school in a culturally rich and walkable small city, with academic results that are competitive within its county and a demographic mix that is reflective of the broader Northampton community. The recent districtwide reconfiguration means that school assignments are not static, and any new family should verify their home’s current attendance zone with the district offices.
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