The top reported proficiency rate is 19% in English language arts. The lowest is 17% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Crosby
Crosby is a regular public elementary school in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, serving students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. It is one of several elementary schools in the Pittsfield district and draws its enrollment from the surrounding West Street neighborhood and beyond.
State testing results on the Next-Generation MCAS show that proficiency rates in math, English language arts, and science are low. Across the tested grades, the share of students scoring proficient or above is well below the mid-range seen in other districts in Berkshire County. This pattern has persisted for several years running, with no sustained upward trend in either math or literacy. Because the school serves only early and elementary grades, there is no graduation rate to report, and the tested population is limited to grades three through five only. A parent reviewing these numbers may want to discuss academic support and intervention strategies directly with the school to understand what approaches are in place.
The student body is racially and economically mixed. White students make up the largest single group, followed by a substantial Hispanic population, students who identify as two or more races, and a smaller share of Black students. Data on free or reduced-price meal eligibility, special education services, and English learner status were not available in the records reviewed, so a full picture of the school’s support needs and resources is incomplete. A family considering Crosby may wish to ask the school directly about these programs.
Crosby sits in Pittsfield, the county seat and most populous city in Berkshire County. Pittsfield’s character is shaped by a mix of history, culture, and economic transition. The downtown has walkable cultural anchors including the Colonial Theatre, Berkshire Museum, and the Berkshire Athenaeum, and recent years have brought new restaurants and residential developments. But the city’s population has declined from a mid-20th-century peak tied to General Electric’s presence, and while some industrial reinvestment is underway—General Dynamics has expanded in former GE buildings, and a life sciences center broke ground recently—the overall trajectory is still one of slow shrinkage. Major employers include Berkshire Medical Center, General Dynamics, and SABIC. The housing market in the area reflects a typical New England mix of older single-family homes and some new multifamily construction, with prices and rents that are moderate compared to the state as a whole.
For a family looking at Crosby, the school offers a small, neighborhood-scale setting in a city with genuine cultural and recreational assets. The academic results, however, are a real consideration. Proficiency rates have been consistently low, and the school’s performance sits in the bottom tier of county school districts. A parent may want to learn more about class sizes, teacher experience, and any targeted academic programs before enrolling. The broader district’s strategic priorities and recent changes were not well documented in the sources available.
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