The top reported proficiency rate is 39% in Science. The lowest is 33% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Stearns
Stearns is a regular public elementary school in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, serving prekindergarten through fifth grade. It is one of several elementary schools in the Pittsfield district and sits on Lebanon Avenue, a street in the city’s residential fabric. The school’s enrollment is small for its grade band, and its student body is predominantly white, with a notable share of students who identify as two or more races together with smaller populations of Hispanic, Black, and Asian students. Data on the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, receive special education services, or are English learners was not available in the materials reviewed; a parent may want to ask the school directly about these supports.
Academically, Stearns recorded proficiency rates on the state’s NextGen MCAS that place it above the midpoint among districts in Berkshire County when the school’s results across tested subjects are averaged. In the most recent testing year, the share of students meeting or exceeding expectations in English language arts was similar to the school’s typical level over the past several years, while math proficiency was roughly in line with its recent historical range. Science results, which are tested only at selected grades within the elementary span, came in at a similar level. The multi-year trend in ELA shows some fluctuation: the school posted a higher proficiency rate a few years ago, then dipped lower, and has since recovered to a rate near where it stood earlier in the decade. Math performance has remained relatively steady over that same period, with only modest variation. Participation in testing was full, meaning nearly every enrolled student took the assessments. The overall picture is one of moderate achievement that is typical for the county but has room for improvement. Families should be aware that the school does not serve grades beyond fifth, so there is no graduation rate or high school outcomes to consider.
The community around Stearns offers a mix of civic, cultural, and industrial character. Pittsfield is the county seat and the largest city in Berkshire County, with a downtown that hosts theaters, museums, a public library, restaurants, and newer residential developments. The city’s population has been declining over recent decades from a mid-twentieth-century peak, but downtown has seen investment in recent years, and major employers include Berkshire Medical Center, General Dynamics, and SABIC. Housing values in the area are moderate relative to the state as a whole, and the rental market reflects a similar pattern. The wider city includes state forest, lakes, and open space, giving residents access to outdoor recreation.
The district brief for Pittsfield found no recent changes of lasting impact that were publicly reported, suggesting a period of relative stability in district operations. The school itself is a neighborhood elementary school serving a small enrollment, and its academic results place it in the middle of the pack among Berkshire County’s elementary schools. For families weighing this school, the key factors are its size, its location in a city with a mix of cultural amenities and economic challenges, and its academic profile, which is not among the strongest in the region but is consistent with the county average. The absence of data on economic disadvantage and special populations is a gap worth probing with the school, as those factors can shape the day-to-day experience and the level of additional support available.
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