The top reported proficiency rate is 54% in Science. The lowest is 40% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Phelps Elementary School
Phelps Elementary School serves first through fourth grade in Rockland, a suburban Boston town in Plymouth County. The school building itself is new, completed in 2022, replacing two older elementary schools that have since been demolished. Families arriving at the campus will find a purpose-built facility on Lt. Col. Brian Duffy Way, set apart from the town’s main commercial corridor on Union Street. The broader Rockland school system includes a separate K–4 school, a middle school for grades 5–8, and a high school that has undergone recent renovation.
Academically, Phelps students take the state’s NextGen MCAS assessments in math and English language arts starting in grade 3. On the most recent testing, math proficiency was above the midpoint when compared with other elementary schools across Plymouth County, while ELA proficiency was somewhat lower. Looking back over available years, math results have moved around—higher in some recent years, lower in others—and the current year’s figures sit in a middle range relative to the school’s own history. ELA scores have also shown variation, with the most recent results similar to levels seen several years earlier. Because the school stops at grade 4, there is no state science testing for these students (that exam begins in grade 5) and no graduation rate to report. Parents interested in how the school supports students who are not yet meeting benchmarks may want to ask the principal about intervention programs and how progress is tracked from grade to grade.
The student body reflects the town’s broad demographic makeup. The largest share of students are white, with a sizable Hispanic population and smaller numbers of Black, Asian, multiracial, and American Indian students. Data on the share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, receiving special education services, or classified as English learners was not available in the records used for this profile; a parent may wish to request that information directly from the school.
Rockland itself is a primarily residential community about twenty miles south of Boston. Its history in shoe manufacturing has left a mark on the built environment, with former mills now converted into housing and artist spaces. Major employers include the pharmaceutical company EMD Serono and Rockland Trust Company, giving the town a distinct economic base. Housing values in the area are above the national median but slightly below the Massachusetts state benchmark, with a recent uptick in listings and a relatively fast pace of sales. The town’s planning department is working on a Housing Production Plan tied to the Rockland Masterplan 2030, suggesting ongoing attention to growth and affordability.
For families, the practical geography matters. The elementary school is on a separate campus from the middle and high schools, which are located near Memorial Park. Union Street serves as the main civic and commercial spine, home to town offices, the fire department, and the public library. The library is part of the Old Colony Library Network. There is no dedicated public transit system within town, so driving is the primary way families get to school and activities. The district undertook a major capital investment in school facilities in recent years, as reflected in its fiscal data, and the new Phelps building is the most visible result.
What is missing from this picture matters. No information was available on discipline rates, chronic absenteeism, staffing ratios, or course access—though the latter is less relevant for a primary school. Programs such as art, music, physical education, or after-school offerings were not included in the data provided. A parent considering Phelps would do well to visit, talk with current families, and ask about class size, enrichment, and how the school supports students who need extra help. The combination of a brand-new building, a proficiency index that sits above the middle of the county’s districts, and the town’s steady suburban character gives Phelps a solid foundation, but the details that matter most for a child’s daily experience are best learned on the ground.
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