The top reported proficiency rate is 24% in English language arts. The lowest is 19% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Bentley Academy Innovation School
Bentley Academy Innovation School is a regular public elementary school in Salem, Massachusetts, serving kindergarten through fifth grade. It is one of several elementary schools within the Salem district and holds an Innovation School designation, a state label that typically grants schools some flexibility in curriculum, budget, or staffing in exchange for a specific improvement plan. The school sits at 25 Memorial Drive in Salem, a compact city that blends historic residential neighborhoods, a downtown waterfront area, and a tourism-driven economy centered on the Peabody Essex Museum, Salem Maritime National Historic Site, and the city’s well-known colonial and maritime heritage. Salem State University is also located in the city. The city’s housing market, in the broader Essex County context, shows moderate home values and rents that are above national medians, with a tight supply that keeps competition strong.
The student body at Bentley Academy is diverse in its racial and ethnic composition. A substantial majority of students identify as Hispanic, with smaller shares identifying as White and Black, and a very small number of Asian students or students of two or more races. Data on economic disadvantage, English learner status, and special education eligibility were not available in the source materials, though these are common indicators for a school of this size and demographic profile. The total enrollment is moderate for an elementary school serving a full K–5 range.
On the Massachusetts Next-Generation MCAS assessments, Bentley Academy’s overall proficiency in the most recent testing year sat below the midpoint when placed against other school districts in Essex County. The school’s combined proficiency across tested subjects placed it in the bottom quarter of that county comparison group. In math, roughly one in five students scored at the proficient level or above. In English language arts, about one in four students met that bar. In science, which is tested only at grade five, the share was similar. These rates are well below the typical district-level figures for the county and far below the highest-performing districts in the area.
Looking at year-to-year trends, the school’s proficiency rates in both math and ELA have fluctuated within a narrow low range over the past several testing cycles, without a clear upward or downward trajectory. The most recent year’s results in ELA and math are at or near the highest point in that span, though the overall pattern remains one of low attainment. Because Bentley Academy serves only elementary grades, there is no graduation rate to report. Chronic absenteeism data was also not available.
The available data paints a clear picture of a school that serves a predominantly Hispanic student population in a historic, tourist-oriented city, but where academic performance on state assessments is notably lower than most other districts in Essex County. The Innovation School label suggests the school has some autonomy to try alternative approaches, but the test results do not yet show a strong academic turnaround. A parent evaluating this school may want to speak directly with the administration about the specific innovation plan, how the school supports students who are not yet meeting proficiency benchmarks, and what recent initiatives are in place to raise achievement. The school’s website and the Salem district office would be the best sources for that information, along with details on special programs, enrichment offerings, and family engagement opportunities, which were not present in the data reviewed here.
See more original research from School Decision →