The top reported proficiency rate is 45% in Science. The lowest is 34% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Alice B Beal Elementary
Alice B Beal Elementary is a regular public school in Springfield, Massachusetts, serving students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. It is one of the elementary schools within the Springfield public school district, the largest district in western Massachusetts. The school sits in a city that is the urban and economic center of the Pioneer Valley, a place with a deep industrial and cultural history, a mix of Victorian-era housing stock and newer development, and a recent trajectory of revitalization projects including a major casino and a redeveloped transit station.
The student body is diverse. The largest group of students is Hispanic, followed by Black, White, and Asian students, with smaller numbers of students who identify as two or more races or as American Indian or Alaska Native. The school serves a pre-kindergarten through fifth-grade population, and the enrollment is spread fairly evenly across the elementary grades. 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 source data, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about these supports.
On the Massachusetts Next-Generation MCAS assessments, the school's proficiency rates in the most recent testing year were below the state average. In English language arts, a little over two-fifths of students scored at the proficient level or above. In mathematics, about one-third of students reached that bar. In science, which is tested only in fifth grade, a little under half of students scored proficient or above. The school's overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades places it in the top quartile relative to other districts in Hampden County, a comparison that reflects the range of performance across the county's many districts.
Looking at the trend over time, the school's proficiency rates have moved up and down. In English language arts, the rate was higher in the years before the pandemic, then dropped, and has since fluctuated. In mathematics, the pattern is similar, with a notable dip during the pandemic years and a partial recovery since. The most recent year's results in both subjects are in the range of the school's performance in the early 2020s.
The school is a regular public school and is not a charter or magnet school. It is part of the Springfield district, for which no recent major changes were publicly reported. The school serves only elementary grades, so there is no graduation rate to report, and no data on chronic absenteeism or discipline was available in the source material.
The housing market in the area around the school shows a mix of affordability and demand. Home values in the zip code are below the statewide benchmark but above the national median. Rents have been rising at a faster pace than home values. The county-level housing market shows a high level of demand relative to supply, with homes selling quickly. The area is more affordable than much of Massachusetts, which is a high-cost state overall.
For a family considering this school, the picture is one of a diverse, urban elementary school in a city with a strong sense of place and ongoing revitalization. The academic results on state tests are below the state average, though the school's performance relative to other districts in Hampden County is in the top quarter. The trend data shows that proficiency rates have been variable over the past several years, with no clear upward or downward trajectory. A parent may want to look into this further with the school to understand what academic supports are in place and how the school addresses the learning needs of its students. The school serves only through fifth grade, so families will need to plan for a middle school transition within the Springfield district.
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