The top reported proficiency rate is 32% in English language arts. The lowest is 31% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Edmund Hatch Bennett
Edmund Hatch Bennett is a regular public elementary school in Taunton serving kindergarten through fourth grade. It is one of the neighborhood-based schools within the Taunton district, and because it serves only the early elementary years, there is no high school graduation rate to report here -- that measure simply does not apply to a school of this grade band.
The school draws its students from a mid-sized city that blends residential neighborhoods, industrial parks, and a historic downtown. Taunton's economy has shifted from its historic silversmithing roots toward semiconductor and electronics manufacturing, anchored by the Myles Standish Industrial Park and employers like General Dynamics Mission Systems. Housing values in the area sit above the national benchmark, and for context, renting a home is less expensive on a monthly basis than buying one at current mortgage rates, a pattern many families weigh when choosing a school attendance zone.
On the most recent state testing under the NextGen MCAS, proficiency rates for all students were lower than families might hope for. In English language arts, roughly three out of every ten students scored at the proficient level or above, and in math, a similar share met that bar. Looking back over the past several years, the school's ELA proficiency has moved around quite a bit, from a high in the upper forties some years earlier to a low in the low twenties more recently, with the current rate landing in the low thirties. Math proficiency has followed a similar up-and-down pattern, without a sustained upward trend. Compared to other districts across Bristol County, this school's overall proficiency index places it below the midpoint among the districts in that comparison set. This is a soft spot in the school's profile, and a parent may want to discuss with the school what academic support and intervention strategies are in place for students who are not yet meeting grade-level benchmarks.
The student body is predominantly White, with Black and Hispanic students each making up a meaningful share of the enrollment. The school's grade configuration is a traditional elementary model, which means it feeds into a middle school for later grades. No data was available on the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, the number of students with disabilities, or English learner counts, so a complete picture of the school's level of economic and learning support needs is not possible from the information at hand. The school's website and directory details confirm it operates as a regular school without charter or magnet status. No district-level changes or initiatives that would directly affect families at this school were identified in publicly available materials.
For a family considering this school, the straightforward takeaway is that it is a mid-sized neighborhood elementary school in a city with a working industrial economy. The housing market in Taunton is active and prices are elevated relative to the national norm. The academic achievement numbers on state tests are lower than average across Bristol County and have shown no clear improvement trend in recent years. That combination does not necessarily define the daily experience of a given classroom or teacher, but it is the measurable picture available, and a parent should expect to engage directly with the school about how it supports academic growth for all learners.
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