The top reported proficiency rate is 70% in Math. The lowest is 59% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Elm Street School
Elm Street School is a regular public elementary school serving kindergarten through grade five in Walpole, Massachusetts. Walpole is a suburban town with a traditional New England downtown, an MBTA commuter rail station, and bus service that connects residents to Boston. The town is largely residential and auto-dependent beyond its center, with civic anchors including Francis William Bird Park and the Walpole Public Library. Elm Street School is one of four elementary schools in the Walpole Public Schools district.
On state assessments, Elm Street School shows a clear strength in mathematics, with a proficiency rate that places the school well above the midpoint among districts in Norfolk County. English language arts proficiency is solid though not as high as math, while science proficiency is more moderate. These results come from the state’s NextGen MCAS tests, with full participation from students. Looking at multi-year trends, math performance has been relatively stable over the past several years, with a slight upward movement recently. ELA performance has shown more variation, with the most recent year’s result falling within the range of the school’s historical pattern. A parent interested in the school may want to ask about how the school supports growth in literacy and science, given the math strength.
Student enrollment is moderate for an elementary school serving these grades. The student body is predominantly white, with a modest share of Asian, Hispanic, Black, and multiracial students. Data on the share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, students with disabilities, and English learners was not available, which limits a full picture of the school’s economic and support needs. A parent may want to check with the school directly on these figures, as they often inform class size, staffing, and resource allocation.
The school itself is a regular elementary school with no charter or magnet status. No information on Title I status, discipline, course access, or staffing was available in the data we reviewed. For an elementary school, these gaps often reflect the grade band rather than a missing report, but families seeking specifics on class size or enrichment programs would need to follow up with the district.
Walpole’s housing market is very expensive, with home values and rents high relative to national and state benchmarks. The town’s economy includes major employers like the state prison (MCI Cedar Junction, which was planned for closure) and the school district itself. Population growth is modest, with the town maintaining its existing housing stock rather than undergoing large-scale new development.
A significant district-level change is the opening of a new unified Walpole Middle School in 2024, which consolidated two former middle schools into one building. This restructuring affects school assignment and commute patterns for families as students move from elementary to middle school. For families considering Elm Street School, this new facility is a relevant factor for the transition from grade five to grade six.
Overall, Elm Street School offers a strong academic foundation in math, solid literacy, and a suburban setting within a district that has recently invested in its middle school facilities. The school sits in a community with high housing costs and access to Boston via commuter rail. The missing demographic and support-service data leaves some questions unanswered, but the available test results point to a school that performs above the typical level for Norfolk County. It fits families who prioritize a mathematically strong elementary program in a well-established suburban town.
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