The top reported proficiency rate is 72% in Math. The lowest is 65% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Annie E Fales
Annie E Fales Elementary School serves children from kindergarten through third grade in Westborough, a town with a mix of residential neighborhoods, a downtown center, a commercial district, and a strong industrial base. The school is one of several elementary campuses in the Westborough Public Schools, and it is a regular public school that opened a newly built facility for the 2023‑2024 school year, replacing an older building that had been overcrowded and in need of major repairs. That project was funded through a voter‑approved debt exclusion, meaning property taxes for residents increased above the usual state limits to pay for the construction.
The school enrolls a student body of modest size for an early‑elementary building. About half of the students are White, and a substantial share are Asian; smaller groups of Hispanic, Black, and multiracial students make up the remainder. Data on the share of students who qualify for free or reduced‑price meals, receive special education services, or are learning English were not available. A parent interested in those supports may want to follow up directly with the district to get a fuller picture of the school’s student support profile.
On state assessments given in grades three (the only tested grade at this school), student performance in both math and English language arts was strong. In the most recent testing year, a clear majority of students reached the proficient level on the Massachusetts Next‑Generation MCAS. The school’s overall proficiency index, which combines results across subjects, placed it in the top quarter of all districts in Worcester County, a notable showing. Over the past several years, the school’s results have shown some variation: math proficiency has moved within a range that generally stays above the middle of the county, while English language arts has had wider swings, including a drop in one recent year before partially rebounding. The cause of that one‑year dip is not reported in the data, but a family considering the school may wish to ask the school or district about instructional changes or cohort effects that might explain it.
Because Fales serves only the earliest grades, there is no graduation rate to report, and no high‑school‑level course offerings such as Advanced Placement or career‑technical pathways. The district’s curriculum and instruction department has been shifting its elementary literacy approach toward evidence‑based reading instruction aligned with the science of reading, a change that affects how Fales teaches its youngest students. The district also adopted a strategic plan through 2028 that emphasizes academic excellence, whole‑child development, equity, and operational excellence, though specific programs at Fales beyond the standard elementary curriculum were not described in the available data.
The town of Westborough provides a suburban setting with access to commuter rail into Boston and Worcester, a public beach at Lake Chauncy, a municipal golf course, and a library. Major employers include Amazon Robotics, Astellas Pharmaceuticals, and several other firms, and the town has recently added a corporate headquarters for Olympus Corporation and is planning a Mass General Brigham ambulatory care center. Housing values in the area are well above the national average, and rents are also high, reflecting a competitive market with limited inventory. The county’s active real estate listings have increased, but median prices remain elevated.
For a family seeking a strong academic start for a child in the early elementary years, Fales offers consistently high math performance and generally solid reading results within a district that has invested in new facilities and updated instructional approaches. The limited grade span means students will move to a different school after third grade, so the transition pathway within the Westborough system is worth understanding. The absence of some typical data fields such as free‑lunch eligibility rates and special education counts means that a parent with specific support needs should reach out to the school directly.
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