The top reported proficiency rate is 89% in Science. The lowest is 77% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on William E Sheehan
William E Sheehan is one of four public elementary schools in Westwood, serving kindergarten through fifth grade as a regular public school in the Westwood district. It sits on Pond Street in a predominantly residential, affluent suburb roughly a dozen miles southwest of Boston. The school enrolls a modest number of students, with class sizes that appear manageable across its six grade levels.
Academically, Sheehan posts strong results on the state’s Next Generation MCAS assessments. In the most recent testing year, a large majority of students scored at the proficient level or above in math, a similarly high share did so in English language arts, and the figure was even higher in science. These performance levels place the school in the top quartile for overall proficiency when compared with districts across Norfolk County. Looking at the multi-year trend data available, math and ELA proficiency have stayed consistently high over the past several testing cycles, with no pronounced dips. The data suggests a stable, well-functioning academic program that reliably delivers strong foundational skills in the elementary grades.
The student body is predominantly white, with smaller shares of Asian students, students of two or more races, and Hispanic students. Black enrollment is very low, and there are no reported Native American or Native Hawaiian students. The school’s economic and special education context is less clear: information on free or reduced-price lunch eligibility and on students with individualized education plans was not available in the data provided. A parent interested in the school’s support for students with disabilities or the degree of economic diversity might wish to ask the school directly for that picture.
Westwood itself is a high-cost housing market. Home values in the area are well above state and national medians, reflecting the town’s desirability and its position as a bedroom community with commuter rail access to Boston. Rental costs are also elevated. The town has seen steady population growth and recent civic investments, including a rebuilt high school and a library renovation. The environment is suburban, car-oriented, with limited walkable commercial streets, though some transit options exist via bus and train.
William E Sheehan does not serve middle or high school grades, so no graduation rate applies. The data also lacks information on course access, staffing ratios, discipline, or chronic absenteeism, all of which are fields where the school did not report or where the data was not available. For a K-5 school in an affluent district, these missing fields often reflect the nature of the school rather than cause for concern, but they remain gaps a prospective family might want to explore.
For families considering this school, the academic record is clear and positive: consistently high proficiency, especially in science, and a strong comparative standing among Norfolk County elementary schools. The setting is a well-resourced suburban community with high housing costs and limited economic diversity on display. The school itself appears to be a stable, high-performing option for elementary-age children in Westwood, though the lack of publicly reported data on economic need and special services means a family should verify fit through direct contact with the school.
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