The top reported proficiency rate is 17% in Math. The lowest is 15% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Burncoat Street
Burncoat Street is a regular public elementary school in Worcester, Massachusetts, serving kindergarten through sixth grade. Its enrollment is modest for a school of that grade span. The student body is diverse: a majority of students are Hispanic, with sizable White and Black populations, and smaller shares of Asian students and students identifying as two or more races. Data on the share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price meals, as well as counts for students with disabilities and English learners, was not available, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about its support programs.
On the state's NextGen MCAS assessments, which are administered in grades three through eight, Burncoat Street's proficiency rates are low across all three tested subjects. In the most recent testing year, the share of students scoring at the Proficient or Advanced level was modest in both mathematics and English language arts, and lower still in science. Compared with other schools across Worcester County, Burncoat Street's combined proficiency index sits in the bottom quartile, meaning most elementary and middle schools in the county have higher overall performance.
The trend over the past several years shows a clear pattern. Before the pandemic, proficiency rates in both ELA and math were at roughly a third of students. After 2019, those figures dropped sharply and have not recovered. Recent results have hovered in the mid-teens for ELA and the upper teens for math, a sustained level well below earlier benchmarks. A parent considering the school will want to understand what academic supports are in place and how the school is working to address these challenges.
Burncoat Street is part of Worcester Public Schools, a large urban district that has recently made several district-wide changes. In fall 2023, the district introduced a new evidence-based literacy curriculum for elementary grades, shifting from balanced literacy to structured literacy with explicit phonics instruction. The district also approved a new three-year strategic plan in early 2024, centered on teaching and learning, student well-being, social-emotional learning, and family engagement. These are district-level initiatives that could influence instruction and support at Burncoat Street over time, but the school's most recent test results predate the full rollout of the new literacy curriculum.
The school building sits in a residential neighborhood of Worcester, a mid-sized city with a mix of 19th-century triple-decker houses, Victorian-era mills, and modern development. Worcester has a strong employment base in healthcare, higher education, and biotechnology, and it is home to eight colleges and universities. The city has seen population growth over the past several decades, reversing earlier declines, and is well-connected to the Boston region via commuter rail and interstate highways. Housing in the area around the school reflects the broader city market, with a range of older homes and some newer construction. The local housing market has been active, with prices that are typical for a mid-sized Massachusetts city.
Because the school ends at sixth grade, there is no graduation rate to examine, and the data included no information on course offerings, staffing ratios, or discipline records. A parent would need to consider the middle school pathway that students move into after sixth grade, as that will shape the full academic experience through the upper grades.
Burncoat Street serves a population that reflects the diversity of its neighborhood and city. The academic performance data points to substantial room for improvement, and families evaluating this school will want to learn about the specific strategies the school and district are using to raise achievement, as well as the supports available for students who need extra help.
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