The top reported proficiency rate is 43% in English language arts. The lowest is 32% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Orleans Elementary School
Orleans Elementary School sits in the village of Orleans, a small community in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom, tucked into the town of Barton at the confluence of the Willoughby and Barton rivers. The village has a working character: Ethan Allen Manufacturing operates a large plant here, the village runs its own electric department, and public administration, health care, and retail trade round out the local economy. The area has been experiencing a modest population decline, with no major new housing developments on the horizon. Home values run well below both state and national benchmarks, which makes ownership relatively attainable for the region, though the broader economic picture is one of contraction rather than growth. Interstate 91 passes nearby, and U.S. Route 5 and Vermont Route 58 connect the village to surrounding towns.
The school serves prekindergarten through eighth grade and is part of the Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District. It is a small school, with a predominantly white student body and a substantial share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. Data on individualized education programs and English learner status was not available, so those populations could not be characterized here. The school is not a charter or magnet school.
State assessment results from the most recent year paint a mixed academic picture. In English language arts, proficiency was moderate in the upper elementary and middle grades, with the strongest showing in eighth grade. Fifth and sixth grade ELA results landed in a similar mid-range band, while third grade was lower. In math, results varied widely by grade. Sixth grade reached a moderate level of proficiency, and fifth grade was close behind, but third grade and eighth grade were markedly lower. Science was tested only in fifth and eighth grade, with eighth grade outpacing fifth. Several grade-level results were suppressed, which often happens in very small schools where reporting a figure could identify individual students. This means a complete grade-by-grade picture is not possible from the available data alone, and a parent may want to ask the school directly about those grades and about year-to-year trends, since multi-year trend data was not available either.
Because the school does not serve high school grades, there is no graduation rate to report. The neighbor comparison set, which positions this school relative to districts in Orleans County, could not produce a proficiency index or other comparative metrics, noting the cohort was too small for a meaningful comparison. So the school's standing against its neighbors is not something the data can speak to here.
One district-level feature stands out for families considering this area. Beginning with the 2021-2022 school year, the Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District implemented a K-8 school choice policy. Students can apply to attend any of the district's six elementary or middle schools outside their home town, though busing is provided only to the school in the student's town of residence. This gives families some flexibility if Orleans Elementary is not the right fit, or if another district school offers something a child needs. That said, transportation logistics would fall to the family for any non-resident school choice.
Publicly reported sources note that the elementary school was once recognized among Vermont's ten most improved schools and exceeded state averages on earlier NECAP tests. That is a historical marker rather than a current one, and the most recent assessment data shows a school with real strengths in some grades and subjects alongside weaker spots in others. The school sits within the village center, close to the Municipal Building and library, which means it is integrated into civic life rather than set apart on a separate campus. For a family drawn to a small, rural, community-anchored school and willing to engage directly with staff about academic outcomes, Orleans Elementary offers that environment. A parent weighing this school would want to look closely at the current grade-level results, ask about supports in the grades where proficiency was lower, and understand how the district's choice policy might supplement what is available locally.
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