The top reported proficiency rate is 48% in English language arts. The lowest is 31% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Integrated Arts Academy at H. O. Wheeler
Integrated Arts Academy at H. O. Wheeler is a pre-kindergarten through fifth-grade public school in Burlington's Old North End, part of the Burlington School District. It sits on Archibald Street in Vermont's most populous city, a regional hub shaped by the University of Vermont, Champlain College, and the UVM Medical Center. Burlington's downtown, with its Church Street Marketplace pedestrian mall and a redeveloped waterfront along Lake Champlain, is widely regarded as one of the more walkable city cores in the country. The surrounding neighborhood has a mix of Victorian-era architecture, working-class housing, and a growing arts presence in the nearby South End district.
The school itself is small for its grade band, with one or two sections per grade. Its student body is racially and ethnically diverse for Vermont, where most elementary schools serve predominantly white enrollments. Here, white students make up the largest single group but do not constitute a majority. Black students represent the second-largest group, followed by smaller proportions of multiracial, Hispanic, and Asian students. A substantial majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the economic profile of the surrounding neighborhood, which is among Burlington's lower-income areas.
On Vermont's state assessments, the most recent results show a mixed picture. English language arts proficiency is the school's relative bright spot, with roughly half of tested third, fourth, and fifth graders reaching proficiency, a rate that holds fairly steady across the three grades. Math results are softer, with proficiency in the low-to-mid thirties in third and fifth grade and somewhat lower in fourth. Fifth-grade science proficiency sits in a similar range to math. Participation rate data was not available. No multi-year trend data was provided, so it is not possible to say whether these results are improving, holding, or declining over time. The neighbor comparison set, which would place the school's proficiency index relative to other districts in Chittenden County, was not applicable because the cohort was too small to compute. A parent weighing academic fit may want to ask the school how it supports math instruction in particular and what interventions are in place for students below proficiency.
The school has no graduation rate because it serves only elementary grades. No data on chronic absenteeism, discipline, course access, staffing, or special populations such as English learners or students with individualized education programs was available in the provided data, so those dimensions could not be assessed here.
One of the most concrete developments for this school is the renovation completed in the summer of 2025, publicly reported in the district's annual report. The project added new kindergarten classrooms, installed a geothermal heating and cooling system, and modernized classroom spaces throughout the building. During construction, students attended classes at temporary off-site locations, so families with children enrolled during that period experienced some disruption. The upgraded building is now in use.
At the district level, Burlington School District has pursued several broader changes. It implemented a Restorative Code of Conduct aimed at reducing suspensions and eliminating racial disparities in discipline, and reported achieving that goal for the first time. The district also recently opened a renovated Aviation, Career, and Technical Education Center at Burlington International Airport, housing automotive, design engineering and fabrication, and aviation programs through Burlington Technical Center. A newly constructed high school and technical center, funded by a voter-approved bond, is on track to open in fall 2026. These secondary-level investments will not directly affect families at Integrated Arts Academy now, but they signal a district investing in its facilities and program pathways.
The housing market around the school carries costs well above both state and national benchmarks. Home values in the school's zip code are notably higher than the Vermont statewide figure, and rents are also elevated. The affordability ratio, comparing home prices to local income, is above the national midpoint, meaning families buying into the area face a relatively steep cost burden. Home values have softened slightly year over year, while rents have risen modestly.
For a family considering this school, the draw is a recently renovated building, a diverse peer environment, and an integrated arts focus within a district actively investing in its facilities. The academic question to probe is math instruction and whether the school's ELA strengths can extend to other subjects.
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