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Many Springfield Ma schools perform at an optimal level every year. It has one of the largest numbers of top-tier schools in any city across Massachusetts.
Many families relocate to Springfield, MA schools because the city is also very affordable, which creates a balance for earning and learning.
If you are contemplating a move to Springfield for work or having your children be a part of a top-level school system, keep reading.
This guide to Springfield MA schools will help you make an informed decision.
Public Schools
Springfield, Ma has sixty-three public schools serving an average of 26000 students each year.
Many of the schools in this city are top-ranked, not just in the state but nationwide.
It takes about half a billion dollars to keep the public school system running efficiently in Springfield.
The system has over 10 high schools, almost 20 middle schools, 50 elementary schools.
The graduation rate averages 80 percent, with Roger L Putnam Vocational Technical Academy topping all schools at close to 100 percent graduation rate annually.
Minority enrollment in Springfield Public Schools averages 90 percent each year, 50 percent more than the state average.
School Districts Governing Local Education
While the Springfield School District is the only one operating inside Springfield, Massachusetts, a few others in the Springfield Massachusetts area rank very high.
These are the Longmeadow Public Schools, Amherst-Pelham Regional School District, Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District, Northampton Public Schools, Granby School District, and Suffield School District.
Fifty-eight schools, comprising 15 pre-k, 33 elementary, 16 middle, and 12 high, make up the Springfield School District.
High Schools in Springfield
The seventeen high schools in Springfield, MA, have a wide variety of offerings.
Three are privately owned, including a Christian school, while two are charter schools, which operate independently of the city but must do state tests.
Some schools emphasize math and science, some on the arts, and others on vocational and technical areas.
Springfield Central High School on Roosevelt Avenue is known for turning out lots of graduates at an average of 90 percent each year.
Its SAT scores usually average less than a thousand. Only an average of 27 percent sit Advanced Placement tests, of which only less than forty percent usually pass one or more subjects.
West Springfield High is one of those operating above the district average. However, it is below the state average in crucial criteria for college and career readiness.
The High School of Commerce in Springfield, Ma graduates less than seventy percent of its students annually and averages less than 900 on the SAT exams.
A plus for the school is that more than five percent enroll in the international baccalaureate program.
Middle Schools: Learning with Teens
Only two of the middle schools in Springfield, MA, have been operating above average and another two at an average level.
Many of the schools excel in one area but struggle in others.
The John F. Kennedy Middle School is a public school located in Springfield, MA. Serving an average of 500 students annually, the school has a student to teacher ratio of 14-1.
State test scores show that less than 15 percent of students are proficient in math and reading at Kennedy Middle.
The school ranks high only in diversity.
Chestnut Accelerated Middle School: Talented and gifted is balanced when it comes to academics, diversity, and teachers.
The school serves an average of 300 students in grades six to eight and has an above-average student-to-teacher ratio of 12-1.
West Springfield Middle School is a public school situated in West Springfield, MA. The school serves an average of 900 students from grades six to eight.
As for proficiency in the state's math and reading tests, the school averages less than fifty percent year over year.
The general community around the school is known for being family-friendly with an affordable cost of living.
The Metro’s Elementary Schools
The 33 elementary schools in Springfield have several top-tier schools among them. However, many of the schools are still performing below average.
Homer Street Elementary School is doing great in terms of progress and is working on its ability to perform well in test-taking.
Mary M Lynch Elementary on North Branch Parkway is progressing smoothly but still has a distance to go to get its students above average.
Even though the test scores are still below 40%, it is significantly improved over previous years when it was ridiculously low.
Mary O Pottenger Elementary School has a large Hispanic demographic of 70 percent each year, followed by black and white at 13 and 12 percent.
Most of the teachers are well-experienced, with a ratio of 1 to 14 students. Each year the school scores above 50% in math and English but less in science.
An average of 400 students enrolls each year.
Private Schools
Seventeen private schools serve the Springfield School District from West Springfield to Wilbraham. Some of them are ranked high, but most perform below average each year.
Christian Schools for Faith-based Learning
Christian schools in Springfield, Massachusetts, are spread between multiple denominations, including Episcopal, Adventist, Catholic, and more.
When it comes to diversity, clubs and activities, academics, college prep, and sports, Pioneer Valley Christian Academy is way above average. It serves 300 students from preschool to high school every year.
Charter Schools
There are multiple charter schools in Springfield and its neighboring districts. They have been performing above average.
Hampden Charter School of Science in Chicopee, MA, serves an average of 500 students from grade six to twelve. Their state test scores average of 60% in math and reading proficiency each year.
Summer Schools: Focusing Education Throughout the Year
Many programs are available during the summer, not just at the regular schools, but at clubs, community centers, colleges, etc., to help students catch up or stay ahead of their next school year's work. Just do your research before deciding.
Overall, the Springfield school district is growing, and much effort is placed each year in improving the schools that are not doing well.
Scores of schools are doing great, and there's a cluster of Springfield MA schools that outshine many other cities.