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Below Average

#1571 of 1,793 schools in MA

Brightwood

Elementary School · Springfield

255 Plainfield Street, Springfield, MA 01107

Enrollment

480

Student-Teacher

15.5:1

Score

4.3

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Massachusetts schools

#1,571 of 1,793

In Springfield

#64 of 67

public schools

In district

#59 of 61

Springfield

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Brightwood

4.3/10

Elementary School in Springfield · grades Pre-K – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Lincoln

5.2/10

0.0 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Impact Prep at Chestnut

5.6/10

0.2 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Brightwood

Brightwood is a public elementary school in Springfield, MA, part of Springfield. Brightwood serves approximately 480 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 15.5:1 student-teacher ratio. Brightwood has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.3 out of 10 and ranks #1,571 of 1,793 schools in MA.

Structured state assessment records for Brightwood show 13% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 19% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares2.2 pts below district
  • This school 4.3 · Below Average
  • District avg 6.5
  • MA avg 6.3

What Parents Should Know

38% of students at Brightwood were chronically absent in the 2022-23 school year, above the national average. Chronic absenteeism means missing 15 or more school days, and at high rates it drags on classroom pacing for everyone. Ask what the school does to help families get kids to class consistently.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress4.6Below Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data17
Annual Change-2.41 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics4.7Below Average30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency8% (2025 MCAS)
Reading/ELA Proficiency8.3% (2025 MCAS)
Math vs. State Avg-34.1 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-34.3 pts
Overall Proficiency8% (2025 MCAS, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)4% (model expectation from 2025 MCAS)
vs. Expected+4.6 pts
Adjusted Percentile28th
Resources & Environment2.8Needs Improvement20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio15.5:1
Per-Pupil Spending$26,900
Chronic Absenteeism38.1%

Brightwood — Students at Brightwood score 8% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 4%).

How we calculate scores →

Test Scores MA MCAS (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 13.3% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
43.0% (multi-year state average, 2018-2025)
ELA Proficiency 18.5% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
45.6% (multi-year state average, 2018-2025)

Based on 82 test records from MA state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
8%
ELA
16%
2010
Math
17%
ELA
17%
2011
Math
12%
ELA
17%
2012
Math
22%
ELA
22%
2013
Math
27%
ELA
22%
2014
Math
32%
ELA
27%
2015
Math
37%
ELA
27%
2016
Math
17%
ELA
22%
2017
Math
17%
ELA
27%
2018
Math
17%
ELA
32%
2019
Math
13.8%
ELA
27%
2020*
Math
7.5%
ELA
12%
2021*
Math
5.9%
ELA
12.8%
2022
Math
10%
ELA
15.3%
2023
Math
12%
ELA
10.7%
2024
Math
8%
ELA
11.7%
2025
Math
8%
ELA
8.3%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 4.6/10.

How Brightwood Compares

See how Brightwood performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
4.3/10
12th percentile in MA
Academic
4.7/10
Below Average
Growth
4.6/10
Below Average
Environment
2.8/10
Needs Improvement

Funding & Resources

Teaching Staff
16:1 student-teacher ratio
31 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
38.1%

Location

255 Plainfield Street, Springfield, MA 01107

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Brightwood may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Alfred G. Zanetti Montessori Magnet School (rated 8.6/10, 1.2 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Edward P. Boland School (rated 8.5/10, 1.3 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, German Gerena Community School (rated 7.2/10, 0.3 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Springfield, see our Springfield schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.6 mi
School Distance Rating
Lincoln Springfield 0.0 mi 5.2
Impact Prep at Chestnut Springfield 0.2 mi 5.6
Chestnut Accelerated Middle School (Talented and Gifted) Springfield 0.2 mi 6.8
Springfield Legacy Academy Springfield 0.2 mi 6.7
German Gerena Community School Springfield 0.3 mi 7.2
Springfield Middle School Springfield 0.4 mi
Philip G Coburn West Springfield 0.7 mi 6.0
Hampden Charter School of Science West West Springfield 0.9 mi 6.4
MAY CTR SCHOOL FOR AUTISM AND DEVELOPMENTAL DIS West Springfield 0.9 mi 7.0
The Springfield Virtual School Springfield 1.3 mi 4.8
Memorial West Springfield 1.4 mi 5.8
Springfield Public Day Elementary School Springfield 1.2 mi 6.3
Alfred G. Zanetti Montessori Magnet School Springfield 1.2 mi 8.6
Libertas Academy Charter School Springfield 1.3 mi 6.9
Edward P. Boland School Springfield 1.3 mi 8.5
Bowe Chicopee 1.8 mi 3.5
Glenwood Springfield 1.6 mi 6.0
Mittineague West Springfield 1.6 mi 6.4
ST THOMAS THE APOSTLE SCHOOL West Springfield 1.6 mi 4.4
West Springfield High West Springfield 1.6 mi 6.2

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 01107 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$31,969

Median Home Value

$215,500

Median Rent

$963/mo

Population

12,270

College Educated

14.4%

Homeownership

31.2%

Avg Commute

18.5 min

Poverty Rate

37.2%

Median Age

27.7

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Capt William G Shoemaker Lynn, MA 4.3
Hill View Montessori Charter Public School Haverhill, MA 4.3
Hobomock Elementary Pembroke, MA 4.3
Naquag Elementary School Rutland, MA 4.3
Stony Hill School Wilbraham, MA 4.3
Washington Elementary School Lynn, MA 4.3

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Brightwood

What grades does Brightwood serve?

Brightwood serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.

How many students attend Brightwood?

Brightwood has an enrollment of approximately 480 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Brightwood?

The student-teacher ratio at Brightwood is 15.5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Brightwood rank in MA?

Brightwood ranks #1,571 of 1,793 schools in MA.

What is Brightwood's MySchoolScout rating?

Brightwood has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.3 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Brightwood?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Brightwood has 13% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 19% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Brightwood a charter school?

No, Brightwood is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Brightwood a Title I school?

No, Brightwood is not currently a Title I school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
38 Car-Dependent
Transit Score
63 Good Transit
Bike Score
59 Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
480
Student-Teacher Ratio
15.5:1
Teachers (FTE)
31
Type
regular
Setting
Midsize City
County
Hampden County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
38.1%

How we rate schools

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