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Excellent

#294 of 1,793 schools in MA

Top 16% in state

Fort River Elementary

Elementary School · Amherst

70 So East Street, Amherst, MA 01002

Enrollment

346

Student-Teacher

9.1:1

Score

8.1

Grades

Kindergarten – 6th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Massachusetts schools

#294 of 1,793

In Amherst

#4 of 5

public schools

In district

#3 of 3

Amherst

School environment

8.9 / 10

Excellent

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Fort River Elementary

8.1/10

Elementary School in Amherst · grades Kindergarten – 6th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Amherst Regional Middle School

8.3/10

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

Amherst Regional High

8.0/10

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

About Fort River Elementary

Fort River Elementary is a public elementary school in Amherst, MA, part of Amherst. Fort River Elementary serves approximately 346 students, and covers grades Kindergarten-6th, and has a 9.1:1 student-teacher ratio. Fort River Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.1 out of 10 and ranks #294 of 1,793 schools in MA.

Structured state assessment records for Fort River Elementary show 50% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 52% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares0.6 pts below district
  • This school 8.1 · Excellent
  • District avg 8.7
  • MA avg 6.3

What Parents Should Know

At 9.1:1 students to teachers, Fort River Elementary sits well below the national average. Smaller classes like that usually mean more one-on-one time between students and teachers.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress8.2Excellent50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data17
Annual Change-0.69 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendStable
Academics7.5Very Good30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency45.5% (2025 MCAS)
Reading/ELA Proficiency50.2% (2025 MCAS)
Math vs. State Avg+3.4 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+7.6 pts
Overall Proficiency48% (2025 MCAS, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)43% (model expectation from 2025 MCAS)
vs. Expected+4.6 pts
Adjusted Percentile63th
Resources & Environment8.9Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio9.1:1
Per-Pupil Spending$30,935
Chronic Absenteeism25.7%

Fort River Elementary — Students at Fort River Elementary score 48% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 43%).

How we calculate scores →

Test Scores MA MCAS (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 50.2% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
43.1% (multi-year state average, 2018-2025)
ELA Proficiency 51.5% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
45.7% (multi-year state average, 2018-2025)

Based on 96 test records from MA state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

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

2009
Math
62%
ELA
66%
2010
Math
55%
ELA
61%
2011
Math
59%
ELA
62%
2012
Math
58%
ELA
60%
2013
Math
62%
ELA
67%
2014
Math
59%
ELA
63%
2015
Math
56%
ELA
53%
2016
Math
45%
ELA
42%
2017
Math
50%
ELA
57%
2018
Math
49.4%
ELA
54%
2019
Math
53.6%
ELA
52.2%
2020*
Math
47%
ELA
52%
2021*
Math
50.6%
ELA
51.6%
2022
Math
44.4%
ELA
42.2%
2023
Math
45.3%
ELA
49%
2024
Math
50.3%
ELA
46.3%
2025
Math
45.5%
ELA
50.3%

* 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: 8.2/10.

How Fort River Elementary Compares

See how Fort River Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
8.1/10
84th percentile in MA
Academic
7.5/10
Very Good
Growth
8.2/10
Excellent
Environment
8.9/10
Excellent

Funding & Resources

Teaching Staff
9:1 student-teacher ratio
38 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
25.7%

Location

70 So East Street, Amherst, MA 01002

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Fort River Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Crocker Farm Elementary (rated 9.5/10, 2.2 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Sunderland Elementary (rated 8.8/10, 7.1 miles away, in nearby Sunderland), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, Wildwood Elementary (rated 8.6/10, 1.1 miles away), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Amherst, see our Amherst schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 7.7 mi
School Distance Rating
Amherst Regional Middle School Amherst 0.8 mi 8.3
Amherst Regional High Amherst 0.8 mi 8.0
Wildwood Elementary Amherst 1.1 mi 8.6
THE COMMON SCHOOL Amherst 1.7 mi 6.4
Pelham Elementary Pelham 1.6 mi 5.5
Crocker Farm Elementary Amherst 2.2 mi 9.5
AMHERST MONTESSORI SCHOOL Amherst 2.7 mi 6.1
Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School Hadley 3.4 mi 8.9
THE HARTSBROOK SCHOOL Hadley 4.7 mi 7.4
Leverett Elementary Leverett 6.1 mi 5.0
Hadley Elementary Hadley 4.7 mi 7.5
Hopkins Academy Hadley 5.3 mi 7.5
Shutesbury Elementary Shutesbury 6.2 mi 8.3
Hatfield Elementary Hatfield 5.2 mi 4.4
Smith Academy Hatfield 5.2 mi 6.1
THE MACDUFFIE SCHOOL Granby 7.5 mi 8.1
East Meadow Granby 7.6 mi 4.6
Granby Jr Sr High School Granby 7.7 mi 5.8
Sunderland Elementary Sunderland 7.1 mi 8.8
Whately Elementary Whately 7.7 mi 6.7

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 01002 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$69,411

Median Home Value

$449,000

Median Rent

$1,561/mo

Population

24,726

College Educated

73.9%

Homeownership

48.7%

Avg Commute

20.9 min

Poverty Rate

23%

Median Age

27

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Academy Avenue Weymouth, MA 8.1
Bowie Chicopee, MA 8.1
Chittick Elementary School Mattapan, MA 8.1
Gardner Pilot Academy Allston, MA 8.1
Joseph R Dawe Jr Elementary Stoughton, MA 8.1
Kennedy John F Elementary School Jamaica Plain, MA 8.1

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Fort River Elementary

What grades does Fort River Elementary serve?

Fort River Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 6th.

How many students attend Fort River Elementary?

Fort River Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 346 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Fort River Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Fort River Elementary is 9.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Fort River Elementary rank in MA?

Fort River Elementary ranks #294 of 1,793 schools in MA.

What is Fort River Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Fort River Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.1 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 Fort River Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Fort River Elementary has 50% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 52% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Fort River Elementary a charter school?

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

Is Fort River Elementary a Title I school?

No, Fort River Elementary is not currently a Title I school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
38 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
52 Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Kindergarten – 6th
Enrollment
346
Student-Teacher Ratio
9.1:1
Teachers (FTE)
38
Type
regular
Setting
Small City
County
Hampshire County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
25.7%

District

Amherst
District Enrollment
983
Schools in District
3
Per-Pupil Spending
$30,935
District Rank
#3 of 3

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