Excellent
#294 of 1,793 schools in MA
Top 16% in state
Fort River Elementary
Elementary School · Amherst · Amherst, MA
An Amherst elementary school where students score 5 points above what's typical for similar communities.
70 So East Street, Amherst, MA 01002
- Math 46% vs MA 42% (2025)
- Reading 50% vs MA 42% (2025)
- 9.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Fort River Elementary score 48% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 43%).
2025 MCAS proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. MA average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 16 points across the 17-year record (2009–2025) and has held near 48% recently.
Show all 17 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 50% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 52% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 96 test records from MA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateThe neighborhood
Where Fort River Elementary sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 38Car-Dependent
- Bike 52Bikeable
- City Safety: Average479/100K
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FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Amherst), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$69,411
Median home value
$449,000
Median rent
$1,561/mo
College educated
73.9%
Homeownership
48.7%
Poverty rate
23%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 01002; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildwood ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 8.6 | K–6 | 1.1 mi | 311 | Compare → |
| Pelham ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 5.5 | K–6 | 1.6 mi | 129 | Compare → |
| The Common SchoolPrivate · tuition | 6.4private | PK–6 | 1.7 mi | 75 | Compare → |
| Crocker Farm ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 9.5 | PK–6 | 2.2 mi | 326 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Amherst
- Schools in district
- 3
- Rank in district
- #3 of 3
- District spending per student
- $30,935NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 11.7%Census SAIPE · 2024
Fort River Elementary is listed in Amherst; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Fort River Elementary
Fort River Elementary is a public elementary school in Amherst, MA, part of Amherst, serving approximately 346 students in grades Kindergarten-6th with a 9.1:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.1 out of 10 and ranks #294 of 1,793 schools in MA. State assessment records show 50% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 52% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
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.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- 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%
- Phone
- (413) 362-1200
- Area population (ZIP 01002)
- 24,726
- Area average commute
- 20.9 min
- Area median age
- 27
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 MCAS · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 MCAS · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- State assessments · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 01002; this does not measure the attendance area.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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