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Very Good

#423 of 1,791 schools in MA

Top 24% in state

Fort River Elementary

Elementary School · Amherst

70 So East Street, Amherst, MA 01002

Enrollment

346

Student-Teacher

9.1:1

Score

7.4

Grades

Kindergarten – 6th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Amherst

#5 of 5

public schools

Massachusetts elementary schools

#267 of 1,022

In district

#3 of 3

Amherst

School environment

9.8 / 10

Exceptional

About Fort River Elementary

Fort River Elementary serves students in kindergarten through sixth grade in Amherst, a small city in Hampshire County, Massachusetts. The school enrolls 346 students and maintains a student-teacher ratio of 9.1 to 1, with 38 full-time equivalent teachers on staff. Academically, Fort River ranks in the 76th percentile among Massachusetts schools, placing it at #429 out of 1,796 statewide.

The school holds a MySchoolScout Rating of 7.1 out of 10. In terms of proficiency, approximately 49% of students score at or above proficient levels in ELA and reading, while 48% meet proficiency benchmarks in both math and science across grade levels. This snapshot shows the school has room for growth, particularly in building stronger foundational skills across core subjects.

With nearly one teacher for every nine students, Fort River maintains class sizes that allow for more individualized attention. The school's setting in Amherst's small city environment provides a community-oriented backdrop for elementary education. Parents considering Fort River should view current performance data as a foundation point and may want to ask school leadership about specific initiatives and support systems in place to help students advance academically.

What Parents Should Know

With a student-teacher ratio of 9.1:1, Fort River Elementary offers a notably low ratio compared to the national average. This typically means smaller class sizes and more opportunities for one-on-one interaction between students and teachers.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress6.8Above Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data7
Annual Change-1.38 pts/yr
Data Period2018–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics6.9Above Average30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency42%
Reading/ELA Proficiency47%
Math vs. State Avg-0.1 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+4.4 pts
Overall Proficiency45%
Expected (poverty-adj.)44%
vs. Expected+0.6 pts
Adjusted Percentile54th
College ReadinessNot Available

Data not available for this school

Resources & Environment9.8Exceptional20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio9.1:1
Per-Pupil Spending$30,337

Fort River Elementary — Students at Fort River Elementary score 44% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 44%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

0.1%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores MA MCAS (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 47.5%
School
State
43.1%
ELA Proficiency 50.5%
School
State
45.7%

Based on 74 test records from MA state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

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

2018
Math
51.3%
ELA
56.3%
2019
Math
53.6%
ELA
56.4%
2021*
Math
47.6%
ELA
52%
2022
Math
44%
ELA
46.2%
2023
Math
42.3%
ELA
48.3%
2024
Math
47.8%
ELA
45.8%
2025
Math
45%
ELA
47.8%

* 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: 6.8/10.

How Fort River Elementary Compares

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

Overall Score
7.4/10
76th percentile in MA
Academic
6.9/10
6.9/10
Growth
6.8/10
Above average
Environment
9.8/10
Above average

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 9.2/10, 2.2 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Shutesbury Elementary (rated 8.4/10, 6.2 miles away, in nearby Shutesbury), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, Sunderland Elementary (rated 8.2/10, 7.1 miles away, in nearby Sunderland), 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 8.0
Amherst Regional High Amherst 0.8 mi 8.5
Wildwood Elementary Amherst 1.1 mi 7.9
THE COMMON SCHOOL Amherst 1.7 mi 6.4
Pelham Elementary Pelham 1.6 mi 6.2
Crocker Farm Elementary Amherst 2.2 mi 9.2
AMHERST MONTESSORI SCHOOL Amherst 2.7 mi 6.1
Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School Hadley 3.4 mi 8.5
THE HARTSBROOK SCHOOL Hadley 4.7 mi 7.4
Leverett Elementary Leverett 6.1 mi 3.8
Hadley Elementary Hadley 4.7 mi 6.7
Hopkins Academy Hadley 5.3 mi 6.8
Shutesbury Elementary Shutesbury 6.2 mi 8.4
Hatfield Elementary Hatfield 5.2 mi 4.1
Smith Academy Hatfield 5.2 mi 6.6
THE MACDUFFIE SCHOOL Granby 7.5 mi 8.1
East Meadow Granby 7.6 mi 4.2
Granby Jr Sr High School Granby 7.7 mi 5.9
Sunderland Elementary Sunderland 7.1 mi 8.2
Whately Elementary Whately 7.7 mi 7.0

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

Community Profile

The community surrounding Fort River Elementary has a median household income of $69,411. It is a well-educated community where 74% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $449,000, with a median rent of $1,561/month. The area has a poverty rate of 23.0%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. The average commute for residents is 21 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Alice M Barrows Reading, MA 7.4
Brackett Arlington, MA 7.4
Clark St Community Worcester, MA 7.4
Conservatory Lab Charter School Dorchester, MA 7.4
F A Cleveland Norwood, MA 7.4
Liberty Braintree, MA 7.4

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 is ranked #423 out of 1,791 schools in MA.

What is Fort River Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Fort River Elementary has a composite rating of 7.4 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Fort River Elementary?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Fort River Elementary has 47.5% math proficiency and 50.5% reading/ELA proficiency.

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
55 Bikeable
City Safety
Average (479/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Amherst). Data >1 year old.

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
Data Year
2023–2024

District

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

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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