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Below Average

#1619 of 1,793 schools in MA

Highland

Elementary School · Westfield

34 Western Avenue, Westfield, MA 01085

Enrollment

347

Student-Teacher

12.4:1

Score

4.1

Grades

Pre-K – 4th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Massachusetts schools

#1,619 of 1,793

In Westfield

#9 of 12

public schools

In district

#9 of 12

Westfield

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Highland

4.1/10

Elementary School in Westfield · grades Pre-K – 4th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Westfield Technical Academy

6.1/10

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

Franklin Ave

2.8/10

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

About Highland

Highland is a public elementary school in Westfield, MA, part of Westfield. Highland serves approximately 347 students, and covers grades Pre-K-4th, and has a 12.4:1 student-teacher ratio. Highland has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.1 out of 10 and ranks #1,619 of 1,793 schools in MA.

Structured state assessment records for Highland show 47% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 51% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares1.0 pts below district
  • This school 4.1 · Below Average
  • District avg 5.1
  • MA avg 6.3

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress2.4Needs Improvement50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data17
Annual Change-3.64 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics6.9Average30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency47% (2025 MCAS)
Reading/ELA Proficiency35% (2025 MCAS)
Math vs. State Avg+4.9 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-7.6 pts
Overall Proficiency41% (2025 MCAS, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)37% (model expectation from 2025 MCAS)
vs. Expected+3.9 pts
Adjusted Percentile55th
Resources & Environment4.3Below Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio12.4:1
Per-Pupil Spending$19,072
Chronic Absenteeism25.6%

Highland — Students at Highland score 41% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 37%).

How we calculate scores →

Test Scores MA MCAS (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 47.3% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
43.0% (multi-year state average, 2019-2025)
ELA Proficiency 51.3% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
44.4% (multi-year state average, 2019-2025)

Based on 52 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
38%
ELA
54%
2010
Math
52%
ELA
59%
2011
Math
52%
ELA
62%
2012
Math
59%
ELA
55%
2013
Math
52%
ELA
52%
2014
Math
62%
ELA
62%
2015
Math
67%
ELA
47%
2016
Math
52%
ELA
47%
2017
Math
47%
ELA
47%
2018
Math
57%
ELA
62%
2019
Math
58%
ELA
64.3%
2020*
Math
27%
ELA
57%
2021*
Math
23.3%
ELA
53.3%
2022
Math
57%
ELA
49%
2023
Math
45%
ELA
39.5%
2024
Math
33.5%
ELA
40%
2025
Math
47%
ELA
35%

* 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: 2.4/10.

How Highland Compares

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

Overall Score
4.1/10
10th percentile in MA
Academic
6.9/10
Average
Growth
2.4/10
Needs Improvement
Environment
4.3/10
Below Average

Funding & Resources

Teaching Staff
12:1 student-teacher ratio
28 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
25.6%

Location

34 Western Avenue, Westfield, MA 01085

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Highland may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Tatham (rated 9.1/10, 5.6 miles away, in nearby West Springfield), which scores notably higher. Another option is Woodland School (rated 9.0/10, 4.2 miles away, in nearby Southwick), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Powder Mill School (rated 7.8/10, 4.0 miles away, in nearby Southwick), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Westfield, see our Westfield schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 5.6 mi
School Distance Rating
Westfield Technical Academy Westfield 0.5 mi 6.1
Franklin Ave Westfield 0.9 mi 2.8
Abner Gibbs Westfield 0.9 mi 5.9
Westfield Middle School Westfield 1.0 mi 5.9
ST MARY'S PARISH SCHOOL - SECONDARY Westfield 1.2 mi 5.1
ST MARYS PARISH SCHOOL Westfield 1.3 mi 5.6
Fort Meadow Early Childhood Center Westfield 1.3 mi 3.3
Westfield Virtual School Westfield 1.6 mi 3.5
Westfield High Westfield 2.1 mi 5.6
Munger Hill Westfield 2.5 mi 4.5
Southampton Road Westfield 3.0 mi 6.9
Westfield Intermediate School Westfield 3.1 mi 6.2
Powder Mill School Southwick 4.0 mi 7.8
Woodland School Southwick 4.2 mi 9.0
Southwick Regional School Southwick 4.2 mi 6.3
Paper Mill Westfield 3.4 mi 6.4
WHITE OAK SCHOOL Westfield 4.8 mi 6.9
COMMUNITY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Granville 5.7 mi 5.7
Clifford M Granger Feeding Hills 6.0 mi 4.7
Tatham West Springfield 5.6 mi 9.1

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 01085 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$83,821

Median Home Value

$296,300

Median Rent

$1,064/mo

Population

41,466

College Educated

32.8%

Homeownership

68.6%

Avg Commute

26.4 min

Poverty Rate

10.8%

Median Age

39.2

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Beethoven Elementary School West Roxbury, MA 4.1
Charlton Street Southbridge, MA 4.1
Gilmore Elementary School Brockton, MA 4.1
Greylock North Adams, MA 4.1
Joseph H Gibbons Stoughton, MA 4.1
Merrill Elementary School Raynham, MA 4.1

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Highland

What grades does Highland serve?

Highland serves students in grades Pre-K through 4th.

How many students attend Highland?

Highland has an enrollment of approximately 347 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Highland?

The student-teacher ratio at Highland is 12.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Highland rank in MA?

Highland ranks #1,619 of 1,793 schools in MA.

What is Highland's MySchoolScout rating?

Highland has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.1 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 Highland?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Highland has 47% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 51% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Highland a charter school?

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

Is Highland a Title I school?

No, Highland is not currently a Title I school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
25 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
38 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 4th
Enrollment
347
Student-Teacher Ratio
12.4:1
Teachers (FTE)
28
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Hampden County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
25.6%

District

Westfield
District Enrollment
4,808
Schools in District
12
Per-Pupil Spending
$19,072
District Rank
#9 of 12

How we rate schools

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