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Average

#1084 of 1,793 schools in MA

Houghton Elementary

Elementary School · Wachusett

32 Boutelle Road, Sterling, MA 01564

Enrollment

318

Student-Teacher

13.8:1

Score

5.8

Grades

Kindergarten – 4th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Massachusetts schools

#1,084 of 1,793

In Sterling

#2 of 2

public schools

In district

#6 of 13

Wachusett

Equity

8.0 / 10

Excellent

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Houghton Elementary

5.8/10

Elementary School in Sterling · grades Kindergarten – 4th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Chocksett Middle School

7.2/10

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

Major Edwards Elementary

5.8/10

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

About Houghton Elementary

Houghton Elementary is a public elementary school in Sterling, MA, part of Wachusett. Houghton Elementary serves approximately 318 students, and covers grades Kindergarten-4th, and has a 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio. Houghton Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.8 out of 10 and ranks #1,084 of 1,793 schools in MA.

Structured state assessment records for Houghton Elementary show 61% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 66% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it comparesOn par with district
  • This school 5.8 · Average
  • District avg 5.8
  • MA avg 6.3

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress5.6Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data17
Annual Change-1.95 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics7.2Very Good30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency53.5% (2025 MCAS)
Reading/ELA Proficiency54% (2025 MCAS)
Math vs. State Avg+11.4 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+11.4 pts
Overall Proficiency54% (2025 MCAS, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)57% (model expectation from 2025 MCAS)
vs. Expected-3.3 pts
Adjusted Percentile59th
Resources & Environment4.4Below Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio13.8:1
Per-Pupil Spending$18,152
Chronic Absenteeism13.2%

Houghton Elementary — Students at Houghton Elementary score 54% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 57%).

How we calculate scores →

Test Scores MA MCAS (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 60.9% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
43.0% (multi-year state average, 2019-2025)
ELA Proficiency 65.5% (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

↓ Declining

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

2009
Math
77%
ELA
82%
2010
Math
79%
ELA
82%
2011
Math
82%
ELA
82%
2012
Math
77%
ELA
77%
2013
Math
77%
ELA
77%
2014
Math
77%
ELA
82%
2015
Math
77%
ELA
77%
2016
Math
62%
ELA
57%
2017
Math
62%
ELA
67%
2018
Math
62%
ELA
72%
2019
Math
60.7%
ELA
73.3%
2020*
Math
42%
ELA
62%
2021*
Math
46.3%
ELA
63.3%
2022
Math
50%
ELA
53%
2023
Math
56%
ELA
56%
2024
Math
60%
ELA
49%
2025
Math
53.5%
ELA
54%

* 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: 5.6/10.

How Houghton Elementary Compares

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

Overall Score
5.8/10
40th percentile in MA
Academic
7.2/10
Very Good
Growth
5.6/10
Average
Environment
4.4/10
Below Average

Funding & Resources

Teaching Staff
14:1 student-teacher ratio
23 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
13.2%

Location

32 Boutelle Road, Sterling, MA 01564

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Houghton Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Boylston Elementary School (rated 8.7/10, 5.9 miles away, in nearby Boylston), which scores notably higher. Another option is ALHUDA ACADEMY (rated 8.7/10, 6.7 miles away, in nearby Worcester), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Clinton Elementary (rated 8.2/10, 4.6 miles away, in nearby Clinton), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Sterling, see our Sterling schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 5.6 mi
School Distance Rating
Chocksett Middle School Sterling 0.1 mi 7.2
Major Edwards Elementary West Boylston 2.8 mi 5.8
West Boylston Junior/Senior High West Boylston 2.8 mi 6.6
Tahanto Regional High Boylston 4.1 mi 8.2
Clinton Senior High Clinton 3.6 mi 6.1
Thomas Prince Princeton 4.0 mi 5.2
Clinton Middle School Clinton 3.8 mi 6.4
Samoset School Leominster 5.6 mi 5.7
Lincoln School Leominster 5.6 mi 4.6
Leroy E.Mayo Holden 5.1 mi 5.7
Fall Brook Leominster 5.7 mi 7.2
Norrback Avenue Worcester 6.0 mi 4.1
Boylston Elementary School Boylston 5.9 mi 8.7
Clinton Elementary Clinton 4.6 mi 8.2
Mountview Middle Holden 5.9 mi 5.5
Burncoat Street Worcester 6.3 mi 3.9
SOUTH LANCASTER ACADEMY South Lancaster 5.1 mi 6.8
ALHUDA ACADEMY Worcester 6.7 mi 8.7
Davis Hill Elementary Holden 5.7 mi 6.3
TRIVIUM SCHOOL Lancaster 5.6 mi 4.1

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 01564 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$136,027

Median Home Value

$467,400

Median Rent

$1,606/mo

Population

8,111

College Educated

53.5%

Homeownership

87.8%

Avg Commute

32.7 min

Poverty Rate

4.3%

Median Age

51

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Everett Elementary School Dorchester, MA 5.8
Haley Pilot School Roslindale, MA 5.8
Holmes Elementary School Dorchester, MA 5.8
Hurley K-8 School Boston, MA 5.8
John Breen School Lawrence, MA 5.8
MOUNT ALVERNIA ACADEMY Chestnut Hill, MA 5.8

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Houghton Elementary

What grades does Houghton Elementary serve?

Houghton Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 4th.

How many students attend Houghton Elementary?

Houghton Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 318 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Houghton Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Houghton Elementary is 13.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Houghton Elementary rank in MA?

Houghton Elementary ranks #1,084 of 1,793 schools in MA.

What is Houghton Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Houghton Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.8 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 Houghton Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Houghton Elementary has 61% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 66% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Houghton Elementary a charter school?

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

Is Houghton Elementary a Title I school?

No, Houghton Elementary is not currently a Title I school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
12 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
29 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Kindergarten – 4th
Enrollment
318
Student-Teacher Ratio
13.8:1
Teachers (FTE)
23
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Worcester County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
13.2%

District

Wachusett
District Enrollment
6,676
Schools in District
13
Per-Pupil Spending
$18,152
District Rank
#6 of 13

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