Needs Improvement
#1651 of 1,793 schools in MA
Swift River
Elementary School · New Salem-wendell · New Salem, MA
A New Salem-wendell elementary school where students score 17 points below what's typical for similar communities.
201 Wendell Rd, New Salem, MA 01355
- Math 28% vs MA 42% (2025)
- Reading 29% vs MA 42% (2025)
- 9.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Swift River score 28% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 45%).
2025 MCAS proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. MA average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 39 points across the 17-year record (2009–2025) and has held near 28% recently.
Show all 17 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 47% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 45% (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 95 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 Swift River 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 6Car-Dependent
- Bike 13Somewhat Bikeable
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Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$80,327
Median home value
$357,400
Median rent
$1,180/mo
College educated
37.1%
Homeownership
87.5%
Poverty rate
10.6%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 01355; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
0 from verified nearby records
No verified same-level alternatives
The available nearby set has no same-level school with a verified grade span.
New Salem-wendell
- Schools in district
- 1
- Rank in district
- #1 of 1
- District spending per student
- $26,740NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 11.7%Census SAIPE · 2024
Swift River is listed in New Salem-Wendell; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Swift River
Swift River is a public elementary school in New Salem, MA, part of New Salem-wendell, serving approximately 137 students in grades Pre-K-6th with a 9.1:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 3.9 out of 10 and ranks #1,651 of 1,793 schools in MA. State assessment records show 47% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 45% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Swift River
What grades does Swift River serve?
Swift River serves students in grades Pre-K through 6th.
How many students attend Swift River?
Swift River has an enrollment of approximately 137 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Swift River?
The student-teacher ratio at Swift River 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 Swift River rank in MA?
Swift River ranks #1,651 of 1,793 schools in MA.
What is Swift River's MySchoolScout rating?
Swift River has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.9 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 Swift River?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Swift River has 47% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 45% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Swift River a charter school?
No, Swift River is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Swift River a Title I school?
No, Swift River is not currently a Title I school.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 6th
- Enrollment
- 137
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 9.1:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 15
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Distant Rural
- County
- Franklin County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 23.4%
- Phone
- (978) 544-6926
- Area population (ZIP 01355)
- 963
- Area average commute
- 23.3 min
- Area median age
- 55.8
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 01355; 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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