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Average

#806 of 1,793 schools in MA

Top 45% in state

Swift River Elementary

Elementary School · Belchertown

57 State Street, Belchertown, MA 01007

Enrollment

468

Student-Teacher

12.3:1

Score

6.5

Grades

1st – 3rd

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Massachusetts schools

#806 of 1,793

In Belchertown

#2 of 5

public schools

In district

#2 of 5

Belchertown

Academic growth

7.8 / 10

Very Good

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Swift River Elementary

6.5/10

Elementary School in Belchertown · grades 1st – 3rd. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Belchertown High

6.2/10

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

Chestnut Hill Community School

6.4/10

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

About Swift River Elementary

Swift River Elementary is a public elementary school in Belchertown, MA, part of Belchertown. Swift River Elementary serves approximately 468 students, and covers grades 1st-3rd, and has a 12.3:1 student-teacher ratio. Swift River Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.5 out of 10 and ranks #806 of 1,793 schools in MA.

Structured state assessment records for Swift River Elementary show 43% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 54% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares0.8 pts above district
  • This school 6.5 · Average
  • District avg 5.8
  • MA avg 6.3

What Parents Should Know

Swift River Elementary sits in a rural area, which can mean longer drives for some families. Rural schools are often community anchors with smaller classes, but check transportation, after-school options, and access to specialized services before you commit.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress7.8Very Good50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data17
Annual Change-0.91 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendStable
Academics5.4Average30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency35% (2025 MCAS)
Reading/ELA Proficiency45% (2025 MCAS)
Math vs. State Avg-7.1 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+2.4 pts
Overall Proficiency40% (2025 MCAS, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)51% (model expectation from 2025 MCAS)
vs. Expected-10.9 pts
Adjusted Percentile37th
Resources & Environment5.1Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio12.3:1
Per-Pupil Spending$17,967
Chronic Absenteeism17.7%

Swift River Elementary — Students at Swift River Elementary score 40% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 51%).

How we calculate scores →

Test Scores MA MCAS (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 43.3% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
42.8% (multi-year state average, 2018-2025)
ELA Proficiency 54.2% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
46.1% (multi-year state average, 2018-2025)

Based on 42 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
68%
ELA
66%
2010
Math
67%
ELA
62%
2011
Math
67%
ELA
67%
2012
Math
62%
ELA
62%
2013
Math
67%
ELA
52%
2014
Math
62%
ELA
67%
2015
Math
77%
ELA
67%
2016
Math
32%
ELA
42%
2017
Math
27%
ELA
52%
2018
Math
36%
ELA
51%
2019
Math
41.5%
ELA
46%
2020*
Math
27%
ELA
62%
2021*
Math
28%
ELA
62%
2022
Math
27%
ELA
42%
2023
Math
27%
ELA
51%
2024
Math
27%
ELA
41%
2025
Math
35%
ELA
45%

* 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: 7.8/10.

How Swift River Elementary Compares

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

Overall Score
6.5/10
55th percentile in MA
Academic
5.4/10
Average
Growth
7.8/10
Very Good
Environment
5.1/10
Average

Funding & Resources

Teaching Staff
12:1 student-teacher ratio
38 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
17.7%

Location

57 State Street, Belchertown, MA 01007

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Swift River Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Crocker Farm Elementary (rated 9.5/10, 7.7 miles away, in nearby Amherst), which scores notably higher. Another option is Fort River Elementary (rated 8.1/10, 8.7 miles away, in nearby Amherst), which scores notably higher. Additionally, East Street Elementary School (rated 7.4/10, 7.9 miles away, in nearby Ludlow), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Belchertown, see our Belchertown schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 8.9 mi
School Distance Rating
Belchertown High Belchertown 0.1 mi 6.2
Chestnut Hill Community School Belchertown 0.1 mi 6.4
Jabish Middle School Belchertown 0.6 mi 6.9
Cold Spring Belchertown 0.9 mi 5.0
THE MACDUFFIE SCHOOL Granby 3.3 mi 8.1
East Meadow Granby 4.1 mi 4.6
Granby Jr Sr High School Granby 4.3 mi 5.8
Pathfinder Vocational Technical Palmer 6.4 mi 7.4
Old Mill Pond Palmer 6.7 mi 6.1
Paul R Baird Middle Ludlow 7.1 mi 5.9
Palmer High Palmer 6.8 mi 6.5
Ludlow Senior High Ludlow 7.2 mi 6.0
Harris Brook Elementary School Ludlow 7.4 mi 6.8
East Street Elementary School Ludlow 7.9 mi 7.4
Pelham Elementary Pelham 8.2 mi 5.5
ST JOHN THE BAPTIST SCHOOL Ludlow 8.2 mi 6.3
AMHERST MONTESSORI SCHOOL Amherst 7.4 mi 6.1
Crocker Farm Elementary Amherst 7.7 mi 9.5
Fort River Elementary Amherst 8.7 mi 8.1
Indian Orchard Elementary Indian Orchard 8.9 mi 7.4

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 01007 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$99,056

Median Home Value

$350,400

Median Rent

$1,301/mo

Population

15,406

College Educated

45.9%

Homeownership

84.1%

Avg Commute

29.2 min

Poverty Rate

8.7%

Median Age

43.9

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Brookfield Elementary Brookfield, MA 6.5
Dennis-Yarmouth Intermediate School South Yarmouth, MA 6.5
Green Meadow Maynard, MA 6.5
J Harding Armstrong Westborough, MA 6.5
John E Burke Peabody, MA 6.5
Joseph F DiPietro Elementary School Bellingham, MA 6.5

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Swift River Elementary

What grades does Swift River Elementary serve?

Swift River Elementary serves students in grades 1st through 3rd.

How many students attend Swift River Elementary?

Swift River Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 468 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Swift River Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Swift River Elementary is 12.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Swift River Elementary rank in MA?

Swift River Elementary ranks #806 of 1,793 schools in MA.

What is Swift River Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Swift River Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.5 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 Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Swift River Elementary has 43% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 54% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Swift River Elementary a charter school?

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

Is Swift River Elementary a Title I school?

No, Swift River Elementary is not currently a Title I school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
29 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
30 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
1st – 3rd
Enrollment
468
Student-Teacher Ratio
12.3:1
Teachers (FTE)
38
Type
regular
Setting
Fringe Rural
County
Hampshire County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
17.7%

District

Belchertown
District Enrollment
2,081
Schools in District
5
Per-Pupil Spending
$17,967
District Rank
#2 of 5

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