Excellent
#265 of 1,793 schools in MA
Top 15% in state
Wm L Foster Elementary
Elementary School · Hingham · Hingham, MA
A Hingham elementary school where students score 17 points above what's typical for similar communities.
55 Downer Avenue, Hingham, MA 02043
- Math 77% vs MA 42% (2025)
- Reading 76% vs MA 41% (2025)
- 13:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Wm L Foster Elementary score 76% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 60%).
2025 MCAS proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. MA average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency has held near 77% across the 17-year record (2009–2025).
Show all 17 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 77% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 77% (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 82 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 Wm L Foster Elementary sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries. Open the Boston map →
Getting around & local context
- Walk 56Somewhat Walkable
- Bike 26Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: Elevated930/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Hingham), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$181,017
Median home value
$1,075,100
Median rent
$2,452/mo
College educated
75.3%
Homeownership
80.3%
Poverty rate
3.3%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 02043; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
3 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Derby AcademyPrivate · tuition | 6.8 | PK–8 | 0.5 mi | 335 | Compare → |
| St Paul Elementary SchoolPrivate · tuition | 4.3 | PK–8 | 0.9 mi | 184 | Compare → |
| Su Escuela Language Academy/sela the InternationalPrivate · tuition | 6.3 | PK–6 | 1.1 mi | 94 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Hingham
- Schools in district
- 6
- Rank in district
- #6 of 6
- District spending per student
- $22,474NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 1.8%Census SAIPE · 2024
Wm L Foster Elementary is listed in Hingham; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Wm L Foster Elementary
Wm L Foster Elementary is a public elementary school in Hingham, MA, part of Hingham, serving approximately 391 students in grades Kindergarten-5th with a 13:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.2 out of 10 and ranks #265 of 1,793 schools in MA. State assessment records show 77% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 77% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Wm L Foster Elementary
What grades does Wm L Foster Elementary serve?
Wm L Foster Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.
How many students attend Wm L Foster Elementary?
Wm L Foster Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 391 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Wm L Foster Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Wm L Foster Elementary is 13:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Wm L Foster Elementary rank in MA?
Wm L Foster Elementary ranks #265 of 1,793 schools in MA.
What is Wm L Foster Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Wm L Foster Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.2 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 Wm L Foster Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Wm L Foster Elementary has 77% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 77% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Wm L Foster Elementary a charter school?
No, Wm L Foster Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Wm L Foster Elementary a Title I school?
No, Wm L Foster Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 5th
- Enrollment
- 391
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 13:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 30
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Plymouth County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 7.2%
- Phone
- (781) 741-1520
- Area population (ZIP 02043)
- 24,185
- Area average commute
- 37.9 min
- Area median age
- 47.6
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 02043; 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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