Very Good
#472 of 1,791 schools in MA
Top 26% in state
Wm L Foster Elementary
Elementary School · Hingham
55 Downer Avenue, Hingham, MA 02043
Enrollment
391
Student-Teacher
13:1
Score
7.3
Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
391
Student-Teacher
13:1
Score
7.3
Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Hingham
#6 of 6
public schools
Massachusetts elementary schools
#294 of 1,022
In district
#6 of 6
Hingham
Equity
9.5 / 10
Exceptional
About Wm L Foster Elementary
Wm L Foster Elementary serves 391 students in kindergarten through fifth grade in Hingham, Massachusetts. With 30 full-time equivalent teachers, the school maintains a favorable 13:1 student-teacher ratio that allows for more individualized attention in the classroom. The school demonstrates strong academic performance, earning a 7.5 out of 10 rating from MySchoolScout and ranking #228 out of 1,796 Massachusetts elementary schools, placing it in the 87th percentile statewide.
Students show solid achievement across core subjects, with 73% scoring proficient or above in English Language Arts and reading, while 70% reach proficiency in mathematics. Located on Downer Avenue in Plymouth County, Foster Elementary benefits from being situated in an affluent and highly educated community. The surrounding 02043 zip code area has a median household income of $170,326 and a median home value of $978,800.
An impressive 74% of local residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher, while the poverty rate remains low at just 3.2% among the area's 24,143 residents. This combination of strong academics, favorable class sizes, and a supportive community environment makes Foster Elementary a notable choice for families in Hingham's large suburban setting.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
Data not available for this school
View breakdown
Wm L Foster Elementary — Students at Wm L Foster Elementary score 72% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 60%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
0%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores MA MCAS (2024-25)
Based on 60 test records from MA state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
→ StableAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* 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: 6.8/10.
How Wm L Foster Elementary Compares
See how Wm L Foster Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has declined from 81% (2019) to 70% (2022). Reading/ELA proficiency has declined from 84% (2019) to 73% (2022).
Location
55 Downer Avenue, Hingham, MA 02043
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Wm L Foster Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Plymouth River (rated 8.9/10, 3.0 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is East Elementary School (rated 8.7/10, 2.0 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Lillian M Jacobs (rated 8.7/10, 3.7 miles away, in nearby Hull), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Hingham, see our Hingham schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 4.5 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| DERBY ACADEMY Hingham | 0.5 mi | 6.8 |
| ST PAUL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Hingham | 0.9 mi | 4.3 |
| SU ESCUELA LANGUAGE ACADEMY/SELA THE INTERNATIONAL Hingham | 1.1 mi | 6.3 |
| SOUTH SHORE CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC PRESCHOOL Hingham | 1.4 mi | — |
| Hingham High Hingham | 2.2 mi | 8.0 |
| East Elementary School Hingham | 2.0 mi | 8.7 |
| Lawrence W Pingree Weymouth | 2.7 mi | 6.5 |
| Plymouth River Hingham | 3.0 mi | 8.9 |
| Wessagusset North Weymouth | 2.3 mi | 7.5 |
| Maria Weston Chapman Middle School Weymouth | 2.7 mi | 6.7 |
| Memorial Middle Hull | 3.2 mi | 5.2 |
| Johnson Early Childhood Center Weymouth | 2.6 mi | 5.6 |
| Academy Avenue Weymouth | 3.1 mi | 7.7 |
| Lillian M Jacobs Hull | 3.7 mi | 8.7 |
| Hull High Hull | 3.7 mi | 7.7 |
| South Elementary Hingham | 3.7 mi | 7.6 |
| Atherton Hough Quincy | 3.0 mi | 3.8 |
| Snug Harbor Community School Quincy | 3.3 mi | 3.7 |
| NOTRE DAME ACADEMY Hingham | 4.8 mi | 4.4 |
| William Seach Weymouth | 4.5 mi | 4.1 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 02043 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$181,017
Median Home Value
$1,075,100
Median Rent
$2,452/mo
Population
24,185
College Educated
75.3%
Homeownership
80.3%
Avg Commute
37.9 min
Poverty Rate
3.3%
Median Age
47.6
Community Profile
The community surrounding Wm L Foster Elementary has a median household income of $181,017. It is a well-educated community where 75% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $1,075,100, with a median rent of $2,452/month. The local poverty rate of 3.3% is relatively low. The average commute in the area is 38 minutes, which is above the national average. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| Edward G. Molin Elementary School Newburyport, MA | 7.3 |
| Ellis Elementary School Roxbury, MA | 7.3 |
| Helen R Donaghue School Merrimac, MA | 7.3 |
| High Plain Elementary Andover, MA | 7.3 |
| Hollis Braintree, MA | 7.3 |
| Lt Eleazer Davis Bedford, MA | 7.3 |
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 is ranked #472 out of 1,791 schools in MA.
What is Wm L Foster Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Wm L Foster Elementary has a composite rating of 7.3 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Wm L Foster Elementary?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Wm L Foster Elementary has 73.8% math proficiency and 76.1% reading/ELA proficiency.
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.
Neighborhood Context
Powered by 
FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Hingham). Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 5th
- Enrollment
- 391
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 13:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 30
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Plymouth County
- Phone
- (781) 741-1520
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
Hingham- District Enrollment
- 3,707
- Schools in District
- 6
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $22,474
- District Rank
- #6 of 6
Other Schools in This District
How We Rate Schools
Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.
Read our full methodologyRelated reading
Get school insights in your inbox
New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.