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Massachusetts public elementary school

Samuel Bowles Elementary

Springfield school district

C+
overall grade

Ranks #599 of 895 Massachusetts elementary schools.

Overall rank
#599
of 895 schools
ELA · 2024–2026
41%
MA average 42%
Math · 2024–2026
33%
MA average 43%
Avg class size
19
324 students

ELA and Math show the share of 3rd graders meeting or exceeding expectations on the MCAS, averaged over 2024–2026.

How it compares

What stands out
  • Best of its categories: ELA, in the bottom 46% statewide. An average of 41% of 3rd graders met or exceeded expectations over 2024–2026, vs 42% statewide.
  • Area to watch: Attendance ranks in the bottom 10% statewide.
  • Trend: ELA is up 22 points since 2023 (29% to 51%).
  • Trend: Chronic absence has fallen from 45.1% in 2022 to 28.2% in 2025.
Where it stands among 895 Massachusetts elementary schools
Bottom of MATop of MA
Overall
Below averagebottom 34% · #599
ELA
Averagebottom 46% · #487
Math
Below averagebottom 33% · #606
Attendance
Well below averagebottom 10% · #812
Teacher quality
Below averagebottom 31% · #627

MCAS standings use the 2024–2026 average of grade 3 results, so one unusual year doesn't swing a school's ranking. Scores in the sections below are from 2026.

Test scores

ELA has been above the state average in 2 of 8 years since 2018. Math has been below the state average every year since 2018.

Share of 3rd graders meeting or exceeding expectations on the MCAS. There was no test in 2020.

English Language Arts51%in 2026 · state 43%
8 points above the state
0%50%100%This school51%State43%20172019202120232026
Math35%in 2026 · state 42%
7 points below the state
0%50%100%This school35%State42%20172019202120232026
Detailed scores
Average scaled score, ELA (500+ = meeting expectations)496
Average scaled score, Math (500+ = meeting expectations)492
Achievement percentile vs. MA schools (ELA · Math)51st · 39th

Students & classrooms

Classrooms
Students324
Average class size19MA avg 18
Students per teacher10.4MA avg 12.1
Who attends
Hispanic/Latino
69.1%
Black/African American
14.5%
White
10.2%
Multi-Race
4%
Asian
1.2%
American Indian/Alaska Native
0.9%

47.2% girls · 52.8% boys

Student needs
Low incomeHigher than average
This school
79.9%
MA avg
42.8%
English learnersHigher than average
This school
21%
MA avg
17.2%
Students with disabilitiesHigher than average
This school
25.6%
MA avg
22.3%

Teachers

Licensed teachersAbout average
This school
100%
MA avg
98.4%
Experienced teachersAbout average
This school
68.2%
MA avg
73.2%
Teaching in their fieldAbout average
This school
90.9%
MA avg
92.4%
Stayed from last yearAbout average
This school
83.9%
MA avg
82.7%
More staffing details
Teachers (full-time equivalent)31.4
Principal retention50%
General education teachers62.4%
Special education teachers31.3%
English learner teachers6.4%

Attendance & safety

Attendance rateWorse than average
This school
92%
MA avg
94.1%
Chronically absentmissed 10%+ of daysWorse than average
This school
28.2%
MA avg
15.6%

13.6 days absent per student (MA avg 10.3) · Suspensions: Not reported

About Springfield

Hampden County · Western Massachusetts
Avg single-family home value$275KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$4,254MA median $6,814
Tax rate$15.50 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$19,379MA median $47,872
Local kids in public school95.9%
Town bond ratingAA-
Free cash reserves1.9% of budget

Springfield district profile · What could you afford here? · All towns A–Z

Town figures are FY2026 averages for single-family homes from the Massachusetts Department of Revenue. Assessed values usually run below recent sale prices. "MA median" is the median of the state's 351 towns.

Other schools in Springfield

See all 31 Springfield elementary schools →

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