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Massachusetts public elementary school

Samuel Watson Elementary

Fall River school district

C
overall grade

Ranks #696 of 895 Massachusetts elementary schools.

Overall rank
#696
of 895 schools
ELA · 2024–2026
28%
MA average 42%
Math · 2024–2026
25%
MA average 43%
Avg class size
24
294 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 25% statewide. An average of 28% of 3rd graders met or exceeded expectations over 2024–2026, vs 42% statewide.
  • Area to watch: Teacher quality ranks in the bottom 8% statewide.
  • Trend: Chronic absence has fallen from 48% in 2022 to 23.4% in 2025.
  • Trend: ELA is up 15 points since 2023 (23% to 38%).
Where it stands among 895 Massachusetts elementary schools
Bottom of MATop of MA
Overall
Below averagebottom 23% · #696
ELA
Below averagebottom 25% · #677
Math
Below averagebottom 20% · #718
Attendance
Below averagebottom 20% · #717
Teacher quality
Well below averagebottom 8% · #831

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

Both ELA and Math have 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 Arts38%in 2026 · state 43%
5 points below the state
0%50%100%This school38%State43%20172019202120232026
Math36%in 2026 · state 42%
6 points below the state
0%50%100%This school36%State42%20172019202120232026
Detailed scores
Average scaled score, ELA (500+ = meeting expectations)495
Average scaled score, Math (500+ = meeting expectations)491
Achievement percentile vs. MA schools (ELA · Math)47th · 36th

Students & classrooms

Classrooms
Students294
Average class size24MA avg 18
Students per teacher12.7MA avg 12.1
Who attends
White
36.4%
Hispanic/Latino
34%
Black/African American
17.7%
Multi-Race
9.5%
Asian
1.7%
American Indian/Alaska Native
0.3%
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
0.3%

51% girls · 49% boys

Student needs
Low incomeHigher than average
This school
83%
MA avg
42.8%
English learnersHigher than average
This school
23.8%
MA avg
17.2%
Students with disabilitiesLower than average
This school
19.4%
MA avg
22.3%

Teachers

Licensed teachersAbout average
This school
100%
MA avg
98.4%
Experienced teachersWorse than average
This school
35.8%
MA avg
73.2%
Teaching in their fieldAbout average
This school
91.3%
MA avg
92.4%
Stayed from last yearWorse than average
This school
69.6%
MA avg
82.7%
More staffing details
Teachers (full-time equivalent)22.7
General education teachers79.7%
Special education teachers12.8%
English learner teachers7.5%

Attendance & safety

Attendance rateWorse than average
This school
93%
MA avg
94.1%
Chronically absentmissed 10%+ of daysWorse than average
This school
23.4%
MA avg
15.6%

11.9 days absent per student (MA avg 10.3) · Suspensions: 5.6% out-of-school, 1.6% in-school (MA elementary avg 2% / 1%)

About Fall River

Bristol County · South Coast & Cape Cod
Avg single-family home value$405KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$4,651MA median $6,814
Tax rate$11.50 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$22,353MA median $47,872
Local kids in public school95.9%
Free cash reserves3.7% of budget

Fall River 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 Fall River

See all 11 Fall River elementary schools →

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