Massachusetts public high school

Hampden Charter School of Science

Hampden Charter School of Science school district

B+

overall grade

Ranks #53 of 335 Massachusetts high schools — top 16%.

Overall rank

#53

of 335 schools

Average SAT

1153+62 vs MA

MA average 1091

Graduation rate

95%

MA average 92%

Plan on college

95%+22 vs MA

MA average 72%

SAT is the average total score of test takers. Graduation is the four-year rate. College is the share of graduates who report plans to attend a 2- or 4-year college.

Hampden Charter School of Science serves students primarily from the greater Springfield area in western Massachusetts, drawing from communities across Hampden County. The school operates in the Pioneer Valley region, known for its mix of small cities, suburban towns, and rural areas along the Connecticut River. As a charter school, it provides an alternative educational option focused on STEM education for families throughout the region.

How it compares

What stands out

Strongest area: College plans, in the top 7% statewide. 95% of graduates plan to attend a 2- or 4-year college, vs 72% statewide.
Relative weak spot: Graduation rate ranks in the top 46%, below its other categories.
Trend: The average SAT score is up 73 points since 2022 (1080 to 1153).
Trend: Chronic absence has fallen from 21.6% in 2022 to 15.3% in 2025.

Where it stands among 335 Massachusetts high schools

Bottom of MATop of MA

Overall

Above averagetop 16% · #53

SAT

Above averagetop 29% · #96

ELA MCAS

Above averagetop 11% · #34

Math MCAS

Above averagetop 29% · #92

AP results

Above averagetop 20% · #62

Graduation

Averagetop 46% · #152

College plans

Excellenttop 7% · #23

The overall rank weighs SAT (30%), MCAS (25%), AP results (20%), and graduates' college plans (25%). Categories rank only the schools with data for them. How we rank

SAT

Average total score1153in 2025 · MA avg 1091

62 points above the MA avg

By section (out of 800)

Reading & writingBetter than average

This school

582

MA avg

556

MathBetter than average

This school

571

MA avg

535

81 students took the SAT.

"MA avg" is the average of the 335 high schools we rank. Only students who choose to take the SAT are counted.

MCAS (10th grade)

Share of 10th graders meeting or exceeding expectations. Statewide results dropped after 2024, when passing the MCAS stopped being a graduation requirement. There was no test in 2020.

English Language Arts74%in 2026 · state 45%

29 points above the state

Math58%in 2026 · state 44%

14 points above the state

Biologyhigh school science, 2026About average

This school

35%

State

38%

Detailed scores

Average scaled score, ELA · Math · Science (500+ = meeting expectations)513 · 505 · 491

Achievement percentile vs. MA schools (ELA · Math)88th · 77th

Student growth percentile, ELA · Math (50 = typical growth)67 · 68

AP & advanced courses

AP exams scored 3+85%in 2025 · MA avg 66%

19 points above the MA avg

Score breakdown

Score 5: 20%Score 4: 33%Score 3: 32%Score 2: 9%Score 1: 6%

186 students took 372 AP exams. A 3 or higher can earn college credit.

Completed an advanced coursegrades 11–12Better than average

This school

100%

MA avg

71.4%

9th graders passing all coursesAbout average

This school

90.4%

MA avg

82.6%

After high school

Four-year graduation rate95%in 2024 · MA avg 92%

3 points above the MA avg

Dropped outof the four-year classBetter than average

This school

1.7%

MA avg

4.3%

3.4% of the class were still in school after four years.

Plan to attend college95%in 2025 · state 72%

22 points above the state

Graduates' plans · 111 graduates

4-year private college

41.4%

4-year public college

30.6%

2-year public college

22.5%

Students

Who attends

Hispanic/Latino

39%

White

31.1%

Black/African American

22.5%

Asian

3.7%

Multi-Race

2.8%

American Indian/Alaska Native

0.6%

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0.2%

45% female · 55% male

Student needs

High needslow income, English learner, or disabilityHigher than average

This school

64.7%

MA avg

50.7%

Low incomeHigher than average

This school

55.2%

MA avg

39%

English learnersLower than average

This school

4.7%

MA avg

8.6%

Teachers

Licensed teachersAbout average

This school

90.9%

MA avg

95.9%

Experienced teachersWorse than average

This school

48.6%

MA avg

73.4%

Teaching in their fieldWorse than average

This school

72.5%

MA avg

84.6%

Students per teacher

12.2MA avg 11.8

76.8 full-time-equivalent teachers

Attendance & safety

Attendance rateBetter than average

This school

93.8%

MA avg

92.3%

Chronically absentmissed 10%+ of daysBetter than average

This school

15.3%

MA avg

22.3%

10.9 days absent per student (MA avg 13.2) · Suspensions: 3% out-of-school, 0.2% in-school (MA high school avg 4% / 2.2%)

About Chicopee

Hampden County · Western Massachusetts

Avg single-family home value$301KMA median $588K

Avg property tax bill$4,580MA median $6,814

Tax rate$15.20 per $1,000MA median $12.40

Income per person$24,956MA median $47,872

Local kids in public school92.7%

Town bond ratingAA-

Free cash reserves3.9% of budget

Hampden Charter School of Science (District) 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.

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