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Fort River Elementary

Q: Is Fort River Elementary a good school?

Fort River Elementary ranks 354 th of 906 Massachusetts elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-6

354^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 906 Massachusetts Elementary Schools

Better than 61% of Massachusetts elementary schools

Summary

Fort River Elementary is a public elementary school in Amherst, Massachusetts, serving 346 students from kindergarten to 6th grade. The school is part of the Amherst school district, which is ranked 122 out of 348 districts in the state and has a 3-star rating.

Fort River Elementary generally performs in the middle range of Massachusetts elementary schools, with strengths in 6th grade English Language Arts and science, but challenges in mathematics, particularly for its Special Education and Low Socioeconomic Status student populations. The school's performance on MCAS assessments is on par with or slightly below the Amherst district and state averages. Nearby schools like Crocker Farm Elementary and Wildwood Elementary tend to outperform Fort River Elementary, while the school performs better than some more distant schools like East Meadow and Bridge Street.

Fort River Elementary has a relatively high per-student spending of around $29,000 and a low student-teacher ratio, suggesting that resources may not be effectively translating into improved academic outcomes, particularly in mathematics. The school's performance has been relatively stable over the past several years, with a slight decline in recent years. Examining the practices and strategies of higher-performing nearby schools could provide insights into how Fort River Elementary can improve its overall academic performance and better support all students.

371

Students ?

9.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$32,885

Per pupil spending ?

43.7%

Free/discounted lunch ?

70 So East Street
Amherst, MA 01002

(413) 362-1200

District: Amherst

Students who attend Fort River Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Amherst Regional Middle School
High:	Amherst Regional High

Racial breakdown:

White:

41.8%

Hispanic:

35.3%

Asian:

10.0%

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Compare Fort River Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 42nd percentile in 2015 → 61st in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Massachusetts average (48% vs 41% meeting standards)

✓Ranking is trending up — up 19 percentile points since 2015

✓Above the Massachusetts median (61st percentile)

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school48%

District avg51%

Massachusetts avg41%

354^th of 906

Massachusetts public elementary schools ?

Top 39%▲ up 19 pts since 2015

From bottom 42% (2015) to top 39% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Massachusetts Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

3^rd of 3Elementary Schools in the Amherst

122^nd of 348Amherst among Massachusetts districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2025	61.3	354 of 906	60.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	61.5	351 of 916	61.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	55.0	428 of 928	53.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	55.0	433 of 932	53.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	62.8	362 of 936	61.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	53.4	458 of 942	51.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	54.7	459 of 934	50.9%	★★★☆☆
2017	40.5	607 of 938	35.3%	★★☆☆☆
2016	24.5	744 of 932	20.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	47.0	533 of 914	41.7%	★★☆☆☆
2014	64.7	355 of 926	61.7%	★★★☆☆
2013	52.2	494 of 928	46.8%	★★☆☆☆
2012	52.2	504 of 930	45.8%	★★☆☆☆
2011	54.2	470 of 924	49.1%	★★☆☆☆
2010	60.4	378 of 920	58.9%	★★★☆☆
2009	73.8	241 of 909	73.5%	★★★★☆
2008	72.7	253 of 908	72.1%	★★★★☆
2007	71.2	268 of 911	70.6%	★★★★☆
2006	76.4	207 of 911	77.3%	★★★★☆
2005	80.7	165 of 887	81.4%	★★★★☆
2004	80.4	164 of 882	81.4%	★★★★☆
2003	75.0	229 of 884	74.1%	★★★★☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2022	33.1	434 of 672	35.4%	★★☆☆☆
2019	39.5	379 of 665	43.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	24.9	536 of 656	18.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2025	67.3	289 of 869	66.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	56.6	389 of 886	56.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	52.9	428 of 887	51.7%	★★★☆☆
2022	50.4	465 of 901	48.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	57.8	385 of 898	57.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	64.0	327 of 902	63.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	71.7	251 of 893	71.9%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2025	45.9	229 of 458	50.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	34.2	300 of 446	32.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	35.5	277 of 420	34.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	41.2	213 of 401	46.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	27.9	300 of 379	20.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2025	24.9	625 of 736	15.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	15.6	718 of 760	5.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	19.5	677 of 757	10.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	19.6	691 of 772	10.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	30.8	535 of 700	23.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	15.2	646 of 685	5.7%	☆☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2025	56.8	369 of 884	58.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	64.0	309 of 891	65.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	54.8	404 of 896	54.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	58.1	388 of 908	57.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	62.0	346 of 904	61.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	41.7	552 of 907	39.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	35.6	609 of 898	32.2%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2025	49.2	292 of 717	59.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	58.2	234 of 731	68.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	42.6	367 of 703	47.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	23.7	760 of 905	16.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	37.8	572 of 894	36.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	29.8	700 of 896	21.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	20.6	801 of 886	9.6%	☆☆☆☆☆

Tested In Person

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2021	63.4	349 of 925	62.3%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2025	76.5	145 of 737	80.3%	★★★★☆
2024	71.5	195 of 753	74.1%	★★★★☆
2023	63.3	265 of 762	65.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	55.7	343 of 764	55.1%	★★★☆☆
2021	59.5	297 of 765	61.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	65.5	252 of 780	67.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	76.3	143 of 772	81.5%	★★★★☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

White (2025)80th percentile+19 vs school

Female (2025)67th percentile+6 vs school

Tested In Person (2021)62nd percentile~ school

Special Education (2025)59th percentile~ school

Male (2025)58th percentile-3 vs school

Hispanic (2025)50th percentile-11 vs school

Disabled (2022)35th percentile-18 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)15th percentile-46 vs school

By subject vs Massachusetts (2024-2025) ?

Science60%+19 vs state

English Language Arts48%+6 vs state

Mathematics46%+5 vs state

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Schools Near Fort River Elementary

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				MCAS Next Generation English Language Arts (2025)					MCAS Next Generation Mathematics (2025)					MCAS Next Generation Science (2025)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	MCAS Next Generation English Language Arts 3rd Grade	MCAS Next Generation English Language Arts 4th Grade	MCAS Next Generation English Language Arts 5th Grade	MCAS Next Generation English Language Arts 6th Grade	MCAS Next Generation English Language Arts All Grades	MCAS Next Generation Mathematics 3rd Grade	MCAS Next Generation Mathematics 4th Grade	MCAS Next Generation Mathematics 5th Grade	MCAS Next Generation Mathematics 6th Grade	MCAS Next Generation Mathematics All Grades	MCAS Next Generation Science 5th Grade	MCAS Next Generation Science All Grades	Total
Fort River Elementary	Public	K-6	70 So East Street	Amherst	01002	Hampshire County	Amherst	No	No	No	Yes	(413) 362-1200	371	40	9.2		155 (41.8%)	26 (7.0%)	131 (35.3%)	37 (10.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (5.9%)	61.3	354^th of 906 public elementary schools	60.9%		61.5	351^st of 916 public elementary schools	61.7%	3	38.0	37.5	50.0	65.1	47.6	44.0	27.5	50.9	56.8	45.6	60.3	60.3	$32,885
Wildwood Elementary	Public	K-6	71 Strong Street	Amherst	01002	Hampshire County	Amherst	No	No	No	Yes	(413) 362-1400	314	34	9.2		136 (43.3%)	37 (11.8%)	58 (18.5%)	55 (17.5%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (8.0%)	65.9	321^st of 906 public elementary schools	64.6%		65.7	313^th of 916 public elementary schools	65.8%	8	38.5	73.2	52.8	53.6	56.0	33.3	60.5	50.0	45.6	48.5	40.0	40.0	$32,866
Pelham Elementary	Public	K-6	45 Amherst Road	Pelham	01002	Hampshire County	Pelham	No	No	No	No	(413) 362-1100	128	12	10.6		81 (63.3%)	7 (5.5%)	17 (13.3%)	5 (3.9%)	2 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (10.2%)	67.6	306^th of 906 public elementary schools	66.2%		76.8	228^th of 916 public elementary schools	75.1%	78	50.0	61.9	33.3	50.0	49.3	61.1	50.0	47.1	56.3	53.5	52.9	52.9	$23,039
Crocker Farm Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	280 West Street	Amherst	01002	Hampshire County	Amherst	No	No	No	Yes	(413) 362-1600	353	36	9.7		163 (46.2%)	41 (11.6%)	71 (20.1%)	42 (11.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	29 (8.2%)	77.5	211^th of 906 public elementary schools	76.7%		77.8	210^th of 916 public elementary schools	77.1%	1	51.6	58.7	57.9	62.5	58.3	59.4	53.3	48.7	59.2	55.2	61.5	61.5	$28,357
Hadley Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	21 River Drive	Hadley	01035	Hampshire County	Hadley	No	No	No	Yes	(413) 584-5011	315	26	11.9		234 (74.3%)	8 (2.5%)	41 (13.0%)	19 (6.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (3.8%)	70.5	279^th of 906 public elementary schools	69.2%		61.4	352^nd of 916 public elementary schools	61.6%	73	51.4	56.8	36.7	64.3	53.6	51.4	54.6	44.8	57.1	52.6	53.3	53.3	$24,286
Hatfield Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	33 Main Street	Hatfield	01038	Hampshire County	Hatfield	No	No	No	Yes	(413) 247-5010	201	18	10.9		180 (89.6%)	3 (1.5%)	4 (2.0%)	2 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (5.5%)	52.3	433^rd of 906 public elementary schools	52.2%		50.4	468^th of 916 public elementary schools	48.9%	35	38.1	42.3	44.0	48.3	43.6	20.0	46.2	32.0	41.4	36.0	64.0	64.0	$23,467
Leverett Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	85 Montague Rd	Leverett	01054	Franklin County	Leverett	No	No	No	No	(413) 548-9144	137	16	8.7		115 (83.9%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (3.6%)	2 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (10.2%)	75.1	228^th of 906 public elementary schools	74.8%		44.7	523^rd of 916 public elementary schools	42.9%	295	81.0	22.2	72.2	63.2	60.5	66.7	11.1	77.8	63.2	55.3	83.3	83.3	$21,946
Shutesbury Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	23 West Pelham Rd	Shutesbury	01072	Franklin County	Shutesbury	No	No	No	Yes	(413) 259-1212	125	18	6.8		105 (84.0%)	1 (0.8%)	13 (10.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (4.8%)	78.6	195^th of 906 public elementary schools	78.5%		80.9	171^st of 916 public elementary schools	81.3%	24	52.9	63.6	50.0	64.7	57.4	76.5	27.3	68.8	52.9	59.0	75.0	75.0	$26,909
Sunderland Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	1 Swampfield Drive	Sunderland	01375	Franklin County	Sunderland	No	No	No	Yes	(413) 665-1151	174	24	7.1		117 (67.2%)	8 (4.6%)	25 (14.4%)	12 (6.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (6.3%)	57.1	384^th of 906 public elementary schools	57.6%		57.2	401^st of 916 public elementary schools	56.2%	17	33.3	66.7	29.2	54.2	44.1	45.0	66.7	33.3	54.2	48.2	45.8	45.8	$28,463
Bridge Street	Public	PK, KG-5	2 Parsons Street	Northampton	01060	Hampshire County	Northampton	No	No	No	Yes	(413) 587-1460	281	28	10.1		142 (50.5%)	16 (5.7%)	91 (32.4%)	8 (2.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (8.2%)	28.4	648^th of 906 public elementary schools	28.5%		27.9	657^th of 916 public elementary schools	28.3%	9	30.6	37.1	24.3		30.6	43.2	14.3	20.5		26.1	35.1	35.1	$22,858

Frequently Asked Questions about Fort River Elementary

What schools do graduates of Fort River Elementary attend?

Students who attend Fort River Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Amherst Regional Middle School
High : Amherst Regional High

What is the racial makeup of Fort River Elementary?

Students at Fort River Elementary are 42% White, 35% Hispanic, 10% Asian, 7% African American, 6% Two or more races.

How many students attend Fort River Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 371 students attended Fort River Elementary.

Is Fort River Elementary a good school?

Fort River Elementary ranks 354^th of 906 Massachusetts elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What district is Fort River Elementary in?

Amherst

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.