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Wm L Foster Elementary

Q: Is Wm L Foster Elementary a good school?

Wm L Foster Elementary ranks 124 th of 899 Massachusetts elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

124^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 899 Massachusetts Elementary Schools

Better than 86% of Massachusetts elementary schools

Summary

Wm L Foster Elementary is a PK–5 school with 402 students in Hingham, Massachusetts, a South Shore town whose schools belong to the high-performing Hingham district, ranked 22nd out of 351 Massachusetts districts.

For 2025-2026, Wm L Foster ranked 124th out of 899 Massachusetts elementary schools (86th percentile, 4 stars) — still strong, but a step down from its recent pattern of roughly 32nd to 50th statewide. Test scores remain far above state averages: 65.76% proficient in ELA, 63.04% in math, and 85.48% in science, compared with about 40% statewide in each subject. Science is the school's clearest anchor, second among Hingham elementaries behind Plymouth River. In 2025-2026 the school came in below its own district average in ELA and math while staying above it in science.

Within Hingham, Plymouth River is the current benchmark (21st statewide), while South Elementary posts higher math but lower ELA and science, and East Elementary School posts higher ELA but lower math and science. Compared with nearby out-of-district schools, Wm L Foster sits in a different tier — its ELA and math are about 10 points above Lillian M Jacobs in Hull, and far above Quincy and Weymouth schools such as Snug Harbor Community School and Atherton Hough. Grade-level results split: 3rd grade ELA and math and 4th grade ELA fall below district, while 5th grade ELA, math and science are all above. Special education students are a notable strength, ranking at the 91st percentile in 2025-2026 after placing 2nd and 4th in the state the two prior years. Spending ($16,522 per student) and class size (12.4 students per teacher) are unremarkable among Hingham elementaries, so results do not appear driven by extra resources. The open question is whether the 2025-2026 ELA and math dip is a one-year fluctuation or a new trend.

402

Students ?

12.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

$21,755

Per pupil spending ?

7.5%

Directly certified for free meals (2024-25) ?

All students in Massachusetts receive free school meals.

99%

Kindergartners with all required immunizations (2025-26)

Exemptions: 1% (any vaccine)

55 Downer Avenue
Hingham, MA 02043-2523

(781) 741-1520

District: Hingham

Students who attend Wm L Foster Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Hingham Middle School
High:	Hingham High

Racial breakdown:

White:

86.1%

Two or more races:

6.7%

Hispanic:

4.0%

See top rated Massachusetts elementary schools

Compare Wm L Foster Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 88th percentile in 2016 → 86th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Massachusetts average (67% vs 41% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 14% of Massachusetts elementary schools

Worth a look

!Near the bottom of Hingham's ranking

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school67%

District avg71%

Massachusetts avg41%

124^th of 899

Massachusetts public elementary schools ?

Top 14%▼ down 2 pts since 2016

See the entire ranking list of Massachusetts Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

4^th of 4Elementary Schools in the Hingham

22^nd of 351Hingham 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
2026	84.9	124 of 899	86.2%	★★★★☆
2025	94.0	34 of 906	96.2%	★★★★★
2024	93.1	40 of 916	95.6%	★★★★★
2023	92.7	50 of 928	94.6%	★★★★★
2022	93.1	39 of 932	95.8%	★★★★★
2021	93.7	32 of 936	96.6%	★★★★★
2019	95.2	10 of 942	98.9%	★★★★★
2018	93.9	12 of 934	98.7%	★★★★★
2017	92.0	30 of 938	96.8%	★★★★★
2016	85.4	108 of 932	88.4%	★★★★☆
2015	86.7	79 of 914	91.4%	★★★★★
2014	84.8	98 of 926	89.4%	★★★★☆
2013	84.5	112 of 928	87.9%	★★★★☆
2012	82.7	139 of 930	85.1%	★★★★☆
2011	76.7	223 of 924	75.9%	★★★★☆
2010	79.0	188 of 920	79.6%	★★★★☆
2009	80.3	163 of 909	82.1%	★★★★☆
2008	81.1	153 of 908	83.1%	★★★★☆
2007	86.3	88 of 911	90.3%	★★★★★
2006	89.1	58 of 911	93.6%	★★★★★
2005	81.6	150 of 887	83.1%	★★★★☆
2004	72.8	256 of 882	71.0%	★★★★☆
2003	71.4	272 of 884	69.2%	★★★☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2022	91.2	27 of 672	96.0%	★★★★★
2021	87.8	45 of 632	92.9%	★★★★★
2019	91.2	24 of 665	96.4%	★★★★★
2018	85.9	53 of 656	91.9%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2026	82.4	130 of 869	85.0%	★★★★☆
2025	91.1	51 of 869	94.1%	★★★★★
2024	88.3	71 of 886	92.0%	★★★★★
2023	90.0	59 of 887	93.3%	★★★★★
2022	87.7	96 of 901	89.3%	★★★★☆
2021	90.8	52 of 898	94.2%	★★★★★
2019	92.1	25 of 902	97.2%	★★★★★
2018	92.0	22 of 893	97.5%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2018	98.4	3 of 685	99.6%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2026	84.3	117 of 879	86.7%	★★★★☆
2025	94.6	15 of 884	98.3%	★★★★★
2024	94.6	21 of 891	97.6%	★★★★★
2023	91.9	46 of 896	94.9%	★★★★★
2022	94.8	17 of 908	98.1%	★★★★★
2021	93.9	17 of 904	98.1%	★★★★★
2019	94.9	10 of 907	98.9%	★★★★★
2018	92.9	15 of 898	98.3%	★★★★★

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2026	83.2	63 of 709	91.1%	★★★★★
2025	98.9	4 of 717	99.4%	★★★★★
2024	99.6	2 of 731	99.7%	★★★★★
2023	97.6	8 of 703	98.9%	★★★★★
2022	82.8	92 of 905	89.8%	★★★★☆
2021	78.6	130 of 894	85.5%	★★★★☆
2019	81.6	91 of 896	89.8%	★★★★☆
2018	85.5	69 of 886	92.2%	★★★★★

Tested In Person

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2021	93.4	32 of 925	96.5%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2026	76.8	135 of 734	81.6%	★★★★☆
2025	90.4	37 of 737	95.0%	★★★★★
2024	86.4	65 of 753	91.4%	★★★★★
2023	87.3	61 of 762	92.0%	★★★★★
2022	88.6	43 of 764	94.4%	★★★★★
2021	90.1	31 of 765	95.9%	★★★★★
2019	92.8	19 of 780	97.6%	★★★★★
2018	90.5	23 of 772	97.0%	★★★★★

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)

Low Socio Economic Status (2018)100th percentile~ school

Tested In Person (2021)97th percentile~ school

Disabled (2022)96th percentile~ school

Special Education (2026)91st percentile+5 vs school

Male (2026)87th percentile~ school

Female (2026)85th percentile~ school

White (2026)82nd percentile-5 vs school

By subject vs Massachusetts (2025-2026) ?

Science85%+45 vs state

English Language Arts66%+26 vs state

Mathematics63%+22 vs state

★

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Schools Near Wm L Foster Elementary

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				MCAS Next Generation English Language Arts (2026)						MCAS Next Generation Mathematics (2026)						MCAS Next Generation Science (2026)		Vaccination (2025-26)		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	Directly certified (2024-25)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	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 7th 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 7th Grade	MCAS Next Generation Mathematics All Grades	MCAS Next Generation Science 5th Grade	MCAS Next Generation Science All Grades	Vaccination: Kindergartners with all required immunizations	Vaccination: Exemption rate	Total
Wm L Foster Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	55 Downer Avenue	Hingham	02043	Plymouth County	Hingham	No	No	No	Yes	(781) 741-1520	402	32	12.4	7.5%	346 (86.1%)	6 (1.5%)	16 (4.0%)	6 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	27 (6.7%)	84.9	124^th of 899 public elementary schools	86.2%		94	34^th of 906 public elementary schools	96.2%	90	55.1	58.8	82.8			65.8	46.4	73.1	73.0			63.0	85.5	85.5	99%	1%	$21,755
East Elementary School	Public	K-5	2 Collins Street	Hingham	02043	Plymouth County	Hingham	No	No	No	No	(781) 741-1570	502	41	12.3	8.8%	469 (93.4%)	4 (0.8%)	9 (1.8%)	11 (2.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (1.6%)	88.7	91^st of 899 public elementary schools	89.9%		94.1	33^rd of 906 public elementary schools	96.4%	58	65.8	72.5	80.0			72.5	55.7	61.3	72.5			62.7	72.5	72.5	99%	1%	$21,468
Wessagusset	Public	K-5	75 Pilgrim Road	North Weymouth	02191	Norfolk County	Weymouth	No	No	No	Yes	(781) 335-2210	329	26	12.8	32.2%	223 (67.8%)	28 (8.5%)	25 (7.6%)	30 (9.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (7.0%)	51.2	445^th of 899 public elementary schools	50.5%		52.9	426^th of 906 public elementary schools	53.0%	19	42.0	42.0	42.9			42.3	44.0	47.8	33.3			41.8	39.7	39.7	97%	3%	$17,907
Lawrence W Pingree	Public	K-5	1250 Commercial Street	Weymouth	02189	Norfolk County	Weymouth	No	No	No	Yes	(781) 337-2974	266	20	13.4	36.8%	190 (71.4%)	10 (3.8%)	36 (13.5%)	15 (5.6%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (5.3%)	55.1	403^rd of 899 public elementary schools	55.2%		65.9	322^nd of 906 public elementary schools	64.5%	81	40.9	35.3	45.5			41.0	36.4	55.9	39.5			43.0	56.8	56.8			$18,924
Plymouth River	Public	K-5	200 High Street	Hingham	02043	Plymouth County	Hingham	No	No	No	Yes	(781) 741-1530	352	32	11.1	8.0%	306 (86.9%)	12 (3.4%)	19 (5.4%)	4 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (3.1%)	95.3	21^st of 899 public elementary schools	97.7%		96.7	5^th of 906 public elementary schools	99.4%	16	72.6	71.7	88.1			77.1	68.5	78.3	76.3			74.0	86.4	86.4	100%	0%	$21,933
Atherton Hough	Public	K-5	1084 Sea Street	Quincy	02169	Norfolk County	Quincy	No	No	No	No	(617) 984-8797	256	24	10.4	31.6%	166 (64.8%)	19 (7.4%)	21 (8.2%)	27 (10.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	22 (8.6%)	17.1	760^th of 899 public elementary schools	15.5%		24.7	681^st of 906 public elementary schools	24.8%	79	10.5	21.6	11.8			14.3	36.8	32.4	17.7			27.8	18.0	18.0	93%	5%	$23,396
Academy Avenue	Public	K-5	94 Academy Avenue	Weymouth	02189	Norfolk County	Weymouth	No	No	No	No	(781) 335-4717	357	24	15.1	40.9%	228 (63.9%)	36 (10.1%)	58 (16.2%)	13 (3.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	21 (5.9%)	66.3	299^th of 899 public elementary schools	66.7%		63.8	334^th of 906 public elementary schools	63.1%	35	44.4	45.2	63.8			50.8	41.3	51.6	49.2			47.3	61.0	61.0			$17,568
Snug Harbor Community School	Public	PK, KG-5	333 Palmer Street	Quincy	02169	Norfolk County	Quincy	No	No	No	Yes	(617) 984-8763	380	30	12.8	73.9%	104 (27.4%)	58 (15.3%)	67 (17.6%)	113 (29.7%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	37 (9.7%)	22.6	704^th of 899 public elementary schools	21.7%		21.1	722^nd of 906 public elementary schools	20.3%	18	22.0	20.0	25.6			22.5	31.7	33.3	27.9			31.0	20.9	20.9	94%	6%	$23,193
South Elementary	Public	K-5	831 Main Street	Hingham	02043	Plymouth County	Hingham	No	No	No	No	(781) 741-1540	496	34	14.4	4.4%	446 (89.9%)	7 (1.4%)	6 (1.2%)	29 (5.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (1.6%)	89.6	77^th of 899 public elementary schools	91.4%		90.9	59^th of 906 public elementary schools	93.5%	18	56.5	68.1	62.5			62.5	67.1	70.3	71.3			69.5	82.5	82.5	100%	0%	$20,440
Lillian M Jacobs	Public	PK, KG-7	18 Harborview Rd	Hull	02045	Plymouth County	Hull	No	No	No	Yes	(781) 925-4400	434	48	8.9	33.4%	382 (88.0%)	11 (2.5%)	20 (4.6%)	4 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (3.9%)	76.9	205^th of 899 public elementary schools	77.2%		73.4	241^st of 906 public elementary schools	73.4%	36	51.1	51.9	55.3	72.0	48.0	55.7	51.1	57.7	39.5	72.0	36.7	52.1	63.9	63.9	100%	0%	$29,750

Frequently Asked Questions about Wm L Foster Elementary

What is the racial makeup of Wm L Foster Elementary?

Students at Wm L Foster Elementary are 86% White, 7% Two or more races, 4% Hispanic, 1% African American, 1% Asian.

What schools do graduates of Wm L Foster Elementary attend?

Students who attend Wm L Foster Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Hingham Middle School
High : Hingham High

What district is Wm L Foster Elementary in?

Hingham

How many students attend Wm L Foster Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 402 students attended Wm L Foster Elementary.

Is Wm L Foster Elementary a good school?

Wm L Foster Elementary ranks 124^th of 899 Massachusetts elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Rate Wm L Foster Elementary!

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Latest Massachusetts data All new data »

2013–14 through 2025–26 immunization rates (updated)NewOct 20, 2026

2024–25 dropout rates & graduation ratesMar 5, 2026

2024–25 MCAS Next Generation test scoresSep 29, 2025

2023–24 school spending dataMay 8, 2025

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.