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Michael E. Smith Middle School

Q: Is Michael E. Smith Middle School a good school?

Michael E. Smith Middle School ranks 275 th of 478 Massachusetts middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 5-8

275^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 478 Massachusetts Middle Schools

Better than 42% of Massachusetts middle schools

Summary

Michael E. Smith Middle School is a grades 5–8 school with 505 students in the South Hadley school district in western Massachusetts. In 2025–2026 it ranked 275th of 478 Massachusetts schools (42nd percentile, 2 stars), above its district's 31st percentile but below the state midpoint. Its rank history is uneven: the school reached the 68th percentile in 2015–2016, fell to the 33rd in 2018–2019, recovered to the 58th in 2022–2023, held at the 56th in 2023–2024 and 2024–2025, then dropped to the 42nd in 2025–2026.

In 2025–2026, all-grade proficiency was 33.11% in English language arts, 24.77% in math, 38.94% in science, and 34.29% in grade 8 civics. The school edges past its district in ELA, science, and civics but trails it in math, and its math result sits about 16 points below the state's 41.11%. That math gap has persisted for years, so it is not a one-year anomaly. Compared with nearby middle schools, Michael E. Smith outperforms Paul R Baird Middle, Dupont Middle, Bellamy Middle, and schools in Springfield and Holyoke in ELA, science, and civics, but it trails Northampton's John F Kennedy Middle in every core subject and Chestnut Hill Community School in ELA and math.

Resource context is mixed: spending was $14,481 per student in 2020–2021, lower than most nearby middle schools, while the student-teacher ratio of 11.2 is lower than Chestnut Hill's. The school's strongest effectiveness marks in 2025–2026 came for special education students (64th percentile) and low-income students (53rd percentile), both above its overall standing. Bright spots include grade 8 ELA at 43.4% — above the state's 41.7% — and grade 5 science at 42.72%, essentially at state level. The main concerns are sustained math weakness and a broad 2025–2026 drop across subjects that also lowered its rating to 2 stars.

505

Students ?

11.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$18,084

Per pupil spending ?

34.1%

Directly certified for free meals (2024-25) ?

All students in Massachusetts receive free school meals.

100 Mosier Street
South Hadley, MA 01075-1599

(413) 538-5074

District: South Hadley

Students who attend Michael E. Smith Middle School usually attend:

High:

South Hadley High

Feeder schools for Michael E. Smith Middle School:

Elementary:	Mosier
	Plains Elementary

Racial breakdown:

White:

74.7%

Hispanic:

18.6%

Two or more races:

3.2%

See top rated Massachusetts middle schools

Compare Michael E. Smith Middle School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 68th percentile in 2016 → 42nd in 2026

Strengths

✓Small classes — about 11 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Massachusetts average (31% vs 41% meeting standards)

!Ranking has slipped — down 26 percentile points since 2016

!Mathematics scores 16 pts below the Massachusetts average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school31%

District avg31%

Massachusetts avg41%

275^th of 478

Massachusetts public middle schools ?

Bottom 42%▼ down 25 pts since 2016

From top 32% (2016) to bottom 42% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Massachusetts Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

243^rd of 351South Hadley 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	37.7	275 of 478	42.5%	★★☆☆☆
2025	50.8	213 of 484	56.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	51.7	216 of 493	56.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	54.0	209 of 501	58.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	45.9	254 of 497	48.9%	★★☆☆☆
2021	48.8	242 of 501	51.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	34.0	335 of 498	32.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	52.6	222 of 484	54.1%	★★★☆☆
2017	45.1	271 of 487	44.4%	★★☆☆☆
2016	66.0	155 of 482	67.8%	★★★☆☆
2015	59.7	181 of 441	59.0%	★★★☆☆
2014	59.0	191 of 455	58.0%	★★★☆☆
2013	51.9	229 of 455	49.7%	★★★☆☆
2012	50.4	249 of 455	45.3%	★★☆☆☆
2011	41.8	289 of 449	35.6%	★★☆☆☆
2010	48.0	254 of 434	41.5%	★★☆☆☆
2009	48.5	232 of 409	43.3%	★★☆☆☆
2008	56.2	196 of 407	51.8%	★★★☆☆
2007	55.9	194 of 399	51.4%	★★★☆☆
2006	52.4	209 of 399	47.6%	★★☆☆☆
2005	43.1	217 of 356	39.0%	★★☆☆☆
2004	38.0	233 of 344	32.3%	★★☆☆☆
2003	40.0	221 of 339	34.8%	★★☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2022	43.0	203 of 445	54.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	41.3	224 of 431	48.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	45.1	181 of 424	57.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	36.5	233 of 417	44.1%	★★☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2019	32.9	105 of 138	23.9%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2026	41.5	248 of 468	47.0%	★★☆☆☆
2025	52.3	202 of 473	57.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	60.9	175 of 481	63.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	56.5	189 of 489	61.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	43.0	264 of 494	46.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	50.7	220 of 483	54.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	36.4	325 of 478	32.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	56.2	211 of 463	54.4%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2026	31.5	263 of 383	31.3%	★★☆☆☆
2025	45.5	175 of 376	53.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	43.4	183 of 378	51.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	58.4	120 of 364	67.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	47.4	159 of 368	56.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	47.9	146 of 335	56.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	29.7	240 of 322	25.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	40.2	191 of 309	38.2%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2026	46.1	218 of 461	52.7%	★★★☆☆
2025	30.4	340 of 464	26.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	42.4	249 of 469	46.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	38.6	294 of 481	38.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	36.1	319 of 489	34.8%	★★☆☆☆
2021	25.4	374 of 462	19.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	31.6	336 of 452	25.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	54.3	190 of 438	56.6%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2026	33.0	303 of 470	35.5%	★★☆☆☆
2025	47.7	219 of 473	53.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	41.0	263 of 483	45.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	50.0	220 of 489	55.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	48.1	237 of 497	52.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	44.0	254 of 485	47.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	30.7	336 of 478	29.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	47.8	236 of 466	49.4%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2026	52.2	156 of 436	64.2%	★★★☆☆
2025	46.7	172 of 435	60.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	41.4	208 of 441	52.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	34.5	260 of 444	41.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	34.5	333 of 503	33.8%	★★☆☆☆
2021	28.2	375 of 489	23.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	31.9	354 of 484	26.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	49.0	218 of 467	53.3%	★★★☆☆

Tested In Person

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2021	51.1	226 of 491	54.0%	★★★☆☆

Tested Remotely

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2021	47.2	158 of 339	53.4%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2026	28.2	279 of 393	29.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	39.4	216 of 386	44.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	39.2	221 of 392	43.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	41.7	217 of 403	46.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	36.1	247 of 404	38.9%	★★☆☆☆
2021	40.3	232 of 401	42.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	23.2	326 of 396	17.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	44.9	209 of 395	47.1%	★★☆☆☆

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)

Special Education (2026)64th percentile+22 vs school

Disabled (2022)54th percentile+5 vs school

Tested In Person (2021)54th percentile~ school

Tested Remotely (2021)53rd percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)53rd percentile+10 vs school

Female (2026)47th percentile+5 vs school

Male (2026)36th percentile-7 vs school

Hispanic (2026)31st percentile-11 vs school

White (2026)29th percentile-13 vs school

English Language Learner (2019)24th percentile-9 vs school

By subject vs Massachusetts (2025-2026) ?

Science39%~ state avg

Civics34%-5 vs state

English Language Arts33%-7 vs state

Mathematics25%-16 vs state

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Schools Near Michael E. Smith Middle School

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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 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)			MCAS Next Generation Civics (2026)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
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 5th Grade	MCAS Next Generation English Language Arts 6th Grade	MCAS Next Generation English Language Arts 7th Grade	MCAS Next Generation English Language Arts 8th Grade	MCAS Next Generation English Language Arts All Grades	MCAS Next Generation Mathematics 5th Grade	MCAS Next Generation Mathematics 6th Grade	MCAS Next Generation Mathematics 7th Grade	MCAS Next Generation Mathematics 8th Grade	MCAS Next Generation Mathematics All Grades	MCAS Next Generation Science 5th Grade	MCAS Next Generation Science 8th Grade	MCAS Next Generation Science All Grades	MCAS Next Generation Civics 8th Grade	Total
Michael E. Smith Middle School	Public	5-8	100 Mosier Street	South Hadley	01075	Hampshire County	South Hadley	No	No	No	No	(413) 538-5074	505	45	11.2	34.1%	377 (74.7%)	10 (2.0%)	94 (18.6%)	8 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (3.2%)	37.7	275^th of 478 public middle schools	42.5%		50.8	213^th of 484 public middle schools	56.0%	62	27.2	28.3	33.3	43.4	33.1	23.1	28.3	25.6	21.9	24.8	42.7	35.2	38.9	34.3	$18,084
Bellamy Middle	Public	6-8	314 Pendleton Avenue	Chicopee	01020	Hampden County	Chicopee	No	No	No	Yes	(413) 594-3527	776	81	9.5	61.7%	367 (47.3%)	45 (5.8%)	321 (41.4%)	20 (2.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (3.0%)	31.7	317^th of 478 public middle schools	33.7%		27.7	335^th of 484 public middle schools	30.8%	18		23.5	29.7	26.1	26.3		28.3	30.0	30.5	29.6		33.9	33.9	23.5	$24,074
Dr. William R. Peck Middle School	Public	6-8	1916 Northampton Street	Holyoke	01040	Hampden County	Holyoke	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	(n/a)	(413) 534-2040	0			—	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Lt Clayre Sullivan Middle School	Public	6-8	400 Jarvis Avenue	Holyoke	01040	Hampden County	Holyoke	No	No	No	Yes	(413) 534-2060	463	45	10.4	81.0%	47 (10.2%)	31 (6.7%)	371 (80.1%)	8 (1.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (1.3%)	7.1	467^th of 478 public middle schools	2.3%		8.6	458^th of 484 public middle schools	5.4%	9		12.4	8.4	12.0	11.1		5.1	1.7	4.6	3.9		5.3	5.3	9.9	$24,469
Dupont Middle	Public	6-8	650 Front Street	Chicopee	01013	Hampden County	Chicopee	No	No	No	Yes	(413) 594-1881	683	72	9.5	69.5%	291 (42.6%)	42 (6.1%)	316 (46.3%)	14 (2.0%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (2.6%)	27	338^th of 478 public middle schools	29.3%		30	324^th of 484 public middle schools	33.1%	14		28.5	17.8	29.9	25.5		27.1	15.2	26.8	23.1		32.9	32.9	23.1	$24,636
John F Kennedy Middle	Public	6-8	1385 Berkshire Avenue	Springfield	01151	Hampden County	Springfield	No	No	No	Yes	(413) 787-7510	366	39	9.3	91.3%	19 (5.2%)	76 (20.8%)	260 (71.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (2.7%)	6.1	470^th of 478 public middle schools	1.7%		11.2	443^rd of 484 public middle schools	8.5%	27		10.0	6.5	10.1	8.8		6.6	2.9	3.5	4.4		4.6	4.6	3.6	$27,390
Van Sickle Academy	Public	6-8	1170 Carew Street	Springfield	01104	Hampden County	Springfield	No	No	No	Yes	(413) 750-2887	262	23	11.4	88.9%	21 (8.0%)	24 (9.2%)	205 (78.2%)	6 (2.3%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.9%)	12.7	430^th of 478 public middle schools	10.0%		20.5	387^th of 484 public middle schools	20.0%	43		13.3	13.6	25.0	17.5		5.6	10.6	10.7	8.8		12.9	12.9	17.9	$28,285
Van Sickle Prep	Public	6-8	1170 Carew Street	Springfield	01104	Hampden County	Springfield	No	No	No	Yes	(413) 750-2887	206	18	11.4	90.8%	16 (7.8%)	40 (19.4%)	146 (70.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.9%)	10.3	445^th of 478 public middle schools	6.9%		14.8	424^th of 484 public middle schools	12.4%	21		12.5	16.7	17.0	15.3		7.8	1.5	11.9	6.9		6.7	6.7	17.5	$38,696
Paul R Baird Middle	Public	6-8	1 Rooney Road	Ludlow	01056	Hampden County	Ludlow	No	No	No	No	(413) 583-5685	513	46	11.1	39.0%	377 (73.5%)	12 (2.3%)	104 (20.3%)	7 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (2.5%)	33.2	306^th of 478 public middle schools	36.0%		33.7	300^th of 484 public middle schools	38.0%	6		11.5	18.2	31.9	20.7		43.3	28.5	26.2	32.8		35.8	35.8	29.6	$21,711
John F Kennedy Middle School	Public	6-8	100 Bridge Rd	Florence	01062	Hampshire County	Northampton	No	No	No	Yes	(413) 587-1489	577	57	10.1	32.2%	388 (67.2%)	23 (4.0%)	102 (17.7%)	11 (1.9%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	48 (8.3%)	64.1	151^st of 478 public middle schools	68.4%		59.8	179^th of 484 public middle schools	63.0%	28		53.1	46.9	56.2	52.1		38.2	41.6	34.4	38.1		53.9	53.9	43.4	$22,474

Frequently Asked Questions about Michael E. Smith Middle School

What high school do graduates of Michael E. Smith Middle School attend?

Students who attend Michael E. Smith Middle School usually go on to attend South Hadley High

How many students attend Michael E. Smith Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 505 students attended Michael E. Smith Middle School.

Is Michael E. Smith Middle School a good school?

Michael E. Smith Middle School ranks 275^th of 478 Massachusetts middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What district is Michael E. Smith Middle School in?

South Hadley

What is the racial makeup of Michael E. Smith Middle School?

Students at Michael E. Smith Middle School are 75% White, 19% Hispanic, 3% Two or more races, 2% African American, 2% Asian.

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Latest Massachusetts data All new data »

2024–25 school spending dataNewNov 1, 2026

2020–21 through 2023–24 school spending data (updated)NewNov 1, 2026

2023–24 through 2024–25 teacher salary dataNewNov 1, 2026

2020–21 through 2022–23 teacher salary data (updated)NewNov 1, 2026

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.