Houghton Elementary

Summary:

Houghton Elementary is a public elementary school located in Sterling, MA, serving grades K-4 with a student population of 328. The school is part of the Wachusett District, which is ranked 91 out of 351 districts in Massachusetts and has a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Houghton Elementary consistently outperforms the Wachusett District and the state of Massachusetts in MCAS Next Generation assessments for both English Language Arts and Mathematics across all grades. In the 2023-2024 school year, 54.26% of Houghton students were proficient or better in ELA, compared to 49.13% for the Wachusett District and 39.17% for Massachusetts. In Mathematics, 61.24% of Houghton students were proficient or better, compared to 53.86% for the Wachusett District and 40.91% for Massachusetts. Houghton Elementary's performance is particularly strong in 3rd grade, where 66.1% of students were proficient or better in ELA and 64.41% in Mathematics, outpacing the district and state.

Houghton Elementary has a higher percentage of non-White students compared to the surrounding Wachusett District schools, with 23.48% non-White students in the 2022-2023 school year. The school's performance across various student subgroups, including female students, male students, White students, and special education students, is consistently strong, ranking in the top 25% of Massachusetts elementary schools in many categories. While Houghton Elementary's overall performance is excellent, there may be opportunities to further support specific student subgroups to ensure equitable outcomes.


Detail:

Public K-4

 32 Boutelle Road
       Sterling, MA  01564-2698


(978) 422-2333

District: Wachusett

SchoolDigger Rank:
225th of 916 Massachusetts Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $18,309 Help


Students who attend Houghton Elementary usually attend:

Middle:    Chocksett Middle School
High:    Wachusett Regional High

Student/teacher ratio:  13.4 Help
Number of students:  318

Racial breakdown:

White:
75.8%
Hispanic:
14.8%
Two or more races:
4.1%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  13.6% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Houghton Elementary ranks better than 75.4% of elementary schools in Massachusetts. It also ranks 2nd among 7 ranked elementary schools in the Wachusett School District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 76.81. (See more...)
Student Body
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Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (75.8%), Hispanic (14.8%), two or more races (4.1%). (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Houghton Elementary is 13.4, which is the lowest among 9 elementary schools in the Wachusett School District! (See more...)
Help
Compare Houghton Elementary employs 23.6 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Houghton Elementary is $18,309, which is the 2nd highest among 7 elementary schools in the Wachusett School District.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Houghton Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks Houghton Elementary 225th of 916 Massachusetts public elementary schools. (See Houghton Elementary in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Special Education students:
Female students:
Male students:
White students:


Wachusett:

SchoolDigger ranks Wachusett 91st of 351 Massachusetts school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Houghton Elementary

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Rank History for all students at Houghton Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2003 73.06 253rd 884 71.4%
2004 72.52 265th 882 70.0%
2005 71.75 268th 887 69.8%
2006 76.24 209th 911 77.1%
2007 79.63 172nd 911 81.1%
2008 83.91 119th 908 86.9%
2009 83.94 116th 909 87.2%
2010 86.39 93rd 920 89.9%
2011 89.19 50th 924 94.6%
2012 89.76 51st 930 94.5%
2013 83.81 124th 928 86.6%
2014 84.49 103rd 926 88.9%
2015 86.52 84th 914 90.8%
2016 76.97 202nd 932 78.3%
2017 70.99 265th 938 71.7%
2018 72.81 252nd 934 73.0%
2019 79.64 181st 942 80.8%
2021 70.06 278th 936 70.3%
2022 73.50 242nd 932 74.0%
2023 78.31 200th 928 78.4%
2024 76.81 225th 916 75.4%
See the entire list of Massachusetts Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Special Education students at Houghton Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 42.92 516th 886 41.8%
2019 39.76 572nd 896 36.2%
2021 53.83 369th 894 58.7%
2022 67.52 227th 905 74.9%
2023 71.57 144th 703 79.5%
2024 58.00 237th 731 67.6%
See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Houghton Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2022 70.80 160th 772 79.3%
See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Houghton Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 75.38 202nd 893 77.4%
2019 72.35 231st 902 74.4%
2021 66.33 298th 898 66.8%
2022 61.85 344th 901 61.8%
2023 70.65 261st 887 70.6%
2024 78.96 179th 886 79.8%
See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at Houghton Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 44.12 326th 656 50.3%
2019 41.53 355th 665 46.6%
2022 85.31 54th 672 92.0%
See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Elementary Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Male students at Houghton Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 70.64 256th 898 71.5%
2019 82.55 131st 907 85.6%
2021 70.29 263rd 904 70.9%
2022 79.65 157th 908 82.7%
2023 80.64 158th 896 82.4%
2024 72.92 244th 891 72.6%
See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Tested In Person students at Houghton Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 72.76 253rd 925 72.6%
See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Elementary Schools for Tested In Person Students!

Rank History for White students at Houghton Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 59.70 324th 772 58.0%
2019 72.94 177th 780 77.3%
2021 64.52 255th 765 66.7%
2022 68.04 219th 764 71.3%
2023 70.03 203rd 762 73.4%
2024 71.50 196th 753 74.0%
See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Elementary Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Houghton Elementary Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 





Data source: Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

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Enrollment information for Houghton Elementary

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Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
2000 558 6 4 4 0 n/a n/a 0 572
2001 525 4 1 4 0 n/a n/a 0 534
2002 510 2 4 4 2 n/a n/a 0 522
2003 510 2 4 4 2 n/a n/a 0 522
2004 503 0 3 4 2 n/a n/a 0 512
2005 510 1 3 3 2 n/a n/a 0 519
2006 483 0 3 6 2 n/a n/a 1 495
2007 485 1 5 7 3 n/a n/a 2 503
2008 489 2 7 11 0 n/a n/a 2 511
2009 490 2 8 15 0 0 4 0 519
2010 489 2 11 14 0 0 4 0 520
2011 471 5 13 17 0 0 5 0 511
2012 455 5 12 20 0 0 4 0 496
2013 429 3 11 20 0 0 5 0 468
2014 421 2 11 20 0 0 5 0 459
2015 377 3 9 20 0 0 11 0 420
2016 376 6 10 18 0 0 11 0 421
2017 344 5 10 23 0 0 10 0 392
2018 329 7 7 22 0 0 10 0 375
2019 315 9 7 22 0 0 8 0 361
2020 300 13 9 24 0 0 8 0 354
2021 245 15 9 26 0 0 11 0 306
2022 252 16 10 35 0 0 14 0 327
2023 251 10 10 45 0 0 12 0 328
2024 241 7 10 47 0 0 13 0 318

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Houghton Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
2000 572 n/a 0.0 4.2
2001 534 n/a 0.0 3
2002 522 n/a n/a 4.2
2003 522 n/a n/a 4.2
2004 512 29.4 17.4 3.1
2005 519 31.0 16.7 3.7
2006 495 31.2 15.9 5.3
2007 503 31.0 16.2 3.6
2008 511 27.6 18.5 4.5
2009 519 28.5 18.2 6.9
2010 520 28.4 18.2 5
2011 511 30.0 17.0 9.8
2012 496 30.5 16.2 10.5
2013 468 28.4 16.4 6.2
2014 459 24.0 19.1 5.7
2015 420 23.0 18.2 13.6
2016 421 24.0 17.5 n/a
2017 392 27.5 14.2 n/a
2018 375 23.7 15.7 n/a
2019 361 22.1 16.3 n/a
2020 354 22.6 15.6 n/a
2021 306 24.4 12.5 n/a
2022 327 24.1 13.5 n/a
2023 328 24.7 13.2 n/a
2024 318 23.6 13.4 n/a

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Houghton Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
2000 572 n/a 0.0 4.2
2001 534 n/a 0.0 3
2002 522 n/a n/a 4.2
2003 522 n/a n/a 4.2
2004 512 29.4 17.4 3.1
2005 519 31.0 16.7 3.7
2006 495 31.2 15.9 5.3
2007 503 31.0 16.2 3.6
2008 511 27.6 18.5 4.5
2009 519 28.5 18.2 6.9
2010 520 28.4 18.2 5
2011 511 30.0 17.0 9.8
2012 496 30.5 16.2 10.5
2013 468 28.4 16.4 6.2
2014 459 24.0 19.1 5.7
2015 420 23.0 18.2 13.6
2016 421 24.0 17.5 n/a
2017 392 27.5 14.2 n/a
2018 375 23.7 15.7 n/a
2019 361 22.1 16.3 n/a
2020 354 22.6 15.6 n/a
2021 306 24.4 12.5 n/a
2022 327 24.1 13.5 n/a
2023 328 24.7 13.2 n/a
2024 318 23.6 13.4 n/a

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Houghton Elementary

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $56 (0.4%) $15,136 (99.6%) $15,192
2020 $357 (1.7%) $20,714 (98.3%) $21,071
2021 $427 (2.3%) $17,882 (97.7%) $18,309

Data source: Massachusetts Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Houghton Elementary

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 181st of 942 Elementary schoolsRanks 200th of 928 Elementary schools
 2.3%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Houghton Elementary)7266.7
 5.3%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Wachusett)7255.2
 16.8%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Massachusetts)5643.9
 12.1%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Houghton Elementary)6861.3
 6.7%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Wachusett)6247
 15%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Massachusetts)4941
 8%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Houghton Elementary)7652.2
 23.8%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Wachusett)6446.8
 17.2%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Massachusetts)5239.7
 12.3%
4th Grade Mathematics (Houghton Elementary)5753.7
 3.3%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Wachusett)6153.6
 7.4%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Massachusetts)4945
 4%
All Grades English Language Arts (Houghton Elementary)7259.9
 12.1%
   All Grades English Language Arts (Wachusett)6854.5
 13.5%
   All Grades English Language Arts (Massachusetts)5242.3
 9.7%
All Grades Mathematics (Houghton Elementary)6257.8
 4.3%
   All Grades Mathematics (Wachusett)6454.1
 9.9%
   All Grades Mathematics (Massachusetts)4940.6
 8.4%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students361328
 9.1%
African American910
 11.1%
American Indian00
Asian710
 42.9%
Hispanic2245
 104.5%
Pacific Islander00
White315251
 20.3%
Two or More Races812
 50%


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Frequently Asked Questions about Houghton Elementary

Houghton Elementary ranks 225th of 916 Massachusetts elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Students who attend Houghton Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Chocksett Middle School
High : Wachusett Regional High

Students at Houghton Elementary are 76% White, 15% Hispanic, 4% Two or more races, 3% Asian, 2% African American.

In the 2023-24 school year, 318 students attended Houghton Elementary.


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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.





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