Fairfax School District

The Fairfax School District in Vermont is home to two schools: Bellows Free Academy Elementary (Fairfax) and Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax). While the middle/high school consistently ranks among the top schools in Vermont and excels in science proficiency, the elementary school struggles with lower-than-average English Language Arts and Mathematics scores.

Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) has earned 3-4 out of 5 stars from SchoolDigger and boasts impressive science proficiency rates, with 62.69% of 11th graders and 43.94% of 8th graders scoring proficient or better on the VTCAP science assessment. In contrast, Bellows Free Academy Elementary (Fairfax) has a predominantly white student population (95.51%) and struggles with proficiency rates in English Language Arts (41.77% to 50% proficient or better) and Mathematics (20.31% to 42.65% proficient or better) across grades 3-6.

The data also reveals potential equity concerns, with both schools having relatively high free and reduced lunch rates (14.42% and 15.7%), suggesting the presence of socioeconomic challenges that may impact student performance and access to resources. Additionally, the stark racial homogeneity of the student populations, particularly at the elementary school, raises questions about the diversity and inclusiveness of the school community.