Massachusetts
Here is how well Fall River middle schools ranked in the city and Massachusetts according to new report
U.S. News & World Report, the global authority in education rankings, has released the 2025 Best Middle Schools rankings. The report includes more than 79,000 public schools that are ranked at the state and district level.
The 2025 Best Elementary and Best Middle Schools rankings are based on publicly available data from the U.S. Department of Education. For district-level rankings, at least two of the top performing schools must rank in the top 75% of the overall elementary or middle school rankings to qualify for district-level recognition.
“The 2025 Best Elementary and Middle Schools rankings offer parents a way to evaluate how schools are providing a high-quality education and preparing students for future success,” said LaMont Jones, Ed.D., managing editor for Education at U.S. News. “The data empowers families and communities to advocate for their children’s education. Research continues to indicate that how students perform academically at these early grade levels is a big factor in their success in high school and beyond.”
The rankings methodology focused on state assessments of students who were proficient or above proficient in mathematics and reading/language arts, while accounting for student background and achievement in core subjects. Student-teacher ratios are applied to break ties in the overall score.
Here is how Fall River middle schools fared in the city and the state, according to U.S. News & World Report:
1. Henry Lord Community School #218 in Massachusetts Middle Schools
At Henry Lord Community School, 18% of students scored at or above the proficient level for math, and 18% scored at or above that level for reading. The school’s minority student enrollment is 60%. The student-teacher ratio is 13:1, which is the same as that of the district. The student population is made up of 48% female students and 52% male students. There are 63 equivalent full-time teachers and 2 full-time school counselors.
2. Matthew J. Kuss Middle #240 in Massachusetts Middle Schools
At Matthew J Kuss Middle, 20% of students scored at or above the proficient level for math, and 25% scored at or above that level for reading. The school’s minority student enrollment is 56%. The student-teacher ratio is 13:1, which is the same as that of the district. The student population is made up of 48% female students and 52% male students. There are 52 equivalent full-time teachers and 4 full-time school counselors.
3. John J Doran #259 in Massachusetts Middle Schools
At John J Doran, 19% of students scored at or above the proficient level for math, and 21% scored at or above that level for reading. The school’s minority student enrollment is 59%. The student-teacher ratio is 14:1, which is worse than that of the district. The student population is made up of 47% female students and 53% male students. There are 37 equivalent full-time teachers and 2 full-time school counselors.
4. Morton Middle #312 in Massachusetts Middle Schools
At Morton Middle, 15% of students scored at or above the proficient level for math, and 26% scored at or above that level for reading. The school’s minority student enrollment is 46%. The student-teacher ratio is 14:1, which is worse than that of the district. The student population is made up of 46% female students and 54% male students. There are 49 equivalent full-time teachers and 6 full-time school counselors.
5. Talbot Innovation School #365-487 in Massachusetts Middle Schools
At Talbot Innovation School, 11% of students scored at or above the proficient level for math, and 12% scored at or above that level for reading. The school’s minority student enrollment is 60%. The student-teacher ratio is 10:1, which is better than that of the district. The student population is made up of 51% female students and 49% male students. There are 52 equivalent full-time teachers and 4 full-time school counselors.
Resiliency Preparatory Academy (No ranking)
At Resiliency Preparatory Academy, 10% of students scored at or above the proficient level for math, and 10% scored at or above that level for reading. The school’s minority student enrollment is 67%. The student-teacher ratio is 9:1, which is better than that of the district. The student population is made up of 38% female students and 62% male students. There are 21 equivalent full-time teachers and 4 full-time school counselors.
Stone School (No ranking)
At Stone Pk-12 School, 10% of students scored at or above the proficient level for math, and 10% scored at or above that level for reading. The school’s minority student enrollment is 45%. The student-teacher ratio is 4:1, which is better than that of the district. The student population is made up of 31% female students and 69% male students. There are 17 equivalent full-time teachers and 1 full-time school counselor.
Two Plymouth, Massachusetts teens were saved from the summit of Mount Washington after a leg injury stranded them.
Khang Nguyen,17, said he and his friend, 18-year-old Vaughn Webb, thought they were well prepared for their hike on Saturday. They brought trekking poles, layers, microspikes for their boots and more.
But halfway up the trail, Nguyen feared the worst when his leg began to hurt.
“It was just incredibly painful to lift up my right leg,” he explained. “I told [Vaughn] to leave me behind so I could go on my own pace and for him to reach the summit to get help at first.”
The pair managed to reach the top of the mountain but had to seek shelter next to a building as wind gusts increased, and the air temperature reached 38 degrees. Nguyen said they also ran out of food and water. The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department received the 911 call around 7:30 p.m. and quickly alerted a State Park employee who began to search for the two teens.
“Conservation Officers then began responding in four-wheel-drive pickup trucks to try and get to the summit and back ahead of incoming snow,” the game department said in a statement.
After around 30 minutes of reaching both Webb and Nguyen were found. They were taken inside a building and Nguyen was being treated for his injury.
“The worker that was up there, [said] that they came in record time, and we appreciate their help a lot. It saved our lives potentially,” Nguyen explained.
The pair was successfully taken off the mountain by 10 p.m. The two teens are now safely back in Massachusetts and are incredibly grateful to their rescuers.
As libraries across western Massachusetts celebrate National Library Week from April 19 to April 25, they are honoring “the last real third space where everyone is welcome,” in the words of Greenfield Public Library Assistant Director Lisa Prolman.
According to the American Library Association, National Library Week is “an annual celebration highlighting the valuable role libraries and library professionals play in transforming lives and strengthening our communities.” This year, several libraries in the region will be hosting events to highlight the roles they play in their communities.
The Athol Public Library is among the venues engaging in National Library Week festivities, with a whole host of events starting on Tuesday, April 21, with Silly Goose Story Time at 10:30 a.m. The library will hold multiple events each day, including “Free Book Friday” on April 24, which Assistant Director Robin Shtulman said is “really fantastic.”
Shtulman said the week celebrates and emphasizes the “freedom to read, community outreach and celebrating the staff, without whom nothing would happen.”
The Athol Public Library said in an event announcement that “whatever brings you joy, the library has something for everyone,” and that aspect is being emphasized this National Library Week. To name a few of the events on tap, on Tuesday, April 21, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., there’s a volunteer opportunity where teens will make greeting cards for senior citizens; “A Minecraft Movie” will be shown at the same date and time; and on Thursday, April 23, the library will host Scavenger Hunt Bingo for all ages. For a full list of events at the Athol Public Library, visit atholpubliclibrary.com.
In Shelburne Falls, the Arms Library will feature a gallery from the Carlos Heiligmann Collection, a series of photos of public libraries across western Massachusetts. Also in collaboration with the Arms Library, Pothole Pictures and the Shelburne Falls Area Women’s Club will partner for a screening of “Free For All: The Public Library” on Saturday, April 25, at 2 p.m. at the Shelburne Falls Theater at Memorial Hall.
The documentary focuses on the evolution of the public library from its origins in the 19th century and the challenges it faces today, with modern-day issues such as book bans, funding cuts and debates over censorship.
It also explores the role that women’s clubs, like the one in Shelburne Falls, played in creating the modern library system. To serve their communities, women’s clubs took the lead in fundraising, collecting books and advocating for library legislation.
“Our women’s club in this town started with a group of 60 women who were gathering for lessons. … Because of the support of women in the U.S., we established over 80% of the public libraries [in the country],” said Christin Couture, program chair for the Shelburne Falls Area Women’s Club. “This film … I hear it’s so fascinating.”
Following the film’s screening, there will be a panel of local librarians who will engage in “lively conversation” about the history and future of public libraries. Tickets are $6, though school-age children will be admitted for free.
In Charlemont, Tyler Memorial Library will host an open house on Saturday, April 25, from noon to 2 p.m. featuring refreshments, a tour of the library and sun catcher crafting.
The Greenfield Public Library, meanwhile, is taking National Library Week in a bit of a different direction, as it is offering a book repair demonstration with Tom Hutcheson on Thursday, April 23, at 3:30 p.m. The day marks William Shakespeare’s birthday.
Although the book repair session required registration and is currently full, those who are interested may be placed on a waiting list at greenfieldpl.libcal.com/event/16460179.
Greenfield Public Library Director Anna Bognolo recognized the hard work that everyone has put into making the library a success, offering a “huge thank you” to the volunteers and staff who make its varied offerings possible.
“Stop by and support your library,” Bognolo said.
“Libraries, especially in this economy, are more important than ever,” Prolman said. Referencing the library’s role as a place where community members can go that is not work or home, she added, “They are the last real third space where everyone is welcome, and we don’t charge you for being here.”
Massachusetts
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