Belcher

Set in Chicopee, Massachusetts, Belcher is a tight-knit elementary school, overseen by Chicopee. It serves 245 students across grades pre-K through 2. That puts it 36% below the typical public school in Massachusetts, which averages around 381 students.

Within Chicopee, which oversees 15 schools and 6,755 students, Belcher is one campus in the system.

In terms of who attends, Belcher shows that the largest single group is Hispanic at 51%, but no single group is in the majority. Other groups include 33% White, 10% Black, 5% multiracial. The wider county runs roughly 27% Hispanic, putting the school's mix visibly more Hispanic than the area baseline.

Looking at the economic backdrop, Staff filings list 21 full-time-equivalent teachers, which works out to roughly 11.7:1 students per teacher. The state averages about 12.2:1, putting this campus right in line with peers.

In the area at large, Hampden County reports that the typical household earns roughly $71,306 per year, 29% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and roughly 12% of residents live below the federal poverty line. In all, Hampden County runs 168 public schools (combined enrollment of about 68,540 students), of which Belcher is one.

The closest other public school is Barry, roughly 0.3 miles away. Within five miles, there are 8 other public schools.

Geographically, the school is in a commuter-belt area.

Five-year trend. Looking back 7 years, enrollment at Belcher has ticked down 10%, going from 271 students in 2018 to 245 in 2025. The White share of enrollment declined from 52% to 33% over that span. Class-load math has narrowed: from 13.6:1 in 2018 to 11.7:1 in 2025.

On allk12, recent activity here tends to focus on pickup logistics, teacher feedback, and after-school programs. Parents, students, alumni, and staff are welcome to weigh in.