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Average

#1239 of 1,793 schools in MA

Alexander B Bruce

Middle School · Lawrence

135 Butler Street, Lawrence, MA 01841

Enrollment

416

Student-Teacher

9.7:1

Score

5.3

Grades

3rd – 8th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Massachusetts schools

#1,239 of 1,793

In Lawrence

#10 of 29

public schools

In district

#8 of 26

Lawrence

School environment

7.1 / 10

Very Good

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Alexander B Bruce

5.3/10

Middle School in Lawrence · grades 3rd – 8th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Lawrence Family Public Academy

4.4/10

0.2 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Gerard A. Guilmette

3.2/10

0.3 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Alexander B Bruce

Alexander B Bruce is a public middle school in Lawrence, MA, part of Lawrence. Alexander B Bruce serves approximately 416 students, and covers grades 3rd-8th, and has a 9.7:1 student-teacher ratio. Alexander B Bruce has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.3 out of 10 and ranks #1,239 of 1,793 schools in MA.

Structured state assessment records for Alexander B Bruce show 19% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 22% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it comparesOn par with district
  • This school 5.3 · Average
  • District avg 5.0
  • MA avg 6.4

What Parents Should Know

At 9.7:1 students to teachers, Alexander B Bruce sits well below the national average. Smaller classes like that usually mean more one-on-one time between students and teachers.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress5.7Average40%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data17
Annual Change-1.86 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics3.7Needs Improvement35%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency16.2% (2025 MCAS)
Reading/ELA Proficiency14.5% (2025 MCAS)
Math vs. State Avg-25.9 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-28.1 pts
Overall Proficiency15% (2025 MCAS, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)22% (model expectation from 2025 MCAS)
vs. Expected-7.0 pts
Adjusted Percentile18th
Resources & Environment7.1Very Good25%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio9.7:1
Per-Pupil Spending$23,208
Chronic Absenteeism23.3%

Alexander B Bruce — Students at Alexander B Bruce score 15% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 22%).

How we calculate scores →

Test Scores MA MCAS (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 19.4% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
42.4% (multi-year state average, 2018-2025)
ELA Proficiency 21.6% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
45.5% (multi-year state average, 2018-2025)

Based on 130 test records from MA state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
25%
ELA
39%
2010
Math
22%
ELA
37%
2011
Math
25%
ELA
34%
2012
Math
29%
ELA
28%
2013
Math
31%
ELA
30%
2014
Math
38%
ELA
32%
2015
Math
43%
ELA
42%
2016
Math
33%
ELA
28%
2017
Math
25%
ELA
29%
2018
Math
24.4%
ELA
27%
2019
Math
26.7%
ELA
28.7%
2020*
Math
10%
ELA
19%
2021*
Math
9.6%
ELA
18.1%
2022
Math
13.9%
ELA
15.1%
2023
Math
15.2%
ELA
17.5%
2024
Math
16.3%
ELA
12.5%
2025
Math
16.2%
ELA
14.5%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 5.7/10.

How Alexander B Bruce Compares

See how Alexander B Bruce performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
5.3/10
31th percentile in MA
Academic
3.7/10
Needs Improvement
Growth
5.7/10
Average
Environment
7.1/10
Very Good

Funding & Resources

Teaching Staff
10:1 student-teacher ratio
43 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
23.3%

Location

135 Butler Street, Lawrence, MA 01841

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Alexander B Bruce may also want to explore other middle schools in the area. BLESSED STEPHEN BELLESINI O.S.A. ACADEMY (rated 5.6/10, 0.7 miles away), with a very similar rating. Another option is Guilmette Middle School (rated 5.2/10, 0.3 miles away), with a very similar rating. Additionally, Arlington Middle School (rated 4.9/10, 1.0 miles away), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Lawrence, see our Lawrence schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.2 mi
School Distance Rating
Lawrence Family Public Academy Lawrence 0.2 mi 4.4
Gerard A. Guilmette Lawrence 0.3 mi 3.2
Guilmette Middle School Lawrence 0.3 mi 5.2
James F Hennessey Lawrence 0.5 mi 4.9
Lawrence Family Development Charter School Lawrence 0.5 mi 3.3
BLESSED STEPHEN BELLESINI O.S.A. ACADEMY Lawrence 0.7 mi 5.6
RISE Academy Lawrence 0.9 mi 4.7
Oliver Elementary School Lawrence 0.9 mi 3.1
Arlington Middle School Lawrence 1.0 mi 4.9
Arlington Elementary Lawrence 1.0 mi 2.4
GLCAC CHILD CARE CENTER Lawrence 1.0 mi
ST ANN'S HOME Methuen 0.8 mi 7.6
Emily G Wetherbee Lawrence 0.9 mi 5.1
John K Tarbox Lawrence 1.1 mi 5.6
Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical Andover 1.1 mi 8.5
Francis M Leahy Lawrence 1.0 mi 3.3
School for Exceptional Studies Lawrence 1.0 mi 4.2
Oliver Middle School Lawrence 1.0 mi 4.0
High School Learning Center Lawrence 1.1 mi 4.7
Lawlor Early Childhood Center Lawrence 1.2 mi 3.7

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 01841 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$54,525

Median Home Value

$393,800

Median Rent

$1,565/mo

Population

52,761

College Educated

14.6%

Homeownership

32.3%

Avg Commute

23.4 min

Poverty Rate

19.2%

Median Age

31.5

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Frederick Pilot Middle School Dorchester, MA 5.3
John F Kennedy Middle School Woburn, MA 5.3
Guilmette Middle School Lawrence, MA 5.2
Kiley Prep Springfield, MA 5.2
Lawrence Falmouth, MA 5.2
Leicester Middle Leicester, MA 5.2

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Alexander B Bruce

What grades does Alexander B Bruce serve?

Alexander B Bruce serves students in grades 3rd through 8th.

How many students attend Alexander B Bruce?

Alexander B Bruce has an enrollment of approximately 416 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Alexander B Bruce?

The student-teacher ratio at Alexander B Bruce is 9.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Alexander B Bruce rank in MA?

Alexander B Bruce ranks #1,239 of 1,793 schools in MA.

What is Alexander B Bruce's MySchoolScout rating?

Alexander B Bruce has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.3 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Alexander B Bruce?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Alexander B Bruce has 19% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 22% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Alexander B Bruce a charter school?

No, Alexander B Bruce is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Alexander B Bruce a Title I school?

No, Alexander B Bruce is not currently a Title I school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
67 Somewhat Walkable
Transit Score
38 Some Transit
Bike Score
37 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
3rd – 8th
Enrollment
416
Student-Teacher Ratio
9.7:1
Teachers (FTE)
43
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Essex County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
23.3%

District

Lawrence
District Enrollment
13,008
Schools in District
26
Per-Pupil Spending
$23,208
District Rank
#8 of 26

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