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Very Good

#539 of 1,793 schools in MA

Top 30% in state

Bowen

Elementary School · Newton

280 Cypress Street, Newton Centre, MA 02459

Enrollment

355

Student-Teacher

11.8:1

Score

7.3

Grades

Kindergarten – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Massachusetts schools

#539 of 1,793

In Newton Centre

#7 of 7

public schools

In district

#18 of 22

Newton

School environment

9.4 / 10

Excellent

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Bowen

7.3/10

Elementary School in Newton Centre · grades Kindergarten – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Newton South High

9.4/10

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

Wellan Montessori School

8.1/10

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

About Bowen

Bowen is a public elementary school in Newton Centre, MA, part of Newton. Bowen serves approximately 355 students, and covers grades Kindergarten-5th, and has a 11.8:1 student-teacher ratio. Bowen has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.3 out of 10 and ranks #539 of 1,793 schools in MA.

Structured state assessment records for Bowen show 69% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 68% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares1.0 pts below district
  • This school 7.3 · Very Good
  • District avg 8.3
  • MA avg 6.3

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress6.0Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data17
Annual Change-1.77 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics8.2Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency62.3% (2025 MCAS)
Reading/ELA Proficiency57.3% (2025 MCAS)
Math vs. State Avg+20.2 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+14.7 pts
Overall Proficiency60% (2025 MCAS, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)56% (model expectation from 2025 MCAS)
vs. Expected+4.3 pts
Adjusted Percentile73th
Resources & Environment9.4Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio11.8:1
Per-Pupil Spending$27,226
Chronic Absenteeism14.6%

Bowen — Students at Bowen score 60% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 56%).

How we calculate scores →

Test Scores MA MCAS (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 68.6% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
43.0% (multi-year state average, 2018-2025)
ELA Proficiency 68.2% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
45.6% (multi-year state average, 2018-2025)

Based on 82 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
84%
ELA
86%
2010
Math
87%
ELA
85%
2011
Math
81%
ELA
82%
2012
Math
84%
ELA
79%
2013
Math
86%
ELA
80%
2014
Math
79%
ELA
70%
2015
Math
74%
ELA
78%
2016
Math
61%
ELA
64%
2017
Math
75%
ELA
71%
2018
Math
74.8%
ELA
72%
2019
Math
72.3%
ELA
69.8%
2020*
Math
52%
ELA
67%
2021*
Math
54.5%
ELA
67.3%
2022
Math
64%
ELA
60.8%
2023
Math
62.3%
ELA
57.3%
2024
Math
67.7%
ELA
67%
2025
Math
62.3%
ELA
57.3%

* 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: 6.0/10.

How Bowen Compares

See how Bowen performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
7.3/10
70th percentile in MA
Academic
8.2/10
Excellent
Growth
6.0/10
Average
Environment
9.4/10
Excellent

Funding & Resources

Teaching Staff
12:1 student-teacher ratio
30 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
14.6%

Location

280 Cypress Street, Newton Centre, MA 02459

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Bowen may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Memorial Spaulding (rated 9.5/10, 1.4 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is John Ward (rated 9.0/10, 1.4 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Mason-Rice (rated 8.6/10, 1.0 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Newton Centre, see our Newton Centre schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.8 mi
School Distance Rating
Newton South High Newton Centre 0.5 mi 9.4
WELLAN MONTESSORI SCHOOL Newton 0.7 mi 8.1
Oak Hill Middle Newton Centre 0.8 mi 8.6
Charles E Brown Middle Newton Centre 0.9 mi 9.4
Mason-Rice Newton Centre 1.0 mi 8.6
Countryside Newton Highlands 0.9 mi 8.2
John Ward Newton Centre 1.4 mi 9.0
Memorial Spaulding Newton Centre 1.4 mi 9.5
MOUNT ALVERNIA ACADEMY Chestnut Hill 1.4 mi 5.8
MT ALVERNIA HIGH SCHOOL Newton 1.6 mi 7.1
BEAVER COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL Chestnut Hill 1.2 mi 7.9
B C CAMPUS SCHOOL Chestnut Hill 1.3 mi
THE CHESTNUT HILLSCHOOL Chestnut Hill 1.3 mi 8.4
NEWTON COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL Newton 1.7 mi 7.7
BRIMMER & MAY SCHOOL Chestnut Hill 1.4 mi 7.6
Cabot Newtonville 2.0 mi 6.4
SOLOMON SCHECHTEE DAY SCHOOL Newton 2.1 mi 6.1
Newton North High Newtonville 1.9 mi 8.8
Zervas Waban 1.7 mi 6.9
FUSION ACADEMY NEWTON Newton 1.8 mi 5.3

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 02459 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$214,941

Median Home Value

$1,336,200

Median Rent

$2,308/mo

Population

18,604

College Educated

84.3%

Homeownership

83.3%

Avg Commute

28.3 min

Poverty Rate

3.4%

Median Age

45.9

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Annie L Sargent School North Andover, MA 7.3
Early Childhood Center Dedham, MA 7.3
East Fairhaven Fairhaven, MA 7.3
Fisher Walpole, MA 7.3
Golden Hill Haverhill, MA 7.3
Hill-Roberts Elementary School Attleboro, MA 7.3

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Bowen

What grades does Bowen serve?

Bowen serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.

How many students attend Bowen?

Bowen has an enrollment of approximately 355 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Bowen?

The student-teacher ratio at Bowen is 11.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Bowen rank in MA?

Bowen ranks #539 of 1,793 schools in MA.

What is Bowen's MySchoolScout rating?

Bowen has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.3 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 Bowen?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Bowen has 69% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 68% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Bowen a charter school?

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

Is Bowen a Title I school?

No, Bowen is not currently a Title I school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
34 Car-Dependent
Transit Score
45 Some Transit
Bike Score
48 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
355
Student-Teacher Ratio
11.8:1
Teachers (FTE)
30
Type
regular
Setting
Small City
County
Middlesex County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
14.6%

District

Newton
District Enrollment
11,752
Schools in District
22
Per-Pupil Spending
$27,226
District Rank
#18 of 22

How we rate schools

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