Below Average
#1538 of 1,793 schools in MA
Hawthorne Brook
Middle School · North Middlesex · Townsend, MA
A North Middlesex middle school where students score 18 points below what's typical for similar communities.
64 Brookline Street, Townsend, MA 01469
- Math 27% vs MA 41% (2025)
- Reading 38% vs MA 43% (2025)
- 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Hawthorne Brook score 33% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 51%).
2025 MCAS proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. MA average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 10 points since 2022, to 33% in 2025, across a 17-year record (2009–2025).
Show all 17 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 39% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 52% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 116 test records from MA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateThe neighborhood
Where Hawthorne Brook sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries. Open the Boston map →
Getting around & local context
- Walk 17Car-Dependent
- Bike 23Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: Average591/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Townsend), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$113,162
Median home value
$385,200
Median rent
$1,121/mo
College educated
40.7%
Homeownership
84.3%
Poverty rate
6.5%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 01469; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
2 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Captain Samuel Douglass AcademyEnrollment path unverified | 7.8 | 4–6 | 3.0 mi | 247 | Compare → |
| Nissitissit Middle SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 4.3 | 5–8 | Not available | 486 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
North Middlesex
- Schools in district
- 7
- Rank in district
- #6 of 7
- District spending per student
- $20,148NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 6.4%Census SAIPE · 2024
Hawthorne Brook is listed in North Middlesex; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Hawthorne Brook
Hawthorne Brook is a public middle school in Townsend, MA, part of North Middlesex, serving approximately 452 students in grades 5th-8th with a 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 4.4 out of 10 and ranks #1,538 of 1,793 schools in MA. State assessment records show 39% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 52% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Hawthorne Brook
What grades does Hawthorne Brook serve?
Hawthorne Brook serves students in grades 5th through 8th.
How many students attend Hawthorne Brook?
Hawthorne Brook has an enrollment of approximately 452 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Hawthorne Brook?
The student-teacher ratio at Hawthorne Brook is 11.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Hawthorne Brook rank in MA?
Hawthorne Brook ranks #1,538 of 1,793 schools in MA.
What is Hawthorne Brook's MySchoolScout rating?
Hawthorne Brook has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.4 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 Hawthorne Brook?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Hawthorne Brook has 39% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 52% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Hawthorne Brook a charter school?
No, Hawthorne Brook is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Hawthorne Brook a Title I school?
No, Hawthorne Brook is not currently a Title I school.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- 5th – 8th
- Enrollment
- 452
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 11.9:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 38
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Fringe Rural
- County
- Middlesex County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 17.7%
- Phone
- (978) 597-6914
- Area population (ZIP 01469)
- 6,803
- Area average commute
- 41 min
- Area median age
- 40.4
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 MCAS · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 MCAS · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- State assessments · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 01469; this does not measure the attendance area.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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