Very Good
#372 of 1,793 schools in MA
Top 21% in state
Helen R Donaghue School
Elementary School · Pentucket · Merrimac, MA
A Pentucket elementary school where students score 10 points below what's typical for similar communities.
24 Union Street Ext., Merrimac, MA 01860
- Math 48% vs MA 42% (2025)
- Reading 43% vs MA 42% (2025)
- 11.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Helen R Donaghue School score 45% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 56%).
2025 MCAS proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. MA average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 7 points since 2022, reaching 45% in 2025.
Show all 17 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 46% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 46% (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 96 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 Helen R Donaghue School 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 44Car-Dependent
- Bike 28Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: Low234/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Merrimac), 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
$116,477
Median home value
$531,300
Median rent
$1,236/mo
College educated
36.8%
Homeownership
79%
Poverty rate
8.3%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 01860; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merrimac Heights AcademyPrivate · tuition | Not rated | 6–9 | 0.6 mi | 13 | Compare → |
| Dr John C Page SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 9.0 | PK–6 | 2.6 mi | 326 | Compare → |
| Charles C Cashman ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 6.6 | 3–5 | 3.5 mi | 398 | Compare → |
| Memorial SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 5.8 | 3–5 | 4.0 mi | 261 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Pentucket
- Schools in district
- 6
- Rank in district
- #4 of 6
- District spending per student
- $19,716NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 3.6%Census SAIPE · 2024
Helen R Donaghue School is listed in Pentucket; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Helen R Donaghue School
Helen R Donaghue School is a public elementary school in Merrimac, MA, part of Pentucket, serving approximately 245 students in grades 3rd-6th with a 11.1:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.9 out of 10 and ranks #372 of 1,793 schools in MA. State assessment records show 46% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 46% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Helen R Donaghue School
What grades does Helen R Donaghue School serve?
Helen R Donaghue School serves students in grades 3rd through 6th.
How many students attend Helen R Donaghue School?
Helen R Donaghue School has an enrollment of approximately 245 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Helen R Donaghue School?
The student-teacher ratio at Helen R Donaghue School is 11.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Helen R Donaghue School rank in MA?
Helen R Donaghue School ranks #372 of 1,793 schools in MA.
What is Helen R Donaghue School's MySchoolScout rating?
Helen R Donaghue School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.9 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 Helen R Donaghue School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Helen R Donaghue School has 46% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 46% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Helen R Donaghue School a charter school?
No, Helen R Donaghue School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Helen R Donaghue School a Title I school?
No, Helen R Donaghue School is not currently a Title I school.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- 3rd – 6th
- Enrollment
- 245
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 11.1:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 22
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Essex County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 13.5%
- Phone
- (978) 346-8921
- Area population (ZIP 01860)
- 6,707
- Area average commute
- 30.3 min
- Area median age
- 48.6
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 01860; 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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