Average
#920 of 1,793 schools in MA
James Sullivan Middle School
Middle School · Lowell · Lowell, MA
A Lowell middle school where students score 4 points below what's typical for similar communities.
150 Draper Street, Lowell, MA 01852
- Math 22% vs MA 41% (2025)
- Reading 21% vs MA 43% (2025)
- 12.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at James Sullivan Middle School score 22% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 25%).
2025 MCAS proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. MA average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 22 points across the 17-year record (2009–2025) and has held near 22% recently.
Show all 17 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 22% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 27% (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 113 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 James Sullivan Middle 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 20Car-Dependent
- Transit 33Some Transit
- Bike 32Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High2,207/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Lowell), 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
$77,058
Median home value
$397,200
Median rent
$1,567/mo
College educated
32.9%
Homeownership
46.2%
Poverty rate
13.3%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 01852; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B.f. Butler Middle SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 6.8 | 5–8 | 1.6 mi | 505 | Compare → |
| Henry J Robinson MiddleEnrollment path unverified | 5.7 | 5–8 | 1.7 mi | 592 | Compare → |
| Kathryn P. Stoklosa Middle SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 7.1 | 5–8 | 2.2 mi | 625 | Compare → |
| Laura Lee Therapeutic Day SchoolEnrollment path unverified | Not rated | 4–8 | 2.3 mi | 16 | 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.
Lowell
- Schools in district
- 27
- Rank in district
- #11 of 26
- District spending per student
- $22,440NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 18.6%Census SAIPE · 2024
James Sullivan Middle School is listed in Lowell; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About James Sullivan Middle School
James Sullivan Middle School is a public middle school in Lowell, MA, part of Lowell, serving approximately 617 students in grades 5th-8th with a 12.3:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 6.2 out of 10 and ranks #920 of 1,793 schools in MA. State assessment records show 22% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 27% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about James Sullivan Middle School
What grades does James Sullivan Middle School serve?
James Sullivan Middle School serves students in grades 5th through 8th.
How many students attend James Sullivan Middle School?
James Sullivan Middle School has an enrollment of approximately 617 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at James Sullivan Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at James Sullivan Middle School is 12.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does James Sullivan Middle School rank in MA?
James Sullivan Middle School ranks #920 of 1,793 schools in MA.
What is James Sullivan Middle School's MySchoolScout rating?
James Sullivan Middle School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.2 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 James Sullivan Middle School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, James Sullivan Middle School has 22% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 27% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is James Sullivan Middle School a charter school?
No, James Sullivan Middle School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is James Sullivan Middle School a Title I school?
No, James Sullivan Middle School is not currently a Title I school.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- 5th – 8th
- Enrollment
- 617
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 12.3:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 50
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Middlesex County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 27.2%
- Phone
- (978) 937-8993
- Area population (ZIP 01852)
- 36,700
- Area average commute
- 27.8 min
- Area median age
- 37.5
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 01852; 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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