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Below Average

#1537 of 1,793 schools in MA

John Avery Parker

Elementary School · New Bedford

705 County Street, New Bedford, MA 02740

Enrollment

264

Student-Teacher

12:1

Score

4.4

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Massachusetts schools

#1,537 of 1,793

In New Bedford

#21 of 27

public schools

In district

#18 of 24

New Bedford

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John Avery Parker

4.4/10

Elementary School in New Bedford · grades Pre-K – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Holy Family Holy Name School

5.8/10

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

Trinity Day Academy

5.7/10

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

About John Avery Parker

John Avery Parker is a public elementary school in New Bedford, MA, part of New Bedford. John Avery Parker serves approximately 264 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 12:1 student-teacher ratio. John Avery Parker has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.4 out of 10 and ranks #1,537 of 1,793 schools in MA.

Structured state assessment records for John Avery Parker show 23% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 27% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares0.4 pts below district
  • This school 4.4 · Below Average
  • District avg 4.8
  • MA avg 6.3

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress3.9Needs Improvement50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data17
Annual Change-2.77 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics3.6Needs Improvement30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency9.7% (2025 MCAS)
Reading/ELA Proficiency11.3% (2025 MCAS)
Math vs. State Avg-32.4 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-31.3 pts
Overall Proficiency11% (2025 MCAS, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)17% (model expectation from 2025 MCAS)
vs. Expected-6.1 pts
Adjusted Percentile17th
Resources & Environment6.9Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio12:1
Per-Pupil Spending$23,022
Chronic Absenteeism23.9%

John Avery Parker — Students at John Avery Parker score 10% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 17%).

How we calculate scores →

Test Scores MA MCAS (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 23.3% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
43.0% (multi-year state average, 2018-2025)
ELA Proficiency 27.3% (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
32%
ELA
27%
2010
Math
32%
ELA
27%
2011
Math
37%
ELA
32%
2012
Math
37%
ELA
32%
2013
Math
47%
ELA
42%
2014
Math
17%
ELA
27%
2015
Math
37%
ELA
32%
2016
Math
17%
ELA
17%
2017
Math
17%
ELA
27%
2018
Math
21.3%
ELA
31%
2019
Math
38.8%
ELA
47.5%
2020*
Math
17%
ELA
27%
2021*
Math
16.5%
ELA
27.8%
2022
Math
17.8%
ELA
22.5%
2023
Math
30.7%
ELA
25%
2024
Math
9.3%
ELA
14.3%
2025
Math
9.7%
ELA
11.3%

* 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: 3.9/10.

How John Avery Parker Compares

See how John Avery Parker performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
4.4/10
14th percentile in MA
Academic
3.6/10
Needs Improvement
Growth
3.9/10
Needs Improvement
Environment
6.9/10
Average

Funding & Resources

Teaching Staff
12:1 student-teacher ratio
22 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
23.9%

Location

705 County Street, New Bedford, MA 02740

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering John Avery Parker may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Elizabeth Carter Brooks (rated 6.9/10, 1.1 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is HOLY FAMILY HOLY NAME SCHOOL (rated 5.8/10, 0.4 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, ST JAMES - ST JOHN SCHOOL (rated 5.1/10, 1.1 miles away), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in New Bedford, see our New Bedford schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.8 mi
School Distance Rating
HOLY FAMILY HOLY NAME SCHOOL New Bedford 0.4 mi 5.8
Trinity Day Academy New Bedford 0.5 mi 5.7
Sgt Wm H Carney Academy New Bedford 0.6 mi 3.1
Whaling City Junior/Senior High School New Bedford 0.7 mi 4.6
Hayden/McFadden New Bedford 0.7 mi 4.9
NATIVITY PREPARATORY SCHOOL NEW BEDFORD New Bedford 0.8 mi 7.0
New Bedford High New Bedford 0.7 mi 5.5
Ellen R Hathaway New Bedford 0.9 mi 4.8
Carlos Pacheco New Bedford 1.0 mi 4.5
Global Learning Charter Public School New Bedford 1.1 mi 4.6
ST JAMES - ST JOHN SCHOOL New Bedford 1.1 mi 5.1
Keith Middle School New Bedford 0.9 mi 6.8
Thomas R Rodman New Bedford 1.0 mi 3.2
Alfred J Gomes New Bedford 1.4 mi 5.1
Elizabeth Carter Brooks New Bedford 1.1 mi 6.9
Betsey B Winslow New Bedford 1.5 mi 4.4
James B Congdon New Bedford 1.6 mi 4.4
Alma del Mar Charter School New Bedford 1.5 mi 4.4
Abraham Lincoln New Bedford 1.7 mi 4.2
John B Devalles New Bedford 1.8 mi 3.7

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 02740 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$54,563

Median Home Value

$303,400

Median Rent

$1,052/mo

Population

46,336

College Educated

18.1%

Homeownership

37.9%

Avg Commute

24.1 min

Poverty Rate

19.6%

Median Age

37

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Betsey B Winslow New Bedford, MA 4.4
Buckland-Shelburne Regional Shelburne Falls, MA 4.4
Gardner Swansea, MA 4.4
Hatfield Elementary Hatfield, MA 4.4
James B Congdon New Bedford, MA 4.4
James Clark School Agawam, MA 4.4

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about John Avery Parker

What grades does John Avery Parker serve?

John Avery Parker serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.

How many students attend John Avery Parker?

John Avery Parker has an enrollment of approximately 264 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at John Avery Parker?

The student-teacher ratio at John Avery Parker is 12:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does John Avery Parker rank in MA?

John Avery Parker ranks #1,537 of 1,793 schools in MA.

What is John Avery Parker's MySchoolScout rating?

John Avery Parker 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 John Avery Parker?

Based on loaded state assessment records, John Avery Parker has 23% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 27% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is John Avery Parker a charter school?

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

Is John Avery Parker a Title I school?

No, John Avery Parker is not currently a Title I school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
70 Very Walkable
Transit Score
46 Some Transit
Bike Score
50 Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
264
Student-Teacher Ratio
12:1
Teachers (FTE)
22
Type
regular
Setting
Midsize Suburb
County
Bristol County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
23.9%

District

New Bedford
District Enrollment
12,488
Schools in District
24
Per-Pupil Spending
$23,022
District Rank
#18 of 24

How we rate schools

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