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Needs Improvement

#1674 of 1,793 schools in MA

John B Devalles

Elementary School · New Bedford

120 Katherine Street, New Bedford, MA 02744

Enrollment

292

Student-Teacher

11.7:1

Score

3.7

Grades

Kindergarten – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Massachusetts schools

#1,674 of 1,793

In New Bedford

#23 of 27

public schools

In district

#20 of 24

New Bedford

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John B Devalles

3.7/10

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

James B Congdon

4.4/10

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

Alfred J Gomes

5.1/10

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

About John B Devalles

John B Devalles is a public elementary school in New Bedford, MA, part of New Bedford. John B Devalles serves approximately 292 students, and covers grades Kindergarten-5th, and has a 11.7:1 student-teacher ratio. John B Devalles has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.7 out of 10 and ranks #1,674 of 1,793 schools in MA.

Structured state assessment records for John B Devalles show 24% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 24% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares1.1 pts below district
  • This school 3.7 · Needs Improvement
  • District avg 4.8
  • MA avg 6.3

What Parents Should Know

32% of students at John B Devalles were chronically absent in the 2022-23 school year, above the national average. Chronic absenteeism means missing 15 or more school days, and at high rates it drags on classroom pacing for everyone. Ask what the school does to help families get kids to class consistently.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress3.2Needs Improvement50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data17
Annual Change-3.15 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics3.4Needs Improvement30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency7.3% (2025 MCAS)
Reading/ELA Proficiency12.3% (2025 MCAS)
Math vs. State Avg-34.8 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-30.3 pts
Overall Proficiency10% (2025 MCAS, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)17% (model expectation from 2025 MCAS)
vs. Expected-6.7 pts
Adjusted Percentile16th
Resources & Environment5.4Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio11.7:1
Per-Pupil Spending$23,022
Chronic Absenteeism31.5%

John B Devalles — Students at John B Devalles 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 23.7% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
43.0% (multi-year state average, 2018-2025)
ELA Proficiency 24.4% (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
37%
ELA
37%
2010
Math
27%
ELA
32%
2011
Math
22%
ELA
22%
2012
Math
19%
ELA
20%
2013
Math
32%
ELA
27%
2014
Math
32%
ELA
32%
2015
Math
52%
ELA
37%
2016
Math
27%
ELA
27%
2017
Math
32%
ELA
32%
2018
Math
29.8%
ELA
30.8%
2019
Math
41%
ELA
28%
2020*
Math
17%
ELA
27%
2021*
Math
17.3%
ELA
27.5%
2022
Math
20.5%
ELA
25.8%
2023
Math
17%
ELA
14%
2024
Math
8.7%
ELA
11.3%
2025
Math
7.3%
ELA
12.3%

* 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: 3.2/10.

How John B Devalles Compares

See how John B Devalles performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
3.7/10
7th percentile in MA
Academic
3.4/10
Needs Improvement
Growth
3.2/10
Needs Improvement
Environment
5.4/10
Average

Funding & Resources

Teaching Staff
12:1 student-teacher ratio
25 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
31.5%

Location

120 Katherine Street, New Bedford, MA 02744

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering John B Devalles may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Joseph Demello (rated 7.9/10, 1.1 miles away, in nearby South Dartmouth), which scores notably higher. Another option is James M. Quinn School (rated 7.4/10, 1.7 miles away, in nearby Dartmouth), which scores notably higher. Additionally, William H Taylor (rated 6.8/10, 1.8 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in New Bedford, see our New Bedford schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.7 mi
School Distance Rating
James B Congdon New Bedford 0.3 mi 4.4
Alfred J Gomes New Bedford 0.6 mi 5.1
ST JAMES - ST JOHN SCHOOL New Bedford 0.7 mi 5.1
NATIVITY PREPARATORY SCHOOL NEW BEDFORD New Bedford 1.0 mi 7.0
Irwin M. Jacobs Elementary School New Bedford 0.8 mi 3.7
Whaling City Junior/Senior High School New Bedford 1.1 mi 4.6
Joseph Demello South Dartmouth 1.1 mi 7.9
Betsey B Winslow New Bedford 1.0 mi 4.4
Sgt Wm H Carney Academy New Bedford 1.2 mi 3.1
Ellen R Hathaway New Bedford 1.2 mi 4.8
Roosevelt Middle School New Bedford 1.1 mi 6.0
HOLY FAMILY HOLY NAME SCHOOL New Bedford 1.4 mi 5.8
Trinity Day Academy New Bedford 1.5 mi 5.7
Andrew B. Cushman School Dartmouth 1.6 mi 6.3
John Avery Parker New Bedford 1.8 mi 4.4
Thomas R Rodman New Bedford 1.6 mi 3.2
OUR SISTERS' SCHOOL New Bedford 1.5 mi 7.9
William H Taylor New Bedford 1.8 mi 6.8
New Bedford High New Bedford 2.0 mi 5.5
James M. Quinn School Dartmouth 1.7 mi 7.4

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 02744 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$54,841

Median Home Value

$344,800

Median Rent

$1,133/mo

Population

12,549

College Educated

13.4%

Homeownership

34.1%

Avg Commute

26.8 min

Poverty Rate

15.5%

Median Age

34.1

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Balch Norwood, MA 3.7
Irwin M. Jacobs Elementary School New Bedford, MA 3.7
Lawlor Early Childhood Center Lawrence, MA 3.7
Margaret L Donovan Randolph, MA 3.7
Mosier South Hadley, MA 3.7
Center Peabody, MA 3.8

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about John B Devalles

What grades does John B Devalles serve?

John B Devalles serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.

How many students attend John B Devalles?

John B Devalles has an enrollment of approximately 292 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at John B Devalles?

The student-teacher ratio at John B Devalles is 11.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does John B Devalles rank in MA?

John B Devalles ranks #1,674 of 1,793 schools in MA.

What is John B Devalles's MySchoolScout rating?

John B Devalles has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.7 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 B Devalles?

Based on loaded state assessment records, John B Devalles has 24% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 24% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is John B Devalles a charter school?

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

Is John B Devalles a Title I school?

No, John B Devalles is not currently a Title I school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
86 Very Walkable
Transit Score
35 Some Transit
Bike Score
57 Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
292
Student-Teacher Ratio
11.7:1
Teachers (FTE)
25
Type
regular
Setting
Midsize Suburb
County
Bristol County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
31.5%

District

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

How we rate schools

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