Needs Improvement
#1688 of 1,793 schools in MA
John J Shaughnessy
Elementary School · Lowell · Lowell, MA
A Lowell elementary school where students score 3 points below what's typical for similar communities.
1158 Gorham Street, Lowell, MA 01852
- Math 25% vs MA 43% (2025)
- Reading 19% vs MA 42% (2025)
- 12:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at John J Shaughnessy 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
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 8 points since 2022, to 22% in 2025, across a 17-year record (2009–2025).
Show all 17 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 35% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 34% (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 56 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 John J Shaughnessy 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 69Somewhat Walkable
- Transit 46Some Transit
- Bike 52Bikeable
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cardinal O'connell Early Learning CenterEnrollment path unverified | 5.5 | PK | 0.4 mi | 104 | Compare → |
| Abraham LincolnEnrollment path unverified | 6.6 | PK–4 | 0.9 mi | 489 | Compare → |
| Moody ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 5.7 | PK–4 | 0.9 mi | 248 | Compare → |
| Pyne ArtsEnrollment path unverified | 5.8 | PK–8 | 0.9 mi | 464 | 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
- #26 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
John J Shaughnessy is listed in Lowell; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About John J Shaughnessy
John J Shaughnessy is a public elementary school in Lowell, MA, part of Lowell, serving approximately 469 students in grades Pre-K-4th with a 12:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 3.6 out of 10 and ranks #1,688 of 1,793 schools in MA. State assessment records show 35% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 34% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about John J Shaughnessy
What grades does John J Shaughnessy serve?
John J Shaughnessy serves students in grades Pre-K through 4th.
How many students attend John J Shaughnessy?
John J Shaughnessy has an enrollment of approximately 469 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at John J Shaughnessy?
The student-teacher ratio at John J Shaughnessy 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 J Shaughnessy rank in MA?
John J Shaughnessy ranks #1,688 of 1,793 schools in MA.
What is John J Shaughnessy's MySchoolScout rating?
John J Shaughnessy has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.6 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 J Shaughnessy?
Based on loaded state assessment records, John J Shaughnessy has 35% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 34% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is John J Shaughnessy a charter school?
No, John J Shaughnessy is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is John J Shaughnessy a Title I school?
No, John J Shaughnessy is not currently a Title I school.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 4th
- Enrollment
- 469
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 12:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 39
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Middlesex County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 29.2%
- Phone
- (978) 937-7657
- 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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