Excellent
#91 of 1,791 schools in MA
Top 5% in state
Paul P Gates Elementary School
Elementary School · Acton-Boxborough
75 Spruce Street, Acton, MA 01720
Enrollment
356
Student-Teacher
12.7:1
Score
8.7
Grades
Kindergarten – 6th
Enrollment
356
Student-Teacher
12.7:1
Score
8.7
Grades
Kindergarten – 6th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Acton
#1 of 8
public schools
Massachusetts elementary schools
#56 of 1,022
In district
#1 of 9
Acton-Boxborough
Equity
9.7 / 10
Exceptional
About Paul P Gates Elementary School
Paul P Gates Elementary School is a public elementary school in Acton, MA, part of the Acton-Boxborough. The school serves approximately 356 students in grades Kindergarten – 6th with a student-teacher ratio of 12.7:1. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.7/10, placing it in the 95th percentile among MA schools — an above average rating overall.
Students demonstrate 78% proficiency in math, 34 points above the state average and 79% in reading/language arts, 33 points above the state average. The school scores particularly well in student growth (9.4/10). Located in a neighborhood with a median household income of $154,101, where 78% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
The school is situated in a large suburban setting.
What's said publicly about Paul P Gates Elementary School
Synthesized from public, attributable sources. Updated May 2026.
Sources (1)
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
Data not available for this school
View breakdown
Paul P Gates Elementary School — Students at Paul P Gates Elementary School score 75% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 58%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
0%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores MA MCAS (2024-25)
Based on 74 test records from MA state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
→ StableAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* 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: 9.4/10.
How Paul P Gates Elementary School Compares
See how Paul P Gates Elementary School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has declined from 82% (2019) to 73% (2022). Reading/ELA proficiency has declined from 86% (2019) to 77% (2022).
Location
75 Spruce Street, Acton, MA 01720
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Paul P Gates Elementary School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Center School (rated 8.8/10, 3.4 miles away, in nearby Stow), with a very similar rating. Another option is OAK MEADOW SCHOOL (rated 7.9/10, 3.8 miles away, in nearby Littleton), with a comparable rating. Additionally, Luther Conant School (rated 7.5/10, 1.9 miles away), a more accessible option. For more schools in Acton, see our Acton schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 4.3 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| C.T. Douglas Elementary School Acton | 0.0 mi | 5.9 |
| Carol Huebner Early Childhood Program Acton | 0.0 mi | 5.9 |
| Acton-Boxborough Regional High Acton | 0.8 mi | 7.9 |
| Raymond J Grey Junior High Acton | 0.8 mi | 8.3 |
| McCarthy-Towne School Acton | 1.0 mi | 7.2 |
| Merriam School Acton | 1.0 mi | 6.5 |
| Blanchard Memorial School Boxborough | 1.7 mi | 7.0 |
| Luther Conant School Acton | 1.9 mi | 7.5 |
| Hale Stow | 3.2 mi | 6.9 |
| Shaker Lane Elementary Littleton | 3.6 mi | 5.1 |
| THE IMAGO SCHOOL ASSOCIATION Maynard | 3.7 mi | 5.7 |
| Center School Stow | 3.4 mi | 8.8 |
| Green Meadow Maynard | 3.9 mi | 6.3 |
| OAK MEADOW SCHOOL Littleton | 3.8 mi | 7.9 |
| Fowler School Maynard | 4.1 mi | 7.4 |
| Maynard High Maynard | 4.2 mi | 8.5 |
| Littleton Middle School Littleton | 4.4 mi | 6.2 |
| Russell St Elementary Littleton | 4.6 mi | 7.1 |
| Littleton High School Littleton | 4.6 mi | 6.6 |
| Thoreau Concord | 4.3 mi | 7.5 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 01720 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$154,101
Median Home Value
$766,500
Median Rent
$1,908/mo
Population
23,322
College Educated
77.8%
Homeownership
75.4%
Avg Commute
35.2 min
Poverty Rate
3.5%
Median Age
44.1
Community Profile
The community surrounding Paul P Gates Elementary School has a median household income of $154,101. It is a well-educated community where 78% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $766,500, with a median rent of $1,908/month. The local poverty rate of 3.5% is relatively low. The average commute in the area is 35 minutes, which is above the national average. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School Cambridge, MA | 8.7 |
| Downey Westwood, MA | 8.7 |
| Greenlodge Dedham, MA | 8.7 |
| Hardy Arlington, MA | 8.7 |
| James Russell Lowell Watertown, MA | 8.7 |
| John Eliot Needham, MA | 8.7 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Paul P Gates Elementary School
What grades does Paul P Gates Elementary School serve?
Paul P Gates Elementary School serves students in grades Kindergarten through 6th.
How many students attend Paul P Gates Elementary School?
Paul P Gates Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 356 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Paul P Gates Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Paul P Gates Elementary School is 12.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Paul P Gates Elementary School rank in MA?
Paul P Gates Elementary School is ranked #91 out of 1,791 schools in MA.
What is Paul P Gates Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?
Paul P Gates Elementary School has a composite rating of 8.7 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Paul P Gates Elementary School?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Paul P Gates Elementary School has 77.6% math proficiency and 78.7% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Paul P Gates Elementary School a charter school?
No, Paul P Gates Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Paul P Gates Elementary School a Title I school?
No, Paul P Gates Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.
Neighborhood Context
Powered by 
FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Acton). Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 6th
- Enrollment
- 356
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 12.7:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 28
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Middlesex County
- Phone
- (978) 266-2570
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
Acton-Boxborough- District Enrollment
- 5,099
- Schools in District
- 9
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $20,933
- District Rank
- #1 of 9
How We Rate Schools
Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.
Read our full methodologyRelated reading
Get school insights in your inbox
New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.