Excellent
#109 of 1,793 schools in MA
Top 6% in state
Paul P Gates Elementary School
Elementary School · Acton-boxborough · Acton, MA
An Acton-boxborough elementary school where students score 26 points above what's typical for similar communities.
75 Spruce Street, Acton, MA 01720
- Math 82% vs MA 42% (2025)
- Reading 85% vs MA 42% (2025)
- 12.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Paul P Gates Elementary School score 84% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 57%).
2025 MCAS proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. MA average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 12-year record (2014–2025), then recovered 8 points since 2022, reaching 84% in 2025.
Show all 12 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 78% (multi-year average, 2014-2025) · reading/ELA 80% (multi-year average, 2014-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 86 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 Paul P Gates Elementary 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 57Somewhat Walkable
- Bike 37Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: Average416/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Acton), 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
$154,101
Median home value
$766,500
Median rent
$1,908/mo
College educated
77.8%
Homeownership
75.4%
Poverty rate
3.5%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 01720; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
3 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C.t. Douglas Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 6.6 | K–6 | 0.0 mi | 407 | Compare → |
| Mccarthy-towne SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 7.8 | K–6 | 1.0 mi | 441 | Compare → |
| Merriam SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 6.5 | K–6 | 1.0 mi | 404 | 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.
Acton-boxborough
- Schools in district
- 9
- Rank in district
- #1 of 9
- District spending per student
- $20,933NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 3.7%Census SAIPE · 2024
Paul P Gates Elementary School is listed in Acton-Boxborough; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Paul P Gates Elementary School
Paul P Gates Elementary School is a public elementary school in Acton, MA, part of Acton-boxborough, serving approximately 356 students in grades Kindergarten-6th with a 12.7:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.9 out of 10 and ranks #109 of 1,793 schools in MA. State assessment records show 78% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2014-2025) and 80% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2014-2025).
What's said publicly about Paul P Gates Elementary School
Synthesized from public, attributable sources. Updated May 2026.
Sources (1)
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 ranks #109 of 1,793 schools in MA.
What is Paul P Gates Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?
Paul P Gates Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.9 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 Paul P Gates Elementary School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Paul P Gates Elementary School has 78% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2014-2025) and 80% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2014-2025).
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.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 6th
- Enrollment
- 356
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 12.7:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 28
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Middlesex County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 14.9%
- Phone
- (978) 266-2570
- Area population (ZIP 01720)
- 23,322
- Area average commute
- 35.2 min
- Area median age
- 44.1
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 01720; this does not measure the attendance area.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2014-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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