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Excellent

#48 of 1,793 schools in MA

Top 3% in state

Peirce

Elementary School · Arlington

85 Park Avenue Ext, Arlington, MA 02474

Enrollment

335

Student-Teacher

12.4:1

Score

9.3

Grades

Kindergarten – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Massachusetts schools

#48 of 1,793

In Arlington

#2 of 11

public schools

In district

#2 of 11

Arlington

Academic growth

9.9 / 10

Excellent

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Peirce

9.3/10

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

New Covenant School

6.5/10

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

Ottoson Middle

9.3/10

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

About Peirce

Peirce is a public elementary school in Arlington, MA, part of Arlington. Peirce serves approximately 335 students, and covers grades Kindergarten-5th, and has a 12.4:1 student-teacher ratio. Peirce has a current MySchoolScout rating of 9.3 out of 10 and ranks #48 of 1,793 schools in MA.

Structured state assessment records for Peirce show 63% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 69% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares0.6 pts above district
  • This school 9.3 · Excellent
  • District avg 8.7
  • MA avg 6.3

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress9.9Excellent50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data17
Annual Change+1.72 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendImproving
Academics9.5Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency73% (2025 MCAS)
Reading/ELA Proficiency75% (2025 MCAS)
Math vs. State Avg+30.9 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+32.4 pts
Overall Proficiency74% (2025 MCAS, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)57% (model expectation from 2025 MCAS)
vs. Expected+16.6 pts
Adjusted Percentile92th
Resources & Environment7.5Very Good20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio12.4:1
Per-Pupil Spending$20,961
Chronic Absenteeism13.1%

Peirce — Students at Peirce score 74% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 57%).

How we calculate scores →

Test Scores MA MCAS (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 62.7% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
43.0% (multi-year state average, 2018-2025)
ELA Proficiency 68.5% (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

→ Stable

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
77%
ELA
82%
2010
Math
62%
ELA
72%
2011
Math
62%
ELA
72%
2012
Math
72%
ELA
72%
2013
Math
77%
ELA
77%
2014
Math
82%
ELA
77%
2015
Math
82%
ELA
87%
2016
Math
57%
ELA
67%
2017
Math
57%
ELA
67%
2018
Math
53.3%
ELA
66.5%
2019
Math
56.5%
ELA
60.8%
2020*
Math
57%
ELA
77%
2021*
Math
58.3%
ELA
78.3%
2022
Math
51.5%
ELA
56%
2023
Math
64.3%
ELA
61%
2024
Math
73%
ELA
64%
2025
Math
73%
ELA
75%

* 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: 9.9/10.

How Peirce Compares

See how Peirce performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
9.3/10
97th percentile in MA
Academic
9.5/10
Excellent
Growth
9.9/10
Excellent
Environment
7.5/10
Very Good

Funding & Resources

Teaching Staff
12:1 student-teacher ratio
27 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
13.1%

Location

85 Park Avenue Ext, Arlington, MA 02474

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Peirce may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. John A Bishop (rated 9.2/10, 1.2 miles away), with a very similar rating. Another option is Cyrus E Dallin (rated 9.0/10, 0.9 miles away), with a comparable rating. Additionally, Harrington (rated 8.8/10, 1.6 miles away, in nearby Lexington), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Arlington, see our Arlington schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 2.4 mi
School Distance Rating
NEW COVENANT SCHOOL Arlington 0.2 mi 6.5
Ottoson Middle Arlington 0.5 mi 9.3
CNS/PATHWAYS ACADEMY Arlington 0.5 mi 7.4
M Norcross Stratton Arlington 0.6 mi 8.5
Cyrus E Dallin Arlington 0.9 mi 9.0
Brackett Arlington 1.1 mi 8.2
LEXINGTON CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Lexington 0.9 mi 6.9
Arlington High Arlington 1.1 mi 8.9
Vinson-Owen Elementary Winchester 1.5 mi 5.7
BELMONT HILL SCHOOL Belmont 1.5 mi 7.2
John A Bishop Arlington 1.2 mi 9.2
Menotomy Preschool Arlington 1.5 mi 6.3
Harrington Lexington 1.6 mi 8.8
Ambrose Elementary Winchester 1.6 mi 8.2
ARLINGTON CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL Arlington 1.7 mi 5.3
ST AGNES SCHOOL Arlington 1.7 mi 5.1
Winn Brook Belmont 2.1 mi 8.1
BELMONT DAY SCHOOL Belmont 2.3 mi 7.5
ARLINGTON SCHOOL Belmont 2.4 mi 5.7
Belmont High Belmont 2.4 mi 7.7

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 02474 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$139,199

Median Home Value

$887,000

Median Rent

$2,157/mo

Population

28,283

College Educated

73.8%

Homeownership

58.4%

Avg Commute

32.1 min

Poverty Rate

4.7%

Median Age

38.3

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Bradley Elementary School East Boston, MA 9.3
Field Elementary School Weston, MA 9.3
Glover Marblehead, MA 9.3
John Eliot Needham, MA 9.3
Katharine Lee Bates Wellesley, MA 9.3
Haggerty Cambridge, MA 9.4

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Peirce

What grades does Peirce serve?

Peirce serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.

How many students attend Peirce?

Peirce has an enrollment of approximately 335 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Peirce?

The student-teacher ratio at Peirce is 12.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Peirce rank in MA?

Peirce ranks #48 of 1,793 schools in MA.

What is Peirce's MySchoolScout rating?

Peirce has a current MySchoolScout rating of 9.3 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 Peirce?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Peirce has 63% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 69% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Peirce a charter school?

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

Is Peirce a Title I school?

No, Peirce is not currently a Title I school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
78 Very Walkable
Transit Score
41 Some Transit
Bike Score
67 Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
335
Student-Teacher Ratio
12.4:1
Teachers (FTE)
27
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Middlesex County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
13.1%

District

Arlington
District Enrollment
5,997
Schools in District
11
Per-Pupil Spending
$20,961
District Rank
#2 of 11

How we rate schools

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