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Excellent

#181 of 1,793 schools in MA

Top 10% in state

Peirce

Elementary School · Newton

170 Temple Street, West Newton, MA 02465

Enrollment

236

Student-Teacher

10.3:1

Score

8.6

Grades

Kindergarten – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Massachusetts schools

#181 of 1,793

In West Newton

#1 of 2

public schools

In district

#15 of 22

Newton

School environment

9.5 / 10

Excellent

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Peirce

8.6/10

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

Learning Prep School

7.4/10

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

C C Burr

8.7/10

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

About Peirce

Peirce is a public elementary school in West Newton, MA, part of Newton. Peirce serves approximately 236 students, and covers grades Kindergarten-5th, and has a 10.3:1 student-teacher ratio. Peirce has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.6 out of 10 and ranks #181 of 1,793 schools in MA.

Structured state assessment records for Peirce show 74% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 75% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it comparesOn par with district
  • This school 8.6 · Excellent
  • District avg 8.3
  • MA avg 6.3

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress7.9Very Good50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data17
Annual Change-0.87 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendStable
Academics9.0Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency71% (2025 MCAS)
Reading/ELA Proficiency63.7% (2025 MCAS)
Math vs. State Avg+28.9 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+21.1 pts
Overall Proficiency67% (2025 MCAS, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)56% (model expectation from 2025 MCAS)
vs. Expected+11.8 pts
Adjusted Percentile85th
Resources & Environment9.5Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio10.3:1
Per-Pupil Spending$27,226
Chronic Absenteeism14%

Peirce — Students at Peirce score 67% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 56%).

How we calculate scores →

Test Scores MA MCAS (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 73.6% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
43.0% (multi-year state average, 2018-2025)
ELA Proficiency 75.0% (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
82%
ELA
87%
2010
Math
82%
ELA
87%
2011
Math
77%
ELA
87%
2012
Math
82%
ELA
82%
2013
Math
82%
ELA
82%
2014
Math
82%
ELA
77%
2015
Math
82%
ELA
87%
2016
Math
72%
ELA
77%
2017
Math
72%
ELA
77%
2018
Math
72.8%
ELA
76.3%
2019
Math
75%
ELA
75.3%
2020*
Math
67%
ELA
77%
2021*
Math
64.3%
ELA
75.8%
2022
Math
76.5%
ELA
73.5%
2023
Math
70%
ELA
71.7%
2024
Math
73%
ELA
65.7%
2025
Math
71%
ELA
63.7%

* 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: 7.9/10.

How Peirce Compares

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

Overall Score
8.6/10
90th percentile in MA
Academic
9.0/10
Excellent
Growth
7.9/10
Very Good
Environment
9.5/10
Excellent

Funding & Resources

Teaching Staff
10:1 student-teacher ratio
23 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
14.0%

Location

170 Temple Street, West Newton, MA 02465

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Peirce may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. A E Angier (rated 9.8/10, 1.1 miles away, in nearby Waban), which scores notably higher. Another option is Williams (rated 9.0/10, 0.9 miles away, in nearby Auburndale), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, Joseph E Fiske (rated 9.0/10, 2.2 miles away, in nearby Wellesley), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in West Newton, see our West Newton schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 2.2 mi
School Distance Rating
LEARNING PREP SCHOOL West Newton 0.3 mi 7.4
C C Burr Auburndale 0.9 mi 8.7
A E Angier Waban 1.1 mi 9.8
Franklin West Newton 1.1 mi 7.4
Williams Auburndale 0.9 mi 9.0
Zervas Waban 1.1 mi 6.9
Newton Early Childhood Program Newton 1.3 mi 5.9
Henry Whittemore Elementary School Waltham 1.6 mi 7.1
Newton North High Newtonville 1.2 mi 8.8
F A Day Middle Newtonville 1.5 mi 8.9
Waltham Public Schools Dual Language Program Waltham 1.8 mi 6.5
Horace Mann Newtonville 1.7 mi 7.2
Schofield Wellesley 1.9 mi 8.2
William F. Stanley Elementary School Waltham 2.0 mi 6.0
Preschool at Wellesley Schools Wellesley 2.1 mi 6.8
Mason-Rice Newton Centre 1.8 mi 8.6
Joseph E Fiske Wellesley 2.2 mi 9.0
Cabot Newtonville 1.7 mi 6.4
HAPPY CHILD PRESCHOOL/DAY CARE CENTER Newton 2.3 mi
JEWISH COMMUNITY DAY SCHOOL, INC DBA JCDS BOSTONS Watertown 2.2 mi 6.2

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 02465 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$174,518

Median Home Value

$1,098,600

Median Rent

$2,251/mo

Population

11,297

College Educated

78.2%

Homeownership

68.5%

Avg Commute

25.8 min

Poverty Rate

4.4%

Median Age

43.1

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Bates Elementary School Roslindale, MA 8.6
Frank H Freedman Springfield, MA 8.6
Martha Jones Westwood, MA 8.6
Orleans Elementary Orleans, MA 8.6
Wildwood Elementary Amherst, MA 8.6
Wollaston School Quincy, MA 8.6

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 236 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Peirce?

The student-teacher ratio at Peirce is 10.3:1. 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 #181 of 1,793 schools in MA.

What is Peirce's MySchoolScout rating?

Peirce has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.6 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 Peirce?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Peirce has 74% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 75% 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
20 Car-Dependent
Transit Score
40 Some Transit
Bike Score
48 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
236
Student-Teacher Ratio
10.3:1
Teachers (FTE)
23
Type
regular
Setting
Small City
County
Middlesex County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
14.0%

District

Newton
District Enrollment
11,752
Schools in District
22
Per-Pupil Spending
$27,226
District Rank
#15 of 22

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.

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