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Excellent

#336 of 1,793 schools in MA

Top 19% in state

Plum Cove School

Elementary School · Gloucester

15 Hickory Street, Gloucester, MA 01930

Enrollment

208

Student-Teacher

12.2:1

Score

8.0

Grades

Kindergarten – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Massachusetts schools

#336 of 1,793

In Gloucester

#1 of 6

public schools

In district

#1 of 6

Gloucester

School environment

8.8 / 10

Excellent

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Plum Cove School

8.0/10

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

Beeman Memorial

3.3/10

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

Faith Christian School

Nearby

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

About Plum Cove School

Plum Cove School is a public elementary school in Gloucester, MA, part of Gloucester. Plum Cove School serves approximately 208 students, and covers grades Kindergarten-5th, and has a 12.2:1 student-teacher ratio. Plum Cove School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.0 out of 10 and ranks #336 of 1,793 schools in MA.

Structured state assessment records for Plum Cove School show 60% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 60% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares2.8 pts above district
  • This school 8.0 · Excellent
  • District avg 5.2
  • MA avg 6.3

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress7.5Very Good50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data17
Annual Change-1.04 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics8.3Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency58.3% (2025 MCAS)
Reading/ELA Proficiency48.7% (2025 MCAS)
Math vs. State Avg+16.2 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+6.1 pts
Overall Proficiency54% (2025 MCAS, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)42% (model expectation from 2025 MCAS)
vs. Expected+11.2 pts
Adjusted Percentile74th
Resources & Environment8.8Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio12.2:1
Per-Pupil Spending$24,128
Chronic Absenteeism13.5%

Plum Cove School — Students at Plum Cove School score 54% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 42%).

How we calculate scores →

Test Scores MA MCAS (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 59.8% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
43.0% (multi-year state average, 2018-2025)
ELA Proficiency 60.1% (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
52%
ELA
57%
2010
Math
62%
ELA
62%
2011
Math
62%
ELA
67%
2012
Math
62%
ELA
67%
2013
Math
67%
ELA
62%
2014
Math
77%
ELA
77%
2015
Math
77%
ELA
72%
2016
Math
52%
ELA
57%
2017
Math
57%
ELA
57%
2018
Math
56.5%
ELA
64.3%
2019
Math
62%
ELA
64%
2020*
Math
57%
ELA
62%
2021*
Math
58.8%
ELA
64.8%
2022
Math
57.3%
ELA
53.5%
2023
Math
63%
ELA
61%
2024
Math
55.3%
ELA
49.7%
2025
Math
58.3%
ELA
48.7%

* 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: 7.5/10.

How Plum Cove School Compares

See how Plum Cove School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
8.0/10
81th percentile in MA
Academic
8.3/10
Excellent
Growth
7.5/10
Very Good
Environment
8.8/10
Excellent

Funding & Resources

Teaching Staff
12:1 student-teacher ratio
17 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
13.5%

Location

15 Hickory Street, Gloucester, MA 01930

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Plum Cove School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Rockport Elementary (rated 7.3/10, 2.9 miles away, in nearby Rockport), with a comparable rating. Another option is GLEN URQUHART SCHOOL (rated 7.3/10, 10.8 miles away, in nearby Beverly), with a comparable rating. Additionally, BROOKWOOD SCHOOL (rated 6.8/10, 9.9 miles away, in nearby Manchester), a more accessible option. For more schools in Gloucester, see our Gloucester schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 10.0 mi
School Distance Rating
Beeman Memorial Gloucester 2.6 mi 3.3
FAITH CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Gloucester 3.0 mi
Ralph B O'Maley Middle Gloucester 3.1 mi 5.9
Gloucester PreSchool Gloucester 3.2 mi 5.7
Rockport Elementary Rockport 2.9 mi 7.3
Rockport Middle Rockport 2.9 mi 6.8
Rockport High Rockport 2.9 mi 7.7
Gloucester High Gloucester 4.2 mi 5.8
West Parish Gloucester 4.6 mi 4.3
Essex Elementary Essex 7.2 mi 5.9
Manchester Essex Regional High School Manchester 8.3 mi 9.0
Manchester Essex Regional Middle School Manchester 8.3 mi 8.4
Manchester Memorial Elementary Manchester 8.5 mi 6.7
TARA MONTESSORI SCHOOL Manchester By The Sea 8.6 mi
CUVILLY ARTS & EARTH CENTER Ipswich 8.6 mi
LANDMARK ELEMENTARYMIDDLE SCHOOL Manchester 9.9 mi 7.7
BROOKWOOD SCHOOL Manchester 9.9 mi 6.8
Winthrop Ipswich 9.2 mi 6.7
GLEN URQUHART SCHOOL Beverly 10.8 mi 7.3
Miles River Middle Hamilton 10.0 mi 8.6

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 01930 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$87,898

Median Home Value

$587,800

Median Rent

$1,395/mo

Population

29,862

College Educated

38.8%

Homeownership

63.3%

Avg Commute

26 min

Poverty Rate

10.6%

Median Age

51

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Jackson Street Northampton, MA 8.0
Lanesborough Elementary Lanesborough, MA 8.0
Leeds Leeds, MA 8.0
Stony Brook Elementary Brewster, MA 8.0
THE ADVENT SCHOOL Boston, MA 8.0
Undermountain Sheffield, MA 8.0

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Plum Cove School

What grades does Plum Cove School serve?

Plum Cove School serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.

How many students attend Plum Cove School?

Plum Cove School has an enrollment of approximately 208 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Plum Cove School?

The student-teacher ratio at Plum Cove School is 12.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Plum Cove School rank in MA?

Plum Cove School ranks #336 of 1,793 schools in MA.

What is Plum Cove School's MySchoolScout rating?

Plum Cove School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.0 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 Plum Cove School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Plum Cove School has 60% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 60% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Plum Cove School a charter school?

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

Is Plum Cove School a Title I school?

No, Plum Cove School is not currently a Title I school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
10 Car-Dependent
Transit Score
27 Some Transit
Bike Score
17 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
208
Student-Teacher Ratio
12.2:1
Teachers (FTE)
17
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Essex County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
13.5%

District

Gloucester
District Enrollment
2,862
Schools in District
7
Per-Pupil Spending
$24,128
District Rank
#1 of 6

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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