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Below Average

#1578 of 1,793 schools in MA

Russell Elementary School

Elementary School · Boston

750 Columbia Road, Dorchester, MA 02125

Enrollment

346

Student-Teacher

12.8:1

Score

4.2

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Massachusetts schools

#1,578 of 1,793

In Dorchester

#26 of 29

public schools

In district

#96 of 109

Boston

School environment

7.9 / 10

Very Good

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Russell Elementary School

4.2/10

Elementary School in Dorchester · grades Pre-K – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

St John Paul II Catholic Acad.-regional Office

5.8/10

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

St John Paul II Catholic Academy Columbia Camp

6.7/10

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

About Russell Elementary School

Russell Elementary School is a public elementary school in Dorchester, MA, part of Boston. Russell Elementary School serves approximately 346 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 12.8:1 student-teacher ratio. Russell Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.2 out of 10 and ranks #1,578 of 1,793 schools in MA.

Structured state assessment records for Russell Elementary School show 28% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 33% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares2.5 pts below district
  • This school 4.2 · Below Average
  • District avg 6.7
  • MA avg 6.3

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress2.9Needs Improvement50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data17
Annual Change-3.29 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics3.9Needs Improvement30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency10.7% (2025 MCAS)
Reading/ELA Proficiency19% (2025 MCAS)
Math vs. State Avg-31.4 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-23.6 pts
Overall Proficiency15% (2025 MCAS, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)20% (model expectation from 2025 MCAS)
vs. Expected-5.1 pts
Adjusted Percentile20th
Resources & Environment7.9Very Good20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio12.8:1
Per-Pupil Spending$37,200
Chronic Absenteeism28%

Russell Elementary School — Students at Russell Elementary School score 15% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 20%).

How we calculate scores →

Test Scores MA MCAS (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 27.9% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
43.0% (multi-year state average, 2018-2025)
ELA Proficiency 32.8% (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
37%
ELA
42%
2010
Math
37%
ELA
27%
2011
Math
32%
ELA
32%
2012
Math
52%
ELA
42%
2013
Math
52%
ELA
37%
2014
Math
37%
ELA
47%
2015
Math
57%
ELA
52%
2016
Math
32%
ELA
32%
2017
Math
27%
ELA
37%
2018
Math
32.8%
ELA
42.3%
2019
Math
48.5%
ELA
38.3%
2020*
Math
17%
ELA
32%
2021*
Math
12.3%
ELA
26.3%
2022
Math
23%
ELA
29.8%
2023
Math
22.7%
ELA
32.7%
2024
Math
10.3%
ELA
22%
2025
Math
10.7%
ELA
19%

* 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: 2.9/10.

How Russell Elementary School Compares

See how Russell Elementary School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
4.2/10
12th percentile in MA
Academic
3.9/10
Needs Improvement
Growth
2.9/10
Needs Improvement
Environment
7.9/10
Very Good

Funding & Resources

Teaching Staff
13:1 student-teacher ratio
27 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
28.0%

Location

750 Columbia Road, Dorchester, MA 02125

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Russell Elementary School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Winthrop Elementary School (rated 8.2/10, 0.8 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Conservatory Lab Charter School (rated 7.9/10, 0.8 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Mather Elementary School (rated 7.3/10, 0.8 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Dorchester, see our Dorchester schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.1 mi
School Distance Rating
ST JOHN PAUL II CATHOLIC ACAD.-REGIONAL OFFICE Dorchester 0.1 mi 5.8
ST JOHN PAUL II CATHOLIC ACADEMY COLUMBIA CAMP Dorchester 0.1 mi 6.7
Boston Collegiate Charter School Dorchester 0.1 mi 8.1
Clap Elementary School Dorchester 0.2 mi 6.9
Everett Elementary School Dorchester 0.5 mi 5.8
CRISTO REY BOSTON HIGH SCHOOL Dorchester 0.6 mi 5.5
Mather Elementary School Dorchester 0.8 mi 7.3
Mason Elementary School Roxbury 0.7 mi 5.0
Conservatory Lab Charter School Dorchester 0.8 mi 7.9
Dudley Street Neighborhood Charter School Boston 0.7 mi 5.5
BOSTON COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL Dorchester 0.7 mi 8.5
Perkins Elementary School South Boston 0.9 mi 4.4
UP Academy Charter School of Boston South Boston 1.0 mi 3.4
Boston Collaborative High School South Boston 1.0 mi 3.3
Winthrop Elementary School Dorchester 0.8 mi 8.2
Dever Elementary School Dorchester 0.9 mi 5.1
Helen Y. Davis Leadership Academy Charter Public School Boston 1.3 mi 4.9
ST PETER ACADEMY South Boston 1.2 mi
Condon K-8 School South Boston 1.3 mi 3.5
King Elementary School Dorchester 1.1 mi 5.7

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 02125 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$71,810

Median Home Value

$645,400

Median Rent

$1,897/mo

Population

33,069

College Educated

41.8%

Homeownership

35.2%

Avg Commute

31.2 min

Poverty Rate

23.4%

Median Age

34.4

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Francis J McGrath Elementary Worcester, MA 4.2
John P Oldham Norwood, MA 4.2
SACRED HEARTS SCHOOL Bradford, MA 4.2
ST PATRICK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Stoneham, MA 4.2
Tisbury Elementary Vineyard Haven, MA 4.2
Brightwood Springfield, MA 4.3

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Russell Elementary School

What grades does Russell Elementary School serve?

Russell Elementary School serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.

How many students attend Russell Elementary School?

Russell Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 346 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Russell Elementary School?

The student-teacher ratio at Russell Elementary School is 12.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Russell Elementary School rank in MA?

Russell Elementary School ranks #1,578 of 1,793 schools in MA.

What is Russell Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?

Russell Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.2 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 Russell Elementary School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Russell Elementary School has 28% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 33% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Russell Elementary School a charter school?

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

Is Russell Elementary School a Title I school?

No, Russell Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
89 Very Walkable
Transit Score
74 Excellent Transit
Bike Score
74 Very Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
346
Student-Teacher Ratio
12.8:1
Teachers (FTE)
27
Type
regular
Setting
Large City
County
Suffolk County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
28.0%

District

Boston
District Enrollment
45,742
Schools in District
109
Per-Pupil Spending
$37,200
District Rank
#96 of 109

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