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Excellent

#350 of 1,793 schools in MA

Top 20% in state

South Elementary

Elementary School · Plymouth

178 Bourne Rd, Plymouth, MA 02360

Enrollment

628

Student-Teacher

12.6:1

Score

8.0

Grades

Kindergarten – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Massachusetts schools

#350 of 1,793

In Plymouth

#5 of 15

public schools

In district

#4 of 13

Plymouth

Academic growth

9.0 / 10

Excellent

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South Elementary

8.0/10

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

The Cove School

Nearby

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

Plymouth South High

5.7/10

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

About South Elementary

South Elementary is a public elementary school in Plymouth, MA, part of Plymouth. South Elementary serves approximately 628 students, and covers grades Kindergarten-5th, and has a 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio. South Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.0 out of 10 and ranks #350 of 1,793 schools in MA.

Structured state assessment records for South Elementary show 45% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 49% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares0.5 pts above district
  • This school 8.0 · Excellent
  • District avg 7.5
  • MA avg 6.3

What Parents Should Know

South Elementary sits in a rural area, which can mean longer drives for some families. Rural schools are often community anchors with smaller classes, but check transportation, after-school options, and access to specialized services before you commit.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress9.0Excellent50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data17
Annual Change-0.16 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendStable
Academics6.1Average30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency40% (2025 MCAS)
Reading/ELA Proficiency43.7% (2025 MCAS)
Math vs. State Avg-2.1 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+1.1 pts
Overall Proficiency42% (2025 MCAS, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)48% (model expectation from 2025 MCAS)
vs. Expected-6.3 pts
Adjusted Percentile44th
Resources & Environment8.2Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio12.6:1
Per-Pupil Spending$23,402
Chronic Absenteeism14%

South Elementary — Students at South Elementary score 42% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 48%).

How we calculate scores →

Test Scores MA MCAS (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 45.0% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
43.0% (multi-year state average, 2018-2025)
ELA Proficiency 48.8% (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
55%
ELA
61%
2010
Math
57%
ELA
59%
2011
Math
54%
ELA
65%
2012
Math
57%
ELA
60%
2013
Math
59%
ELA
59%
2014
Math
52%
ELA
44%
2015
Math
61%
ELA
56%
2016
Math
47%
ELA
48%
2017
Math
42%
ELA
48%
2018
Math
42.5%
ELA
49.3%
2019
Math
39%
ELA
47.3%
2020*
Math
42%
ELA
54%
2021*
Math
38.8%
ELA
51.8%
2022
Math
40.8%
ELA
40.3%
2023
Math
48.3%
ELA
48%
2024
Math
46.7%
ELA
42%
2025
Math
40%
ELA
43.7%

* 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: 9.0/10.

How South Elementary Compares

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

Overall Score
8.0/10
81th percentile in MA
Academic
6.1/10
Average
Growth
9.0/10
Excellent
Environment
8.2/10
Excellent

Funding & Resources

Teaching Staff
13:1 student-teacher ratio
50 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
14.0%

Location

178 Bourne Rd, Plymouth, MA 02360

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering South Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Federal Furnace School (rated 8.3/10, 6.7 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Nathaniel Morton Elementary (rated 8.3/10, 8.6 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, Bournedale Elementary School (rated 8.2/10, 5.4 miles away, in nearby Bournedale), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Plymouth, see our Plymouth schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 8.6 mi
School Distance Rating
THE COVE SCHOOL Plymouth 1.6 mi
Plymouth South High Plymouth 3.2 mi 5.7
Plymouth South Middle Plymouth 3.5 mi 6.2
Bournedale Elementary School Bournedale 5.4 mi 8.2
Indian Brook Plymouth 4.9 mi 6.0
BRIDGEVIEW MONTESSORI SCHOOL Sagamore 5.5 mi 6.0
Upper Cape Cod Vocational Technical Bourne 6.4 mi 6.8
Bourne Intermediate School Bourne 6.7 mi 7.0
Bourne High School Bourne 6.8 mi 7.1
Manomet Elementary Plymouth 6.4 mi 7.5
Bourne Middle School Bourne 6.8 mi 5.5
Plymouth Early Childhood Center Plymouth 6.6 mi 3.4
Plymouth Commun Intermediate Plymouth 6.6 mi 6.6
CHRISTOPHER DONOVAN DAY SCHOOL- INC Onset 6.9 mi
WALDORF SCHOOL OF CAPE COD Sandwich 6.6 mi 5.5
Wareham Elementary School Wareham 7.0 mi 8.2
Plymouth North High Plymouth 7.8 mi 5.6
Federal Furnace School Plymouth 6.7 mi 8.3
WOODSIDE SCHOOL & COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER Plymouth 7.1 mi
Nathaniel Morton Elementary Plymouth 8.6 mi 8.3

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 02360 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$111,975

Median Home Value

$494,700

Median Rent

$1,831/mo

Population

62,405

College Educated

45.2%

Homeownership

79.8%

Avg Commute

30.4 min

Poverty Rate

6.1%

Median Age

47.3

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Acushnet Elementary School Acushnet, MA 8.0
Alden School Duxbury, MA 8.0
Boyden Walpole, MA 8.0
Cottage Street Sharon, MA 8.0
Egremont Pittsfield, MA 8.0
Hopkins Elementary School Hopkinton, MA 8.0

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about South Elementary

What grades does South Elementary serve?

South Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.

How many students attend South Elementary?

South Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 628 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at South Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at South Elementary is 12.6:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does South Elementary rank in MA?

South Elementary ranks #350 of 1,793 schools in MA.

What is South Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

South Elementary 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 South Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, South Elementary has 45% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 49% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is South Elementary a charter school?

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

Is South Elementary a Title I school?

No, South Elementary is not currently a Title I school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
4 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
14 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
628
Student-Teacher Ratio
12.6:1
Teachers (FTE)
50
Type
regular
Setting
Fringe Rural
County
Plymouth County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
14.0%

District

Plymouth
District Enrollment
7,055
Schools in District
13
Per-Pupil Spending
$23,402
District Rank
#4 of 13

How we rate schools

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