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Average

#287 of 389 private schools in MA

St John Paul Lower Mills

Elementary School

2222 DORCHESTER AVE, Dorchester, MA 02124

Private Estimated Score

Estimated academic score. This school does not have standardized test data. Based on 28 schools in Dorchester. Learn more

Enrollment

316

Student-Teacher

12.6:1

Score

5.5

Grades

Pre-K – 8th

Updated 2021-22

How this school compares

In Dorchester

#5 of 6

public schools

Massachusetts elementary schools

#129 of 200

About St John Paul Lower Mills

ST John Paul Lower Mills is a regular public elementary school located in Dorchester, Massachusetts, on the bustling streets of a large city. Serving students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade, it provides a warm and welcoming environment for young learners. With an enrollment of 316 students and a student-teacher ratio of 12.6:1, the school benefits from having dedicated teachers who can give individual attention to each child.

Despite not having specific test score data available, ST John Paul Lower Mills is committed to fostering academic growth and development for all its students. The MySchoolScout rating reflects that there may be room for improvement in terms of academic performance, but the supportive community and focused educational approach make it a place where children can thrive and learn. The school's setting in Dorchester means that it’s surrounded by diverse cultural and historical landmarks, offering rich opportunities for experiential learning beyond the classroom.

With its vibrant city environment, ST John Paul Lower Mills aims to create a nurturing atmosphere that encourages curiosity and exploration.

What Parents Should Know

As a private school, St John Paul Lower Mills operates independently from the local public school district. Families considering this school should inquire about tuition costs, financial aid availability, and the admissions process. Private schools are not required to follow the same curriculum standards as public schools, which can be either an advantage or a consideration depending on your priorities.

Compare to Public Schools

Beta

How St John Paul Lower Mills compares to 27 public schools serving similar grades in Dorchester, MA

Student-Teacher Ratio
12.6:1
This School
vs
10.6:1
Public Avg
Avg School Size
316
This School
vs
461
Public Avg
Avg School Scout Rating
5.5
This School
vs
6.2
Public Avg

Student Demographics

Black 87% vs 0%
Hispanic 5.7% vs 0%
White 1.9% vs 0%
Asian 0.9% vs 0%
St John Paul Lower Mills Dorchester Public Avg

Nearby Elementary Schools

School Rating
St John Paul Lower Mills (this school) 5.5
Henderson K-12 Inclusion School Upper 4.7
TechBoston Academy 5.2
Lee Academy 7.9
Codman Academy Charter Public School 5.9
Kenny Elementary School 6.5
Shaw Elementary School 3.4
Henderson K-12 Inclusion School Lower 7.0
Lee K-8 School 5.0
Neighborhood House Charter School 5.1
Holmes Elementary School 6.4
Murphy K-8 School 7.4
Greenwood Sarah K-8 School 6.5
UP Academy Holland 4.8
Burke High School 5.0
Mather Elementary School 7.5
Frederick Pilot Middle School 6.3
Conservatory Lab Charter School 7.4
King Elementary School 6.5
Everett Elementary School 7.0
Boston Latin Academy 7.1

Showing 20 of 27 schools. View all schools in Dorchester

Demographics sourced from NCES Private School Survey (PSS) and Common Core of Data (CCD). Comparisons are based on enrollment-weighted averages.

Score Breakdown

What This Rating Measures

This rating reflects classroom size, instructional time, student diversity, community resources, and school characteristics. Private schools are ranked against other private schools in MA.

Classroom Attention
? Student-teacher ratio calibrated against other private schools. Lower ratios mean more individual attention. (30% of overall score)
C 3.3 / 10
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio 12.6:1
Instructional Commitment
? Total annual instructional hours based on school day length and days per year. (15% of overall score)
A+ 9.6 / 10
View breakdown
School Day Length 8 hours
Annual Instructional Hours 1,440
Diversity & Inclusion
? Racial and ethnic diversity of the student body using Simpson's diversity index. (20% of overall score)
C+ 3.9 / 10
View breakdown
Diversity Index 23%
Community Context

Data Unavailable

School Profile
? Enrollment size and grade span breadth — indicators of program depth and peer community. (15% of overall score)
A- 8.0 / 10
View breakdown
Enrollment 316
View data sources

Score basis: Private school model

Data coverage: 80% of scoring components had data

Components scored: 4 of 5

Ranking pool: Private schools in MA

Test Scores

Test score data not yet available for this school.

Student Demographics NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Black 87.0%
Hispanic 5.7%
Two or More 4.1%
White 1.9%
Asian 0.9%
Native American 0.3%

Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)

Location

2222 DORCHESTER AVE, Dorchester, MA 02124

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering St John Paul Lower Mills may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. EPIPHANY SCHOOL (rated 8.0/10, 1.3 miles away, in nearby Dorchester Center), which scores notably higher. Another option is Lee Academy (rated 7.9/10, 0.9 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Henderson K-12 Inclusion School Lower (rated 7.0/10, 1.4 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Dorchester, see our Dorchester schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.6 mi
School Distance Rating
ST JOHN PAUL II CATHOLIC ACADEMY Dorchester Center 0.0 mi 4.8
Henderson K-12 Inclusion School Upper Dorchester 0.5 mi 4.7
Taylor Elementary School Mattapan 0.6 mi 5.8
Lee Academy Dorchester 0.9 mi 7.9
TechBoston Academy Dorchester 0.9 mi 5.2
Glover Milton 1.0 mi 5.3
Boston International High School & Newcomers Academy Dorchester 0.8 mi 5.2
Codman Academy Charter Public School Dorchester 1.1 mi 5.9
FONTBONNE ACADEMY Milton 1.0 mi 6.4
ST BRENDAN SCHOOL Dorchester 1.0 mi 3.8
Kenny Elementary School Dorchester 1.1 mi 6.5
EPIPHANY SCHOOL Dorchester Center 1.3 mi 8.0
Henderson K-12 Inclusion School Lower Dorchester 1.4 mi 7.0
Shaw Elementary School Dorchester 1.1 mi 3.4
Lee K-8 School Dorchester 1.4 mi 5.0
BEREA SDA ACADEMY Mattapan 1.2 mi 5.6
Charles S Pierce Middle Milton 1.4 mi 7.0
Neighborhood House Charter School Dorchester 1.5 mi 5.1
ST MARY OF THE HILLS SCHOOL Milton 1.3 mi 6.2
Holmes Elementary School Dorchester 1.6 mi 6.4

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 02124 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$79,168

Median Home Value

$607,200

Median Rent

$1,783/mo

Population

55,897

College Educated

31.1%

Homeownership

42%

Avg Commute

35 min

Poverty Rate

16.9%

Median Age

36.9

Community Profile

The community surrounding St John Paul Lower Mills has a median household income of $79,168. It is an area where 31% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $607,200, with a median rent of $1,783/month. The area has a poverty rate of 16.9%. The average commute in the area is 35 minutes, which is above the national average. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Frederick C Murphy Weymouth, MA 5.5
Gov Edward Winslow Marshfield, MA 5.5
Lee Elementary Lee, MA 5.5
Memorial West Springfield, MA 5.5
OUR LADY OF THE ASSUMPTION SCH Lynnfield, MA 5.5
Sippican Marion, MA 5.5

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about St John Paul Lower Mills

What grades does St John Paul Lower Mills serve?

St John Paul Lower Mills serves students in grades Pre-K through 8th.

How many students attend St John Paul Lower Mills?

St John Paul Lower Mills has an enrollment of approximately 316 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at St John Paul Lower Mills?

The student-teacher ratio at St John Paul Lower Mills is 12.6:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.

How does St John Paul Lower Mills rank in MA?

St John Paul Lower Mills is ranked #287 out of 389 private schools in MA.

What is St John Paul Lower Mills's MySchoolScout rating?

St John Paul Lower Mills has a composite rating of 5.5 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

Is St John Paul Lower Mills a private school?

Yes, St John Paul Lower Mills is a private coeducational school with a Roman Catholic affiliation. Private schools are not required to participate in state standardized testing, so academic performance data may be limited compared to public schools.

Is St John Paul Lower Mills a religious school?

St John Paul Lower Mills has a Roman Catholic religious affiliation.

11 schools nearby View map →

Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Grades
Pre-K – 8th
Enrollment
316
Gender Split
53% M / 47% F
Student-Teacher Ratio
12.6:1
Teachers (FTE)
25
Type
private
Coed Status
coed
Affiliation
Roman Catholic
School Day
8 hours
Days Per Year
180 days
Setting
Large City
County
SUFFOLK
Data Year
2022–2023

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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