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Very Good

#527 of 1,793 schools in MA

Top 29% in state

Thoreau

Elementary School · Concord

29 Prairie Street, Concord, MA 01742

Enrollment

436

Student-Teacher

10.4:1

Score

7.3

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Massachusetts schools

#527 of 1,793

In Concord

#4 of 5

public schools

In district

#3 of 4

Concord

School environment

9.8 / 10

Excellent

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Thoreau

7.3/10

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

Concord Middle

9.4/10

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

Willard

7.2/10

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

About Thoreau

Thoreau is a public elementary school in Concord, MA, part of Concord. Thoreau serves approximately 436 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 10.4:1 student-teacher ratio. Thoreau has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.3 out of 10 and ranks #527 of 1,793 schools in MA.

Structured state assessment records for Thoreau show 77% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 76% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it comparesOn par with district
  • This school 7.3 · Very Good
  • District avg 7.4
  • MA avg 6.3

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress5.4Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data17
Annual Change-2.05 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics8.7Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency67.7% (2025 MCAS)
Reading/ELA Proficiency62.7% (2025 MCAS)
Math vs. State Avg+25.6 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+20.1 pts
Overall Proficiency65% (2025 MCAS, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)59% (model expectation from 2025 MCAS)
vs. Expected+6.5 pts
Adjusted Percentile79th
Resources & Environment9.8Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio10.4:1
Per-Pupil Spending$28,110
Chronic Absenteeism10.3%

Thoreau — Students at Thoreau score 65% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 59%).

How we calculate scores →

Test Scores MA MCAS (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 76.7% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
43.0% (multi-year state average, 2018-2025)
ELA Proficiency 76.3% (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
78%
ELA
89%
2010
Math
79%
ELA
88%
2011
Math
85%
ELA
86%
2012
Math
86%
ELA
86%
2013
Math
88%
ELA
89%
2014
Math
82%
ELA
88%
2015
Math
86%
ELA
82%
2016
Math
81%
ELA
78%
2017
Math
80%
ELA
79%
2018
Math
81.3%
ELA
81.5%
2019
Math
83%
ELA
80%
2020*
Math
65%
ELA
75%
2021*
Math
67.3%
ELA
75.3%
2022
Math
70.5%
ELA
68%
2023
Math
76%
ELA
71.7%
2024
Math
78%
ELA
69.3%
2025
Math
67.7%
ELA
62.7%

* 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: 5.4/10.

How Thoreau Compares

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

Overall Score
7.3/10
71th percentile in MA
Academic
8.7/10
Excellent
Growth
5.4/10
Average
Environment
9.8/10
Excellent

Funding & Resources

Teaching Staff
10:1 student-teacher ratio
42 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
10.3%

Location

29 Prairie Street, Concord, MA 01742

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Thoreau may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. General John Nixon Elementary (rated 8.4/10, 4.2 miles away, in nearby Sudbury), which scores notably higher. Another option is Luther Conant School (rated 8.1/10, 2.6 miles away, in nearby Acton), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, Josiah Haynes (rated 7.8/10, 2.6 miles away, in nearby Sudbury), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Concord, see our Concord schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 3.6 mi
School Distance Rating
Concord Middle Concord 0.8 mi 9.4
Willard Concord 1.7 mi 7.2
NASHOBA BROOKS SCHOOL Concord 2.0 mi 7.3
CORWIN-RUSSELL SCHOOL AT BROCCOLI HALL Sudbury 2.2 mi 6.5
Josiah Haynes Sudbury 2.6 mi 7.8
WILLOW HILL SCHOOL Sudbury 2.8 mi 6.2
Luther Conant School Acton 2.6 mi 8.1
Concord Carlisle High Concord 2.5 mi 9.0
Alcott Concord 2.6 mi 7.6
THE FENN SCHOOL Concord 2.9 mi 7.0
Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High Sudbury 3.7 mi 8.6
General John Nixon Elementary Sudbury 4.2 mi 8.4
McCarthy-Towne School Acton 3.4 mi 7.8
Merriam School Acton 3.4 mi 6.5
Maynard High Maynard 3.5 mi 8.1
Raymond J Grey Junior High Acton 3.5 mi 8.9
Fowler School Maynard 3.7 mi 7.4
Green Meadow Maynard 3.7 mi 6.5
Acton-Boxborough Regional High Acton 3.7 mi 8.2
THE IMAGO SCHOOL ASSOCIATION Maynard 3.6 mi 5.7

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 01742 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$211,435

Median Home Value

$1,139,200

Median Rent

$2,471/mo

Population

18,337

College Educated

79.1%

Homeownership

79.1%

Avg Commute

32.1 min

Poverty Rate

2.5%

Median Age

44.7

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Annie L Sargent School North Andover, MA 7.3
Bowen Newton Centre, MA 7.3
Early Childhood Center Dedham, MA 7.3
East Fairhaven Fairhaven, MA 7.3
Fisher Walpole, MA 7.3
Golden Hill Haverhill, MA 7.3

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Thoreau

What grades does Thoreau serve?

Thoreau serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.

How many students attend Thoreau?

Thoreau has an enrollment of approximately 436 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Thoreau?

The student-teacher ratio at Thoreau is 10.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Thoreau rank in MA?

Thoreau ranks #527 of 1,793 schools in MA.

What is Thoreau's MySchoolScout rating?

Thoreau has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.3 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 Thoreau?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Thoreau has 77% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 76% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Thoreau a charter school?

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

Is Thoreau a Title I school?

No, Thoreau is not currently a Title I school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
53 Somewhat Walkable
Bike Score
52 Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
436
Student-Teacher Ratio
10.4:1
Teachers (FTE)
42
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Middlesex County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
10.3%

District

Concord
District Enrollment
1,971
Schools in District
4
Per-Pupil Spending
$28,110
District Rank
#3 of 4

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