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Average

#932 of 1,793 schools in MA

Walter J. Paton School

Elementary School · Shrewsbury

58 Grafton Street, Shrewsbury, MA 01545

Enrollment

270

Student-Teacher

11.2:1

Score

6.2

Grades

Kindergarten – 4th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Massachusetts schools

#932 of 1,793

In Shrewsbury

#5 of 9

public schools

In district

#5 of 9

Shrewsbury

Equity

8.9 / 10

Excellent

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Walter J. Paton School

6.2/10

Elementary School in Shrewsbury · grades Kindergarten – 4th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Lilliput Early Childhood Center

Nearby

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

St Mary Elementary School

7.5/10

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

About Walter J. Paton School

Walter J. Paton School is a public elementary school in Shrewsbury, MA, part of Shrewsbury. Walter J.

Paton School serves approximately 270 students, and covers grades Kindergarten-4th, and has a 11.2:1 student-teacher ratio. Walter J. Paton School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.2 out of 10 and ranks #932 of 1,793 schools in MA.

Structured state assessment records for Walter J. Paton School show 74% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 70% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares0.5 pts below district
  • This school 6.2 · Average
  • District avg 6.7
  • MA avg 6.3

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress4.7Below Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data17
Annual Change-2.39 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics8.5Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency70.5% (2025 MCAS)
Reading/ELA Proficiency53.5% (2025 MCAS)
Math vs. State Avg+28.4 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+10.9 pts
Overall Proficiency62% (2025 MCAS, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)56% (model expectation from 2025 MCAS)
vs. Expected+5.9 pts
Adjusted Percentile77th
Resources & Environment6.3Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio11.2:1
Per-Pupil Spending$18,868
Chronic Absenteeism15.6%

Walter J. Paton School — Students at Walter J. Paton School score 62% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 56%).

How we calculate scores →

Test Scores MA MCAS (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 74.0% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
43.8% (multi-year state average, 2018-2025)
ELA Proficiency 70.1% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
45.6% (multi-year state average, 2018-2025)

Based on 56 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
97.5%
ELA
92%
2010
Math
87%
ELA
92%
2011
Math
92%
ELA
97.5%
2012
Math
87%
ELA
87%
2013
Math
87%
ELA
82%
2014
Math
82%
ELA
77%
2015
Math
92%
ELA
82%
2016
Math
77%
ELA
72%
2017
Math
77%
ELA
72%
2018
Math
76%
ELA
74.3%
2019
Math
77%
ELA
71.7%
2020*
Math
57%
ELA
72%
2021*
Math
61%
ELA
71.7%
2022
Math
61%
ELA
52.3%
2023
Math
70%
ELA
59%
2024
Math
65.5%
ELA
51%
2025
Math
70.5%
ELA
53.5%

* 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: 4.7/10.

How Walter J. Paton School Compares

See how Walter J. Paton School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
6.2/10
48th percentile in MA
Academic
8.5/10
Excellent
Growth
4.7/10
Below Average
Environment
6.3/10
Average

Funding & Resources

Teaching Staff
11:1 student-teacher ratio
24 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
15.6%

Location

58 Grafton Street, Shrewsbury, MA 01545

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Walter J. Paton School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. AL-HAMRA ACADEMY (rated 8.8/10, 2.1 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Boylston Elementary School (rated 8.7/10, 3.0 miles away, in nearby Boylston), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Lake View (rated 8.2/10, 2.9 miles away, in nearby Worcester), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Shrewsbury, see our Shrewsbury schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 3.2 mi
School Distance Rating
LILLIPUT EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER Shrewsbury 0.2 mi
ST MARY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Shrewsbury 0.3 mi 7.5
Sherwood Middle School Shrewsbury 0.9 mi 6.0
Spring Street School Shrewsbury 1.1 mi 5.4
Oak Middle School Shrewsbury 1.0 mi 7.6
SHREWSBURY MONTESSORI SCHOOL Shrewsbury 1.1 mi 7.7
Floral Street School Shrewsbury 1.1 mi 6.1
Major Howard W. Beal School Shrewsbury 1.5 mi 8.0
Shrewsbury High School Shrewsbury 1.8 mi 7.9
AL-HAMRA ACADEMY Shrewsbury 2.1 mi 8.8
Parker Road Preschool Shrewsbury 2.1 mi 4.3
SHREWSBURY CHILDREN'S CENTER Shrewsbury 2.1 mi
Calvin Coolidge School Shrewsbury 2.6 mi 7.6
Boylston Elementary School Boylston 3.0 mi 8.7
Lake View Worcester 2.9 mi 8.2
North Grafton Elementary North Grafton 3.8 mi 5.0
Lincoln Street Worcester 2.9 mi 6.5
Robert E. Melican Middle School Northborough 3.3 mi 7.1
Lincoln Street Northborough 3.3 mi 5.7
Fannie E Proctor Northborough 3.2 mi 7.4

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 01545 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$136,225

Median Home Value

$555,500

Median Rent

$2,046/mo

Population

38,440

College Educated

65.6%

Homeownership

72.1%

Avg Commute

30.4 min

Poverty Rate

3.8%

Median Age

40.5

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
A F Maloney Blackstone, MA 6.2
Abbot Elementary Westford, MA 6.2
Carlton Salem, MA 6.2
Community North Attleborough, MA 6.2
JEWISH COMMUNITY DAY SCHOOL, INC DBA JCDS BOSTONS Watertown, MA 6.2
Martin Luther King Jr. Charter School of Excellence Springfield, MA 6.2

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Walter J. Paton School

What grades does Walter J. Paton School serve?

Walter J. Paton School serves students in grades Kindergarten through 4th.

How many students attend Walter J. Paton School?

Walter J. Paton School has an enrollment of approximately 270 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Walter J. Paton School?

The student-teacher ratio at Walter J. Paton School is 11.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Walter J. Paton School rank in MA?

Walter J. Paton School ranks #932 of 1,793 schools in MA.

What is Walter J. Paton School's MySchoolScout rating?

Walter J. Paton School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.2 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 Walter J. Paton School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Walter J. Paton School has 74% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 70% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Walter J. Paton School a charter school?

No, Walter J. Paton School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Walter J. Paton School a Title I school?

No, Walter J. Paton School is not currently a Title I school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
63 Somewhat Walkable
Bike Score
37 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Kindergarten – 4th
Enrollment
270
Student-Teacher Ratio
11.2:1
Teachers (FTE)
24
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Worcester County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
15.6%

District

Shrewsbury
District Enrollment
5,921
Schools in District
9
Per-Pupil Spending
$18,868
District Rank
#5 of 9

How we rate schools

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