Average
#932 of 1,793 schools in MA
Walter J. Paton School
Elementary School · Shrewsbury · Shrewsbury, MA
A Shrewsbury elementary school where students score 6 points above what's typical for similar communities.
58 Grafton Street, Shrewsbury, MA 01545
- Math 71% vs MA 43% (2025)
- Reading 54% vs MA 42% (2025)
- 11.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
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Students at Walter J. Paton School score 62% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 56%).
2025 MCAS proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. MA average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 5 points since 2022, reaching 62% in 2025.
Show all 17 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 74% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 70% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 56 test records from MA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateThe neighborhood
Where Walter J. Paton School sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries. Open the Boston map →
Getting around & local context
- Walk 63Somewhat Walkable
- Bike 37Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: Average673/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Shrewsbury), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$136,225
Median home value
$555,500
Median rent
$2,046/mo
College educated
65.6%
Homeownership
72.1%
Poverty rate
3.8%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 01545; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lilliput Early Childhood CenterPrivate · tuition | Not rated | PK–1 | 0.2 mi | 16 | Compare → |
| St Mary Elementary SchoolPrivate · tuition | 7.5private | PK–8 | 0.3 mi | 159 | Compare → |
| Floral Street SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 6.1 | K–4 | 1.1 mi | 542 | Compare → |
| Shrewsbury Montessori SchoolPrivate · tuition | 7.7private | PK–6 | 1.1 mi | 99 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Shrewsbury
- Schools in district
- 9
- Rank in district
- #5 of 9
- District spending per student
- $18,868NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 3.5%Census SAIPE · 2024
Walter J. Paton School is listed in Shrewsbury; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Walter J. Paton School
Walter J. Paton School is a public elementary school in Shrewsbury, MA, part of Shrewsbury, serving approximately 270 students in grades Kindergarten-4th with a 11.2:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 6.2 out of 10 and ranks #932 of 1,793 schools in MA.
State assessment records show 74% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 70% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
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.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- 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%
- Phone
- (508) 841-8626
- Area population (ZIP 01545)
- 38,440
- Area average commute
- 30.4 min
- Area median age
- 40.5
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 MCAS · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 MCAS · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- State assessments · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 01545; this does not measure the attendance area.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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