← Back to Elementary Rankings
Massachusetts public elementary school

Balch Elementary

Norwood school district

C
overall grade

Ranks #680 of 895 Massachusetts elementary schools.

Overall rank
#680
of 895 schools
ELA · 2024–2026
30%
MA average 42%
Math · 2024–2026
27%
MA average 43%
Avg class size
20
303 students

ELA and Math show the share of 3rd graders meeting or exceeding expectations on the MCAS, averaged over 2024–2026.

How it compares

What stands out
  • Strongest area: Teacher quality, in the top 43% statewide. 100% of teachers are licensed and 80.9% are experienced.
  • Area to watch: Attendance ranks in the bottom 16% statewide.
  • Trend: ELA is up 8 points since 2023 (28% to 36%).
  • Trend: Math is up 7 points since 2023 (26% to 33%).
Where it stands among 895 Massachusetts elementary schools
Bottom of MATop of MA
Overall
Below averagebottom 25% · #680
ELA
Below averagebottom 29% · #645
Math
Below averagebottom 23% · #691
Attendance
Below averagebottom 16% · #753
Teacher quality
Averagetop 43% · #383

MCAS standings use the 2024–2026 average of grade 3 results, so one unusual year doesn't swing a school's ranking. Scores in the sections below are from 2026.

Test scores

Both ELA and Math have been below the state average every year since 2018.

Share of 3rd graders meeting or exceeding expectations on the MCAS. There was no test in 2020.

English Language Arts36%in 2026 · state 43%
7 points below the state
0%50%100%This school36%State43%20172019202120232026
Math33%in 2026 · state 42%
9 points below the state
0%50%100%This school33%State42%20172019202120232026
Detailed scores
Average scaled score, ELA (500+ = meeting expectations)491
Average scaled score, Math (500+ = meeting expectations)490
Achievement percentile vs. MA schools (ELA · Math)36th · 34th

Students & classrooms

Classrooms
Students303
Average class size20MA avg 18
Students per teacher10.4MA avg 12.1
Who attends
Hispanic/Latino
41.3%
White
37.6%
Black/African American
11.2%
Asian
6.6%
Multi-Race
1.7%
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
1%
American Indian/Alaska Native
0.7%

48.8% girls · 51.2% boys

Student needs
Low incomeHigher than average
This school
60.4%
MA avg
42.8%
English learnersHigher than average
This school
41.6%
MA avg
17.2%
Students with disabilitiesAbout average
This school
23.1%
MA avg
22.3%

Teachers

Licensed teachersAbout average
This school
100%
MA avg
98.4%
Experienced teachersBetter than average
This school
80.9%
MA avg
73.2%
Teaching in their fieldAbout average
This school
91.2%
MA avg
92.4%
Stayed from last yearAbout average
This school
85.7%
MA avg
82.7%
More staffing details
Teachers (full-time equivalent)29.1
Principal retention100%
General education teachers76.7%
Special education teachers13%
English learner teachers10.3%

Attendance & safety

Attendance rateWorse than average
This school
92.6%
MA avg
94.1%
Chronically absentmissed 10%+ of daysWorse than average
This school
24.3%
MA avg
15.6%

12.8 days absent per student (MA avg 10.3) · Suspensions: Not reported

About Norwood

Norfolk County · Greater Boston — I-95 to I-495
Avg single-family home value$719KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$7,065MA median $6,814
Tax rate$9.80 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$57,096MA median $47,872
Local kids in public school88.6%
Town bond ratingAA+
Free cash reserves14.6% of budget

Norwood district profile · What could you afford here? · All towns A–Z

Town figures are FY2026 averages for single-family homes from the Massachusetts Department of Revenue. Assessed values usually run below recent sale prices. "MA median" is the median of the state's 351 towns.

Other schools in Norwood

Similar schools elsewhere

Schools with similar test results, attendance, demographics, and class sizes.