Ranks #58 of 895 Massachusetts elementary schools — top 7%.
Overall rank
#58
of 895 schools
ELA · 2024–2026
70%+28 vs MA
MA average 42%
Math · 2024–2026
73%+30 vs MA
MA average 43%
Avg class size
20
254 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: Attendance, in the top 2% statewide. Students attend 96.3% of school days on average.
↑Trend: Math is up 24 points since 2023 (59% to 83%).
↑Trend: ELA is up 13 points since 2023 (70% to 83%).
Where it stands among 895 Massachusetts elementary schools
Bottom of MATop of MA
Overall
Excellenttop 7% · #58
ELA
Excellenttop 7% · #62
Math
Excellenttop 7% · #60
Attendance
Excellenttop 2% · #15
Teacher quality
Above averagetop 29% · #257
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
ELA has been above the state average every year since 2018. Math has been above the state average in 7 of 8 years since 2018.
Share of 3rd graders meeting or exceeding expectations on the MCAS. There was no test in 2020.
English Language Arts83%in 2026 · state 43%
40 points above the state
Math83%in 2026 · state 42%
41 points above the state
Detailed scores
Average scaled score, ELA (500+ = meeting expectations)516
Average scaled score, Math (500+ = meeting expectations)523
Achievement percentile vs. MA schools (ELA · Math)98th · 98th
Students & classrooms
Classrooms
Students254
Average class size20MA avg 18
Students per teacher14.2MA avg 12.1
Who attends
White
87.8%
Hispanic/Latino
6.3%
Asian
2.4%
Multi-Race
2.4%
Black/African American
1.2%
50% girls · 50% boys
Student needs
Low incomeLower than average
This school
5.5%
MA avg
42.8%
English learnersLower than average
This school
2%
MA avg
17.2%
Students with disabilitiesLower than average
This school
14.6%
MA avg
22.3%
Teachers
Licensed teachersAbout average
This school
100%
MA avg
98.4%
Experienced teachersBetter than average
This school
82.8%
MA avg
73.2%
Teaching in their fieldAbout average
This school
95.2%
MA avg
92.4%
Stayed from last yearAbout average
This school
87%
MA avg
82.7%
More staffing details
Teachers (full-time equivalent)18
Principal retention100%
General education teachers85.5%
Special education teachers14.5%
Attendance & safety
Attendance rateBetter than average
This school
96.3%
MA avg
94.1%
Chronically absentmissed 10%+ of daysBetter than average
This school
3.1%
MA avg
15.6%
6.6 days absent per student (MA avg 10.3) · Suspensions: Not reported
About the towns in Hamilton-Wenham
Bessie Buker Elementary is part of the Hamilton-Wenham regional district. Our data doesn't list the school's own town, so here are all of the district's member towns.
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.