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Massachusetts public elementary school

Forestdale Elementary

Malden school district

B
overall grade

Ranks #285 of 895 Massachusetts elementary schools — top 32%.

Overall rank
#285
of 895 schools
ELA · 2024–2026
48%
MA average 42%
Math · 2024–2026
50%
MA average 43%
Avg class size
20
560 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: Math, in the top 40% statewide. An average of 50% of 3rd graders met or exceeded expectations over 2024–2026, vs 43% statewide.
  • Area to watch: Attendance ranks in the bottom 39% statewide.
  • Trend: Math is up 30 points since 2023 (28% to 58%).
  • Trend: ELA is up 13 points since 2023 (43% to 56%).
Where it stands among 895 Massachusetts elementary schools
Bottom of MATop of MA
Overall
Above averagetop 32% · #285
ELA
Averagetop 43% · #378
Math
Averagetop 40% · #358
Attendance
Averagebottom 39% · #547
Teacher quality
Averagebottom 50% · #452

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 in 5 of 8 years since 2018. Math has been above the state average in 4 of 8 years since 2018.

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

English Language Arts56%in 2026 · state 43%
13 points above the state
0%50%100%This school56%State43%20172019202120232026
Math58%in 2026 · state 42%
16 points above the state
0%50%100%This school58%State42%20172019202120232026
Detailed scores
Average scaled score, ELA (500+ = meeting expectations)500
Average scaled score, Math (500+ = meeting expectations)502
Achievement percentile vs. MA schools (ELA · Math)66th · 67th

Students & classrooms

Classrooms
Students560
Average class size20MA avg 18
Students per teacher10.4MA avg 12.1
Who attends
White
36.3%
Hispanic/Latino
26.4%
Black/African American
16.6%
Asian
12.5%
Multi-Race
8%
American Indian/Alaska Native
0.2%

43% girls · 57% boys

Student needs
Low incomeHigher than average
This school
48.6%
MA avg
42.8%
English learnersHigher than average
This school
25.2%
MA avg
17.2%
Students with disabilitiesAbout average
This school
22.7%
MA avg
22.3%

Teachers

Licensed teachersAbout average
This school
100%
MA avg
98.4%
Experienced teachersAbout average
This school
72.9%
MA avg
73.2%
Teaching in their fieldAbout average
This school
96.2%
MA avg
92.4%
Stayed from last yearBetter than average
This school
93.8%
MA avg
82.7%
More staffing details
Teachers (full-time equivalent)51.6
Principal retention100%
General education teachers73%
Special education teachers21.2%
English learner teachers5.8%

Attendance & safety

Attendance rateAbout average
This school
93.9%
MA avg
94.1%
Chronically absentmissed 10%+ of daysWorse than average
This school
17.8%
MA avg
15.6%

10.5 days absent per student (MA avg 10.3) · Suspensions: 1.6% out-of-school, 0.9% in-school (MA elementary avg 2% / 1%)

About Malden

Middlesex County · Greater Boston — Inside I-95
Avg single-family home value$434KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$4,952MA median $6,814
Tax rate$11.40 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$35,105MA median $47,872
Local kids in public school94.4%
Town bond ratingAA
Free cash reserves10.1% of budget

Malden 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.

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