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Massachusetts public elementary school

Grace Farrar Cole Elementary

Norwell school district

A-
overall grade

Ranks #113 of 895 Massachusetts elementary schools — top 13%.

Overall rank
#113
of 895 schools
ELA · 2024–2026
69%+27 vs MA
MA average 42%
Math · 2024–2026
63%+20 vs MA
MA average 43%
Avg class size
21
529 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: ELA, in the top 9% statewide. An average of 69% of 3rd graders met or exceeded expectations over 2024–2026, vs 42% statewide.
  • Trend: Math is down 15 points since 2023 (72% to 57%).
  • Trend: Chronic absence has fallen from 13.5% in 2022 to 6.6% in 2025.
Where it stands among 895 Massachusetts elementary schools
Bottom of MATop of MA
Overall
Above averagetop 13% · #113
ELA
Excellenttop 9% · #73
Math
Above averagetop 19% · #170
Attendance
Above averagetop 28% · #247
Teacher quality
Above averagetop 29% · #252

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 above 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 Arts69%in 2026 · state 43%
26 points above the state
0%50%100%This school69%State43%20172019202120232026
Math57%in 2026 · state 42%
15 points above the state
0%50%100%This school57%State42%20172019202120232026
Detailed scores
Average scaled score, ELA (500+ = meeting expectations)508
Average scaled score, Math (500+ = meeting expectations)507
Achievement percentile vs. MA schools (ELA · Math)87th · 80th

Students & classrooms

Classrooms
Students529
Average class size21MA avg 18
Students per teacher14.6MA avg 12.1
Who attends
White
87.5%
Multi-Race
6.6%
Asian
2.7%
Hispanic/Latino
1.7%
Black/African American
1.5%

49.5% girls · 50.3% boys

Student needs
Low incomeLower than average
This school
4.7%
MA avg
42.8%
English learnersLower than average
This school
0.8%
MA avg
17.2%
Students with disabilitiesLower than average
This school
14.2%
MA avg
22.3%

Teachers

Licensed teachersAbout average
This school
100%
MA avg
98.4%
Experienced teachersBetter than average
This school
80.6%
MA avg
73.2%
Teaching in their fieldAbout average
This school
97.4%
MA avg
92.4%
Stayed from last yearBetter than average
This school
97.4%
MA avg
82.7%
More staffing details
Teachers (full-time equivalent)36.1
Principal retention100%
General education teachers85.5%
Special education teachers13.9%
English learner teachers0.7%

Attendance & safety

Attendance rateAbout average
This school
95%
MA avg
94.1%
Chronically absentmissed 10%+ of daysBetter than average
This school
6.6%
MA avg
15.6%

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

About Norwell

Plymouth County · South Shore
Avg single-family home value$1.07MMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$13,675MA median $6,814
Tax rate$12.80 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$116,707MA median $47,872
Local kids in public school91.5%
Town bond ratingAAA
Free cash reserves7.4% of budget

Norwell 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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