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Massachusetts public elementary school

Irwin M. Jacobs Elementary School

New Bedford school district

C-
overall grade

Ranks #856 of 895 Massachusetts elementary schools.

Overall rank
#856
of 895 schools
ELA · 2024–2026
12%
MA average 42%
Math · 2024–2026
12%
MA average 43%
Avg class size
20
385 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 46% statewide. Students attend 94.5% of school days on average.
  • Area to watch: ELA ranks in the bottom 4% statewide.
  • Trend: Chronic absence has fallen from 43.6% in 2022 to 16.7% in 2025.
  • Trend: Math is up 8 points since 2023 (5% to 13%).
Where it stands among 895 Massachusetts elementary schools
Bottom of MATop of MA
Overall
Well below averagebottom 5% · #856
ELA
Well below averagebottom 4% · #867
Math
Well below averagebottom 6% · #850
Attendance
Averagetop 46% · #406
Teacher quality
Below averagebottom 26% · #669

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 Arts12%in 2026 · state 43%
31 points below the state
0%50%100%This school12%State43%20172019202120232026
Math13%in 2026 · state 42%
29 points below the state
0%50%100%This school13%State42%20172019202120232026
Detailed scores
Average scaled score, ELA (500+ = meeting expectations)478
Average scaled score, Math (500+ = meeting expectations)472
Achievement percentile vs. MA schools (ELA · Math)6th · 5th

Students & classrooms

Classrooms
Students385
Average class size20MA avg 18
Students per teacher11.5MA avg 12.1
Who attends
Hispanic/Latino
61.8%
White
23.9%
Black/African American
9.6%
Multi-Race
4.2%
Asian
0.3%
American Indian/Alaska Native
0.3%

51.2% girls · 48.6% boys

Student needs
Low incomeHigher than average
This school
89.1%
MA avg
42.8%
English learnersHigher than average
This school
42.6%
MA avg
17.2%
Students with disabilitiesAbout average
This school
24.4%
MA avg
22.3%

Teachers

Licensed teachersAbout average
This school
100%
MA avg
98.4%
Experienced teachersWorse than average
This school
62.2%
MA avg
73.2%
Teaching in their fieldAbout average
This school
94.3%
MA avg
92.4%
Stayed from last yearAbout average
This school
86.1%
MA avg
82.7%
More staffing details
Teachers (full-time equivalent)33.6
Principal retention100%
General education teachers79.2%
Special education teachers8.9%
English learner teachers11.9%

Attendance & safety

Attendance rateAbout average
This school
94.5%
MA avg
94.1%
Chronically absentmissed 10%+ of daysAbout average
This school
16.7%
MA avg
15.6%

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

About New Bedford

Bristol County · South Coast & Cape Cod
Avg single-family home value$425KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$4,653MA median $6,814
Tax rate$11.00 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$22,531MA median $47,872
Local kids in public school93.8%
Town bond ratingAA-
Free cash reserves1.9% of budget

New Bedford 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 New Bedford

See all 17 New Bedford elementary schools →

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