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Massachusetts public elementary school

Jireh Swift Elementary

New Bedford school district

C
overall grade

Ranks #721 of 895 Massachusetts elementary schools.

Overall rank
#721
of 895 schools
ELA · 2024–2026
23%
MA average 42%
Math · 2024–2026
27%
MA average 43%
Avg class size
17
219 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 31% statewide. Students attend 94.9% of school days on average.
  • Area to watch: ELA ranks in the bottom 17% statewide.
  • Trend: Chronic absence has fallen from 34.1% in 2022 to 14.7% in 2025.
Where it stands among 895 Massachusetts elementary schools
Bottom of MATop of MA
Overall
Below averagebottom 20% · #721
ELA
Below averagebottom 17% · #752
Math
Below averagebottom 24% · #690
Attendance
Above averagetop 31% · #274
Teacher quality
Averagetop 40% · #358

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 Arts30%in 2026 · state 43%
13 points below the state
0%50%100%This school30%State43%20172019202120232026
Math21%in 2026 · state 42%
21 points below the state
0%50%100%This school21%State42%20172019202120232026
Detailed scores
Average scaled score, ELA (500+ = meeting expectations)487
Average scaled score, Math (500+ = meeting expectations)486
Achievement percentile vs. MA schools (ELA · Math)24th · 24th

Students & classrooms

Classrooms
Students219
Average class size17MA avg 18
Students per teacher10.6MA avg 12.1
Who attends
White
46.6%
Hispanic/Latino
35.6%
Black/African American
10.1%
Multi-Race
4.6%
Asian
1.8%
American Indian/Alaska Native
1.4%

57.1% girls · 42.9% boys

Student needs
Low incomeHigher than average
This school
65.8%
MA avg
42.8%
English learnersHigher than average
This school
21.9%
MA avg
17.2%
Students with disabilitiesAbout average
This school
24.2%
MA avg
22.3%

Teachers

Licensed teachersAbout average
This school
100%
MA avg
98.4%
Experienced teachersAbout average
This school
77.9%
MA avg
73.2%
Teaching in their fieldAbout average
This school
95.5%
MA avg
92.4%
Stayed from last yearAbout average
This school
90.9%
MA avg
82.7%
More staffing details
Teachers (full-time equivalent)19.3
Principal retention100%
General education teachers84.4%
Special education teachers10.4%
English learner teachers5.2%

Attendance & safety

Attendance rateAbout average
This school
94.9%
MA avg
94.1%
Chronically absentmissed 10%+ of daysAbout average
This school
14.7%
MA avg
15.6%

8.8 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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