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Massachusetts public elementary school

John J Shaughnessy Elementary

Lowell school district

C+
overall grade

Ranks #615 of 895 Massachusetts elementary schools.

Overall rank
#615
of 895 schools
ELA · 2024–2026
25%
MA average 42%
Math · 2024–2026
32%
MA average 43%
Avg class size
16
488 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
  • Best of its categories: Math, in the bottom 32% statewide. An average of 32% of 3rd graders met or exceeded expectations over 2024–2026, vs 43% statewide.
  • Area to watch: Teacher quality ranks in the bottom 16% statewide.
  • Trend: Chronic absence has fallen from 37.6% in 2022 to 20.5% in 2025.
  • Trend: ELA is up 11 points since 2023 (19% to 30%).
Where it stands among 895 Massachusetts elementary schools
Bottom of MATop of MA
Overall
Below averagebottom 32% · #615
ELA
Below averagebottom 20% · #718
Math
Below averagebottom 32% · #615
Attendance
Below averagebottom 26% · #668
Teacher quality
Below averagebottom 16% · #754

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
Math38%in 2026 · state 42%
4 points below the state
0%50%100%This school38%State42%20172019202120232026
Detailed scores
Average scaled score, ELA (500+ = meeting expectations)490
Average scaled score, Math (500+ = meeting expectations)494
Achievement percentile vs. MA schools (ELA · Math)33rd · 45th

Students & classrooms

Classrooms
Students488
Average class size16MA avg 18
Students per teacher13.5MA avg 12.1
Who attends
Hispanic/Latino
48%
Asian
22.5%
White
18.2%
Multi-Race
5.7%
Black/African American
5.1%
American Indian/Alaska Native
0.4%

45.1% girls · 54.9% boys

Student needs
Low incomeHigher than average
This school
74.6%
MA avg
42.8%
English learnersHigher than average
This school
31.8%
MA avg
17.2%
Students with disabilitiesAbout average
This school
24.2%
MA avg
22.3%

Teachers

Licensed teachersAbout average
This school
97.2%
MA avg
98.4%
Experienced teachersWorse than average
This school
58.4%
MA avg
73.2%
Teaching in their fieldAbout average
This school
91.7%
MA avg
92.4%
Stayed from last yearWorse than average
This school
73.2%
MA avg
82.7%
More staffing details
Teachers (full-time equivalent)36
Principal retention50%
General education teachers63.9%
Special education teachers24.9%
English learner teachers11.1%

Attendance & safety

Attendance rateAbout average
This school
93.3%
MA avg
94.1%
Chronically absentmissed 10%+ of daysWorse than average
This school
20.5%
MA avg
15.6%

11.6 days absent per student (MA avg 10.3) · Suspensions: 1.7% out-of-school, 0% in-school (MA elementary avg 2% / 1%)

About Lowell

Middlesex County · North Shore & Merrimack Valley
Avg single-family home value$515KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$5,844MA median $6,814
Tax rate$11.40 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$27,446MA median $47,872
Local kids in public school92.9%
Town bond ratingAA-
Free cash reserves1.7% of budget

Lowell 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 Lowell

See all 15 Lowell elementary schools →

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