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Massachusetts public elementary school

John K Tarbox Elementary

Lawrence school district

C-
overall grade

Ranks #782 of 895 Massachusetts elementary schools.

Overall rank
#782
of 895 schools
ELA · 2024–2026
23%
MA average 42%
Math · 2024–2026
31%
MA average 43%
Avg class size
20
303 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: Attendance, in the bottom 44% statewide. Students attend 94.1% of school days on average.
  • Area to watch: Teacher quality ranks in the bottom 7% statewide.
  • Trend: Chronic absence has fallen from 34.7% in 2022 to 15.4% in 2025.
  • Trend: Math is up 9 points since 2023 (26% to 35%).
Where it stands among 895 Massachusetts elementary schools
Bottom of MATop of MA
Overall
Below averagebottom 13% · #782
ELA
Below averagebottom 17% · #751
Math
Below averagebottom 30% · #632
Attendance
Averagebottom 44% · #505
Teacher quality
Well below averagebottom 7% · #840

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 Arts23%in 2026 · state 43%
20 points below the state
0%50%100%This school23%State43%20172019202120232026
Math35%in 2026 · state 42%
7 points below the state
0%50%100%This school35%State42%20172019202120232026
Detailed scores
Average scaled score, ELA (500+ = meeting expectations)482
Average scaled score, Math (500+ = meeting expectations)489
Achievement percentile vs. MA schools (ELA · Math)11th · 32nd

Students & classrooms

Classrooms
Students303
Average class size20MA avg 18
Students per teacher11.5MA avg 12.1
Who attends
Hispanic/Latino
98%
White
1.3%
Black/African American
0.3%
Multi-Race
0.3%

44.6% girls · 55.5% boys

Student needs
Low incomeHigher than average
This school
88.8%
MA avg
42.8%
English learnersHigher than average
This school
46.9%
MA avg
17.2%
Students with disabilitiesAbout average
This school
21.1%
MA avg
22.3%

Teachers

Licensed teachersAbout average
This school
100%
MA avg
98.4%
Experienced teachersWorse than average
This school
38.8%
MA avg
73.2%
Teaching in their fieldAbout average
This school
84%
MA avg
92.4%
Stayed from last yearWorse than average
This school
65.4%
MA avg
82.7%
More staffing details
Teachers (full-time equivalent)24.5
Principal retention100%
General education teachers81.6%
Special education teachers6.1%
English learner teachers12.2%

Attendance & safety

Attendance rateAbout average
This school
94.1%
MA avg
94.1%
Chronically absentmissed 10%+ of daysAbout average
This school
15.4%
MA avg
15.6%

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

About Lawrence

Essex County · North Shore & Merrimack Valley
Avg single-family home value$479KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$4,140MA median $6,814
Tax rate$8.60 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$21,419MA median $47,872
Local kids in public school94%
Town bond ratingA+
Free cash reserves3.9% of budget

Lawrence 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 Lawrence

See all 10 Lawrence elementary schools →

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