Ranks #1 of 895 Massachusetts elementary schools — top 1%.
Overall rank
#1
of 895 schools
ELA · 2024–2026
84%+41 vs MA
MA average 42%
Math · 2024–2026
83%+40 vs MA
MA average 43%
Avg class size
21
383 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 1% statewide. An average of 84% of 3rd graders met or exceeded expectations over 2024–2026, vs 42% statewide.
↑Trend: ELA is up 12 points since 2023 (67% to 79%).
Where it stands among 895 Massachusetts elementary schools
Bottom of MATop of MA
Overall
Excellenttop 1% · #1
ELA
Excellenttop 1% · #3
Math
Excellenttop 2% · #13
Attendance
Above averagetop 29% · #259
Teacher quality
Excellenttop 9% · #74
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 Arts79%in 2026 · state 43%
36 points above the state
Math74%in 2026 · state 42%
32 points above the state
Detailed scores
Average scaled score, ELA (500+ = meeting expectations)514
Average scaled score, Math (500+ = meeting expectations)518
Achievement percentile vs. MA schools (ELA · Math)96th · 97th
Students & classrooms
Classrooms
Students383
Average class size21MA avg 18
Students per teacher12.7MA avg 12.1
Who attends
Asian
55.4%
White
28.7%
Multi-Race
7.6%
Hispanic/Latino
6.3%
Black/African American
2.1%
47.3% girls · 52.7% boys
Student needs
Low incomeLower than average
This school
11.8%
MA avg
42.8%
English learnersLower than average
This school
8.6%
MA avg
17.2%
Students with disabilitiesLower than average
This school
14.9%
MA avg
22.3%
Teachers
Licensed teachersAbout average
This school
100%
MA avg
98.4%
Experienced teachersBetter than average
This school
86.7%
MA avg
73.2%
Teaching in their fieldAbout average
This school
100%
MA avg
92.4%
Stayed from last yearBetter than average
This school
96.6%
MA avg
82.7%
More staffing details
Teachers (full-time equivalent)30
Principal retention100%
General education teachers83.3%
Special education teachers16.7%
Attendance & safety
Attendance rateAbout average
This school
95%
MA avg
94.1%
Chronically absentmissed 10%+ of daysBetter than average
This school
10.8%
MA avg
15.6%
8.8 days absent per student (MA avg 10.3) · Suspensions: Not reported
About the towns in Acton-Boxborough
Paul P Gates Elementary School is part of the Acton-Boxborough regional district. Our data doesn't list the school's own town, so here are all of the district's member towns.
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.