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Massachusetts public elementary school

Thompson Elementary

Arlington school district

B+
overall grade

Ranks #176 of 895 Massachusetts elementary schools — top 20%.

Overall rank
#176
of 895 schools
ELA · 2024–2026
61%+18 vs MA
MA average 42%
Math · 2024–2026
59%+16 vs MA
MA average 43%
Avg class size
22
531 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 20% statewide. An average of 61% of 3rd graders met or exceeded expectations over 2024–2026, vs 42% statewide.
  • Relative weak spot: Attendance ranks in the top 39%, below its other categories.
  • Trend: Math is up 15 points since 2023 (48% to 63%).
  • Trend: ELA is up 8 points since 2023 (56% to 64%).
Where it stands among 895 Massachusetts elementary schools
Bottom of MATop of MA
Overall
Above averagetop 20% · #176
ELA
Above averagetop 20% · #172
Math
Above averagetop 25% · #218
Attendance
Averagetop 39% · #349
Teacher quality
Averagetop 39% · #347

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 Arts64%in 2026 · state 43%
21 points above the state
0%50%100%This school64%State43%20172019202120232026
Math63%in 2026 · state 42%
21 points above the state
0%50%100%This school63%State42%20172019202120232026
Detailed scores
Average scaled score, ELA (500+ = meeting expectations)505
Average scaled score, Math (500+ = meeting expectations)507
Achievement percentile vs. MA schools (ELA · Math)80th · 80th

Students & classrooms

Classrooms
Students531
Average class size22MA avg 18
Students per teacher13.7MA avg 12.1
Who attends
White
60.6%
Asian
13%
Multi-Race
12.2%
Hispanic/Latino
9.4%
Black/African American
4.5%
American Indian/Alaska Native
0.2%

52% girls · 47.8% boys

Student needs
Low incomeLower than average
This school
19.8%
MA avg
42.8%
English learnersLower than average
This school
9.4%
MA avg
17.2%
Students with disabilitiesLower than average
This school
17.1%
MA avg
22.3%

Teachers

Licensed teachersAbout average
This school
97.5%
MA avg
98.4%
Experienced teachersAbout average
This school
78.9%
MA avg
73.2%
Teaching in their fieldAbout average
This school
97.7%
MA avg
92.4%
Stayed from last yearAbout average
This school
87%
MA avg
82.7%
More staffing details
Teachers (full-time equivalent)39.3
Principal retention100%
General education teachers84.7%
Special education teachers7.6%
English learner teachers7.6%

Attendance & safety

Attendance rateAbout average
This school
94.7%
MA avg
94.1%
Chronically absentmissed 10%+ of daysBetter than average
This school
11.7%
MA avg
15.6%

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

About Arlington

Middlesex County · Greater Boston — Inside I-95
Avg single-family home value$1.12MMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$11,947MA median $6,814
Tax rate$10.70 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$81,258MA median $47,872
Local kids in public school93.8%
Town bond ratingAAA
Free cash reserves10.3% of budget

Arlington 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.

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