The top reported proficiency rate is 88% in Science. The lowest is 73% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Peirce
Peirce is a regular public elementary school in Arlington, Massachusetts, serving kindergarten through fifth grade. It is one of seven elementary schools in the Arlington district, each embedded in a different neighborhood of this dense, predominantly residential suburb northwest of Boston. The school sits on Park Avenue Extension, within a town where historic homes, mixed-use commercial corridors along Massachusetts Avenue, and parks like Menotomy Rocks and Spy Pond give the community a settled, walkable character. The Minuteman Bikeway runs through the town center, and multiple MBTA bus routes connect residents to the Alewife Red Line station and Boston.
Academically, Peirce shows a notably strong picture for an elementary school. On the state’s NextGen MCAS assessments, a large share of students met or exceeded proficiency standards in math and English language arts, and a very large share did so in science. The science result is particularly high. These scores place the school’s overall proficiency well above the midpoint among districts in Middlesex County, in the top quartile of the seventy-five districts measured. That comparison is drawn at the district level, but since Peirce is part of Arlington, it reflects the strength of the instruction and support the school provides.
Looking across recent years, the trend in math is especially noteworthy. After some weaker years, math proficiency has risen markedly in the last few years and now sits at a consistently high level. English language arts has been more variable, with a dip a few years ago followed by a recovery to around the same high level seen in the most recent testing year. This mid-range fluctuation is not unusual for a single elementary school, but a parent may want to ask how the school approaches literacy instruction and supports students who need extra help.
Peirce enrolls a diverse student body. The largest group is white, with substantial shares of Asian, Hispanic, Black, and multiracial students. This mix is characteristic of Arlington, a town that has become more affluent over time but retains a range of backgrounds. The school does not report the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, nor does it report the share of students with individualized education plans or English learner status. Those are notable gaps. A family considering the school would want to ask the school directly about the level of economic diversity and the availability of special education and language support services.
Because Peirce serves only elementary grades, there is no graduation rate to report. The school also does not provide data on chronic absenteeism, which is a common metric for school climate. The civil rights data and program offerings are not available in the sourced information, so a parent would need to visit the school’s website or contact the office to learn about enrichment offerings, after-school programs, or specialist teachers in art, music, and physical education.
The Arlington district itself did not show any recent major changes in available public records, which suggests stability in leadership, budgeting, and operations. That lack of visible disruption can be a comfort for families seeking a predictable educational environment. The town continues to invest in its cultural infrastructure, such as the recent sale of the Regent Theatre, and its schools are spread across neighborhoods, meaning Peirce’s students walk or ride to a school that is part of a local block, not a consolidated campus.
For a family looking for a strong academic elementary school in a well-connected, amenity-rich suburb, Peirce presents a convincing option. The test scores are among the better ones in the region, the building is part of a stable district, and the neighborhood setting is active and walkable. The main unknowns are the missing data on economic need and special programs, which a parent would want to explore directly with the school to get a full picture of how Peirce supports all its students.
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