The top reported proficiency rate is 37% in Math. The lowest is 16% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Kennedy Patrick J Elementary School
Kennedy Patrick J Elementary School is a regular public school in East Boston serving prekindergarten through sixth grade. It is part of the Boston Public Schools system. The school is small enough that families and staff are likely to know one another, and its grade band means students move on to a middle school after sixth grade. Because it does not serve high school grades, there is no graduation rate to report.
The student body is overwhelmingly Hispanic or Latino, with a very small share of white students and even smaller numbers of Black, Asian, and multiracial students. This composition reflects East Boston itself, a dense, urban neighborhood shaped by generations of immigration, most recently from Colombia and El Salvador, alongside a long-established Italian-American community and newer young professionals. A large share of residents are Hispanic or Latino, and that character is directly visible in this school's enrollment.
On the 2024-25 NextGen MCAS, the state's regular assessment for grades three through eight, mathematics proficiency was above the midpoint among districts in Suffolk County, which includes Boston and its urban neighbors. English language arts proficiency was lower, and science proficiency was below both subjects. The data on these tests covers only a single year for this new assessment regime, so a parent may want to ask the school for a fuller picture of how students progress over time. Looking at the trend data from earlier years under a prior test version, math proficiency has moved within a range from lower to higher depending on the year, and English language arts has also varied, with the most recent year showing an uptick from the previous few years. The overall story is one of modest performance in math relative to the county and weaker results in reading and science, and a parent considering the school would want to understand what supports are in place for students who need to catch up.
The school's free-or-reduced-price lunch rate was not available, nor were data on students with disabilities or English learners. Given the neighborhood context, these are likely substantial populations, but the specific numbers are a gap. A parent should check with the school directly for this information.
East Boston is a neighborhood of triple-deckers and grid streets, with five MBTA Blue Line stations and ferry service connecting it to downtown Boston. Life here is shaped by Logan International Airport, which dominates the eastern side of the neighborhood and provides both employment and aircraft noise. The Mary Ellen Welch Greenway runs through the area as a shared-use path, and parks such as Piers Park and Constitution Beach offer waterfront recreation. The neighborhood has seen significant new housing development, especially luxury apartments near transit and the water, which has brought both growth and displacement pressure. The housing market is expensive, with prices and rents well above national averages, consistent with the Boston region.
The parent district, Boston Public Schools, did not have recently reported district-level policy or budget changes that would directly affect this school. As a neighborhood school in a large urban district, Kennedy Patrick J Elementary offers families a local option within walking distance. The academic picture shows room for growth, particularly in literacy and science, and the school's small size may allow for close relationships between staff and families. A parent weighing this school would do well to visit, speak with teachers about how they address varied student needs, and understand the middle school options that follow sixth grade.
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