The top reported proficiency rate is 75% in Science. The lowest is 65% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Mary E Flaherty School
Mary E Flaherty School is a regular public elementary school in Braintree, Massachusetts, serving kindergarten through grade four. It is one of six elementary schools in the Braintree district, each covering the same grade span following a district-wide reconfiguration that closed the standalone kindergarten center and brought kindergarten into all elementary schools starting in the 2024-2025 school year. For any family considering this school, that change means every elementary school now operates on a level playing field: kindergarteners attend their neighborhood elementary building rather than a separate center, and the district also redistricted some students to balance enrollment across the six schools.
The student body is diverse. The largest group is white, followed by a substantial Asian student presence. Smaller shares identify as two or more races, Hispanic, and Black. Free and reduced-price lunch data was not reported in the available data, so an economic profile of the student population is not available here. Enrollment size is moderate for an elementary school serving this grade band.
On the Massachusetts Next-Generation MCAS assessments, the school posted solid results in the most recent testing year. In both math and English language arts, roughly two out of three students scored at the proficient level or above, with participation rates at nearly universal levels. Looking back over the past several years, the school's ELA proficiency has varied notably, dipping below the most recent figure at points and exceeding it in earlier years. Math proficiency has also fluctuated but has generally hovered in a similar band, with a stronger showing in the year prior to the most recent test. The most recent science results are from an earlier school year and are not directly comparable due to changes in the assessment; those showed a higher proficiency rate, but parents should note the data is older and from a different testing format.
When compared against all other districts across Norfolk County on an overall proficiency index that averages performance across tested subjects and grades, this school sits above the midpoint among that group. For a family weighing school options within the county, that is a meaningful benchmark: the school is performing at a level that places it in the stronger half of its county peers.
Because the school serves only grades K through 4, there is no graduation rate to report, which is a function of the grade band rather than an evaluative gap.
All Braintree elementary schools now offer a world language program in grades K through 5, a new district-wide initiative that took effect with the fiscal 2025 budget. This means Flaherty students receive early language instruction as part of the regular school day.
Braintree itself is a mature inner-ring suburb of Boston, with a mix of established neighborhoods, some new home clusters, and condominium complexes. It has a strong commercial base, anchored by the South Shore Plaza and office and industrial parks along major highway corridors. The town's character is shaped by the intensity of commercial use and traffic along Routes 93, 3, 37, and 53. Public schools are distributed across separate campuses; the district has six elementary schools, two middle schools, and one high school. The town center retains historical character, with Town Hall, Thayer Academy, and the public library nearby. Transit access is a notable feature: Braintree station offers MBTA Red Line service and two commuter rail lines, and the Greenbush Line stops at the Braintree-Weymouth border.
For a parent or resident reading this profile, the takeaway is straightforward. Mary E Flaherty is a solid suburban elementary school with diverse enrollment, academic performance that sits above the county median, and a consistent curriculum that now includes elementary world language. The school serves its neighborhood families through grade four, after which students move to Braintree's middle schools. The data does not speak to special education or English learner populations, so families with children who may need those services will want to follow up directly with the school or district for more specific information.
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