The top reported proficiency rate is 75% in Science. The lowest is 57% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Paul F Doyon Memorial
Paul F Doyon Memorial is one of two elementary schools in the Ipswich public school district, serving students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade and located on Linebrook Road. As a regular public school that feeds into the district’s middle and high schools, it provides the foundation for a K-12 pathway that families can follow through Ipswich’s entire system.
The school’s most recent state testing results, from the Massachusetts NextGen MCAS assessments, show a mixed picture for a parent to consider. In math, roughly three out of five students scored at the proficient level or above, which is a solid outcome and has been fairly consistent in recent years, with a notable dip during the pandemic period followed by a strong recovery. In English language arts, the proficiency rate came in slightly lower, though still in the range the school has recorded over time; the figure for the most recent year is consistent with where the school has been for most of the past several years. Science performance, tested only at the fifth-grade level here, stands out as a clear strength, with roughly three out of four students reaching proficiency. When you look at the school’s overall academic picture across all tested subjects and grades, Paul F Doyon Memorial lands in the top quartile among elementary schools in Essex County, a strong showing that places it well above the typical county school on this combined measure. No graduation rate data is reported because the school does not serve high school grades, and chronic absenteeism data was not included in available records.
Enrollment is at a size that would be considered moderate for an elementary school. The student body is predominantly white, with a Hispanic population making up the next largest identifiable group, and small numbers of students from other racial and ethnic backgrounds. The data did not include information on how many students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, nor on the share of students with individualized education programs or English learner classifications, so parents who want to understand the school’s socioeconomic diversity or special education and language support should follow up with the school directly.
Ipswich itself is a coastal town with a historic character, known for its preserved colonial houses, its annual clam festival, and Crane Beach. The economy is a mix of light manufacturing, services, education, publishing, and trade, and the community attracts summer visitors and residents who value the town’s natural and historic assets. Large areas of protected land and conservation property limit the scope for sprawling development, and population growth has been modest in recent decades. The town center has a walkable historic core, but most of the town is low-density residential, so families typically drive to school and other destinations. Housing costs in the Ipswich ZIP code are substantially above the national median, and recent market data shows a tight market with limited inventory and homes selling quickly, consistent with much of eastern Massachusetts. The overall cost of housing relative to income is notably high, a key consideration for families moving into the district.
The district itself has made a significant recent investment in its elementary facilities. Voters approved a debt exclusion override to fund a major renovation and expansion of Winthrop Elementary School, Ipswich’s other K-5 school, to address overcrowding and aging infrastructure. That override raises property taxes for the life of the bond, so families in the district are paying for that upgrade. No comparable public information was found about plans for Paul F Doyon Memorial’s own facilities, and the data did not include a detailed breakdown of course access, staffing ratios, or discipline patterns at this school. Parents evaluating Paul F Doyon Memorial should consider how the ongoing investment in the district’s other elementary building might affect class sizes, programming, or facility quality over time, and they may wish to contact the school directly for specifics on arts, enrichment, and special education offerings that were not available in the public data.
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