The top reported proficiency rate is 21% in Science. The lowest is 16% in Social studies.
Original Research by School Decision on Guilmette Middle School
Guilmette Middle School serves grades five through eight in Lawrence, a dense, historic mill city on the Merrimack River whose population is overwhelmingly Hispanic and working-class. The school is a regular public school within the Lawrence Public Schools district. It occupies a building on Bodwell Street in a residential neighborhood of the city.
State testing results from the 2024-25 school year place Guilmette in the bottom tier of schools across Essex County when measured by overall proficiency. On the NextGen MCAS assessments, the share of students scoring proficient or above was notably low in every tested subject. In English language arts, about one in five students reached proficiency. In mathematics the figure was slightly below that, and in science it was roughly one in five as well. Eighth-grade social studies results were similar. These performance levels are well below the median for districts in the county, placing Guilmette in the bottom quartile of that comparison group.
Trend data over the past several years shows that ELA proficiency has been volatile. Before the pandemic, in 2018-19, the rate stood higher than where it is now. It dropped sharply in 2020-21 and has since leveled off at roughly the current mark. A parent may want to ask the school what steps are being taken to raise achievement, especially given that the school serves a critical transition window from upper elementary into the middle grades.
The student body is very homogeneous in ethnic composition. The vast majority of students are Hispanic. There is a small number of Asian, Black, and White students, and almost no representation from other groups. Data on free or reduced-price meal eligibility, special education, and English learner status was not reported in the available records, which limits a full picture of student support needs. Because Guilmette is a middle school, it does not have a graduation rate, and no information on course access, discipline, or attendance was provided in these sources.
Lawrence itself is a compact, densely populated city with a strong immigrant tradition and an active manufacturing base in textiles, electronics, and footwear. The housing market in the city’s zip code reflects modest prices relative to the broader Boston area, with typical home values well below the state median, though still high by national standards. Rents are also moderate for the region. The city’s population has been relatively stable in recent years, and publicly reported sources describe ongoing redevelopment of former mill buildings, though no major housing projects or district-level strategic changes were identified in this research.
Because no program offerings were listed in the available data, a family considering Guilmette would need to contact the school directly to learn about elective courses, extracurricular activities, and any specialized academic tracks. The district brief turned up no parent-relevant changes from the last few years that met the threshold of lasting impact.
In short, Guilmette Middle School is a large urban middle school serving a predominantly Hispanic student population in a working-class city. Its academic results are among the lowest in Essex County, and the trend in ELA has not recovered to pre-pandemic levels. The school sits in a city with a walkable, industrial character and housing that is relatively affordable for the region. Families will want to investigate the school’s specific supports, enrichment options, and improvement efforts to see how well it aligns with their child’s needs.
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