The top reported proficiency rate is 43% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Francis T Bresnahan Elementary
Francis T Bresnahan Elementary serves the youngest students in Newburyport, from pre-kindergarten through third grade. It is a regular public school in a historic coastal city on the Merrimack River, a place where preserved Federal-era homes line High Street and a compact, walkable downtown draws tourists and locals alike. The school itself is on High Street, woven into the residential fabric rather than set apart on a campus, and the city’s public schools share that integrated character.
The student body is predominantly white, with a modest share of Hispanic students and small numbers of Asian, Black, and multiracial students. Enrollment across the five early grades fills the building at a size that fits the district’s elementary pattern. Data on the share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price meals was not available, nor were counts of students with disabilities or English learners, so a parent may want to ask the school about those supports directly.
On the latest state assessments, which Massachusetts gives in grade three, Bresnahan’s results in both math and English language arts show roughly the same share of students meeting the proficient bar. That proficiency rate places the school below the midpoint when compared with other districts across Essex County. Looking back over the past several years, the trajectory has been a downward one. In the years just before the pandemic, proficiency in both subjects was higher, reaching about three-quarters of students in ELA and over two-thirds in math. Those levels have since fallen, and the most recent year marks a low point in the available trend. The school participates fully in state testing, so the data reflects the full third-grade cohort.
Because Bresnahan only serves through third grade, there is no graduation rate to report, and issues like chronic absenteeism and disciplinary data are not captured in the available records. The school reports no magnet or charter status, and no Title I eligibility data was provided.
The housing market in Newburyport is expensive. Typical home values and rents in the area are well above national and state medians, and the cost of entry is steep for many families. The city itself has an aging population profile, with a notable share of residents over 65 and only moderate recent growth, which may shape the number of young families moving in. The downtown’s preservation and walkability are strong assets, and the commuter rail line connects to Boston. The district reports no recent major changes or strategic initiatives, so the picture has been relatively stable.
For a family considering Bresnahan, the takeaway is largely shaped by what the school is: an early-primary building in an expensive, historic coastal community. The core academic numbers have softened over time and now sit below the county average, which a parent will want to weigh against the school’s limited grade span and the fact that many of the resources and pathways that families look for in upper grades do not yet apply. Without broader data on student support programs or classroom staffing, a direct conversation with the school about class sizes, interventions, and how it tracks early literacy and numeracy growth would fill in important gaps not covered here.
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