The top reported proficiency rate is 60% in Math. The lowest is 47% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Franklin
Franklin Elementary serves first through fifth grade in North Andover, a suburban town in Essex County. The school is part of the North Andover district, which also includes four other elementary schools, a middle school, and a high school. The town itself is a blend of residential neighborhoods, commercial and industrial zones, and significant open space. North Andover has a historic Old Center, a modern industrial sector including biotech and logistics, and is home to Merrimack College. The town is spread out over nearly 28 square miles, and its schools are on separate campuses rather than clustered downtown. Transit access is limited; fare-free bus service from the Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority partially serves the town, and the nearest MBTA commuter rail station is in neighboring Lawrence.
State testing data from the most recent school year shows that a majority of students scored proficient or above in math, while roughly half reached that benchmark in English language arts. Science results, which are tested only at one grade level in this elementary span, were slightly lower, with fewer than half of students scoring proficient or above. Over time, proficiency rates in both math and ELA have shifted. In the years before the pandemic, ELA proficiency was regularly above two-thirds of students. That share has since declined, settling around half in each of the last two years. Math proficiency fluctuated in a higher range for several years after the pandemic, reaching above two-thirds in some years, before also declining in the most recent results. A parent may want to discuss these recent trends with the school to understand how instruction and support are evolving.
The student body is predominantly white, with smaller shares of Asian, Hispanic, Black, and multiracial students. The school serves grades one through five, with enrollment distributed fairly evenly across those grades. Data on the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch was not available, nor were counts for students with disabilities or English learners.
On the whole, Franklin’s overall proficiency across tested subjects places it above the midpoint among districts in Essex County. This comparison gives a sense of how the school’s academic performance stacks up locally.
No recent district-level changes of lasting impact were identified during research. Housing in the area carries a notably high cost relative to national benchmarks, and the typical home in the zip code is valued well above the statewide average. Rent is also high, making affordability a consideration for families moving into the district. The broader economic context includes a national unemployment rate and mortgage rates that are typical for the period.
Franklin Elementary is one of several neighborhood elementary schools in a well-regarded suburban district. Its academic results, while solid in math and middling in ELA and science by recent measures, place it in a generally strong position within the county. Families moving to North Andover should weigh the high cost of housing against the school’s performance and the town’s amenities, including its open spaces, library, and active civic life.
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