The top reported proficiency rate is 69% in Science. The lowest is 48% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Marguerite E Peaslee
Marguerite E Peaslee is a regular public elementary school serving kindergarten through fifth grade in Northborough, Massachusetts. It is one of four elementary schools in the Northborough district and feeds into Robert E. Melican Middle School and then Algonquin Regional High School, which is shared with the neighboring town of Southborough. The school sits on Maple Street in a residential pocket of this suburban Worcester County town, roughly a short drive from the small Main Street commercial core.
Peaslee’s academic picture comes from the Massachusetts Next-Generation MCAS assessments, and recent results show a mix of solid performance and some ground that appears to be recovering from a post-pandemic dip. On the most recent testing year, a bit more than half of students met proficiency on the state English language arts exam, while just under half met the bar in mathematics. Science results, which are tested only at fifth grade, were higher, with a strong majority reaching proficiency. Looking across all tested subjects, the school’s overall proficiency index places it in the top quartile relative to districts in Worcester County, an indication that its academic profile is among the stronger elementary schools in the region.
The trend lines in ELA and math over the past several years show a pattern many Massachusetts elementary schools have experienced. Before 2020, proficiency rates in both subjects were consistently higher, with ELA running in the mid-seventies and math in the mid-sixties. After the disruption of the pandemic, scores dropped and have not yet returned to those earlier peaks. The most recent math result is the lowest in that series, a signal a parent may want to discuss with the school to understand what supports are in place and whether this is a point of focus.
The student body is moderately sized for an elementary school. The racial and ethnic composition is predominantly white, with a substantial Asian enrollment and a smaller but meaningful Hispanic population, along with smaller shares of multiracial, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, and Black students. Data on the share of students eligible for free or reduced-price meals, as well as counts for students with disabilities and English learners, were not available in the reporting. That gap means a reader cannot gauge the school’s economic diversity or the concentration of special populations from the public data alone. Families who prioritize that information may want to ask the school directly.
Northborough is a car-dependent suburban town whose population has grown steadily over recent decades. It offers highway access via several major routes, making it a commuter-friendly location for the Boston and Worcester areas. Housing values are well above national medians, with typical home prices in the town’s zip code on the higher end for Worcester County. Rent is comparably elevated. The local housing market has been active, with inventory and demand remaining strong. For families moving into the area, the cost of housing is a central factor.
At the district level, a notable change that affects Northborough families is the 2022 mascot change at Algonquin Regional High School, where Peaslee students will eventually attend. The Tomahawk was replaced by the Titans after community discussion, a shift in school identity that current elementary families will see continue into their children’s high school years. The district’s elementary schools are spread across town, and Peaslee serves a particular attendance zone; families should verify their home address against the school’s boundary. For a parent choosing a home in Northborough, Peaslee offers a top-quartile academic profile relative to the county, a typical suburban elementary experience, and a feeder path into a shared regional high school.
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