The top reported proficiency rate is 35% in Science. The lowest is 21% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Margaret L Donovan
Margaret L Donovan Elementary serves students from kindergarten through fifth grade in Randolph, a suburban community roughly a short commute south of Boston. It is a regular public school within the Randolph district. The school is one of several elementary campuses spread across town, each serving a different residential area, rather than being clustered in the downtown center near Crawford Square where Town Hall and the library sit. That means a family’s address largely determines which elementary school their child attends, which is a characteristic of how this district is organized.
The student body is diverse, reflecting Randolph’s identity as the most diverse town on the South Shore. The largest racial or ethnic groups are students who identify as Black or African American and those who identify as Asian, with a meaningful share of Hispanic or Latino students. About a tenth of students identify as white. A small number of students are of two or more races. Data on the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals was not available, nor was information on the number of students with individualized education programs or those classified as English learners. A parent who wants to understand the full range of student support services may wish to ask the school directly about these figures.
State testing results for the most recent school year show proficiency rates that place the school’s overall performance in the bottom quartile relative to other districts in Norfolk County. In English language arts, the share of students scoring proficient or above was a modest share. In mathematics, it was higher but still under two-fifths. In science, tested in a narrower grade band, a bit more than a third of students met the proficiency bar. Participation rates were high, meaning nearly all enrolled students took the tests. Looking back over available years, proficiency in both English and math has fluctuated. In the years before the pandemic, the school saw a higher proficiency rate in English, reaching a peak around the late 2010s before dropping in the early 2020s and continuing a downward trend in the most recent results. Math shows a similar pattern of variability, with a high point around the same time, a dip, and then a modest recovery in the most recent year. The overall direction in recent years is one a parent will want to understand in context, and the school may be able to share what initiatives or curriculum adjustments are in place.
Because Donovan is an elementary school, data on high school outcomes such as graduation rates, course access, or college readiness do not apply here. Similarly, no chronic absenteeism or discipline data was reported for this school.
Randolph itself has seen notable public investment in recent years, with hundreds of millions of dollars directed toward infrastructure including a new intergenerational community center, a renovation of the downtown public library, and new parks and playgrounds. The town’s population has grown modestly and it markets itself as a commuter-friendly location with access to Interstate 93, commuter rail, and bus service connecting to Boston. Housing values in the area are above the national median, and rental costs are elevated relative to incomes, a common pattern in the Boston region. The school sits on Reed Street in a residential neighborhood. No recent district-level changes of note were found during research, so a parent may want to check with the district office about any ongoing program or staffing adjustments that affect Donovan.
For a family weighing this school, the picture is one of a diverse, largely suburban elementary school in a community investing in its public spaces and infrastructure. The academic assessment results show room for improvement and have trended downward in English in recent years, a soft spot a parent should discuss with the school to understand current instructional approaches and student support. The school’s size and grade configuration are straightforward for an elementary setting. The broader town context offers amenities like parks, a library renovation, and transit access, balanced by a high-cost housing market.
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