The top reported proficiency rate is 47% in Math. The lowest is 43% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Clarke
Clarke serves kindergarten through grade 4 as one of the Swampscott elementary schools, though its role is now shaped by a major district-wide change. In fall 2024, Swampscott opened a new consolidated elementary school on the site of the former Stanley School, replacing all three of the town's previous elementary buildings, including Clarke. The data in this profile predates that consolidation, so what follows describes the Clarke that existed before the new school began operating.
The school had an elementary-sized enrollment within the district, with classes distributed across all five grade levels from kindergarten through grade 4. The student body was predominantly white, with a Hispanic population making up a sizable share of the school community, and smaller numbers of Asian, Black, and multiracial students. Data on the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals was not available, and information on special education and English learner populations was also missing.
State test results from the 2023-24 school year, the most recent available under the old configuration, show that roughly half of Clarke's students scored at the proficient level or above in math, while a somewhat smaller share reached that benchmark in English language arts. Looking back over the multi-year trend, the school's performance in both subjects has fluctuated. In English language arts, proficiency rates were higher in the years before the pandemic, then dropped and have since hovered near the level seen in 2023-24. In math, the post-pandemic dip is also visible, though the most recent year's results were close to where they were before the disruption. When compared with other elementary schools in districts across Essex County, Clarke's overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades fell slightly below the midpoint of the distribution. A parent may want to ask about the school's current academic approach and how it compares, given that the consolidation has created a different school environment than the one captured in these numbers.
Because Clarke served only grades K-4, there is no graduation rate to report, as that metric applies only to high schools. Chronic absenteeism data was also not included in the available record.
Swampscott itself is a mostly suburban North Shore community with a rocky coastline and several small beaches. It has a compact land area and a fairly affluent residential character. The town is connected to Boston by MBTA commuter rail and bus service. Recent years have seen large investment in school facilities, including the new elementary school and a newer high school building. Housing in the area carries a high cost, and the local housing market is active, with homes typically selling quickly.
The new consolidated elementary school at 10 Whitman Road now serves all of Swampscott's elementary students in pre-K through grade 4. Any information about Clarke in its previous form is historical; a parent considering Swampscott's elementary program today would want to learn about the new school directly rather than inferring from the Clarke data alone. The district also passed an operating override in 2021 that permanently raised the budget baseline for both the town and its schools.
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