The top reported proficiency rate is 27% in Science. The lowest is 23% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on John F Parker Middle
John F. Parker Middle School, part of the Taunton public school district, serves students in grades five through seven. The city of Taunton, the seat of Bristol County, is a mid-sized community with a historic downtown and a mix of residential and industrial areas. Its economy has shifted from its historic silversmithing roots toward semiconductor and electronics manufacturing, anchored by the large Myles Standish Industrial Park. The city has seen population growth in recent decades, and the district's schools are spread across its neighborhoods rather than concentrated in one area. For a family considering Parker Middle, it is important to know that its state assessment results are a central point to understand.
On the Massachusetts Next-Generation MCAS, the school's overall proficiency rate, averaged across all tested subjects and grades, sits below the midpoint when compared to other districts in Bristol County. In math, roughly a quarter of students scored at the proficient level or above. In English language arts, about a fifth of students reached that same benchmark. Science proficiency was in a similar range. These figures represent the most recent available year of testing data for the school. It is worth noting that Parker Middle is not a high school, so there is no graduation rate to report; the data is simply not applicable to this grade band.
Looking at multi-year trends, the school's proficiency rates in both math and ELA have been relatively stable over the last several years, hovering in the low- to mid-twenties for ELA and the low twenties for math after a notable dip in math during the pandemic-affected 2020-21 school year. The current rates are below the peaks the school saw in earlier years, such as the 2016-17 and 2018-19 school years. This is a soft spot a parent would want to discuss with the school to understand the specific instructional strategies and support systems in place.
The student body is diverse in its composition, which is a characteristic for families to consider based on their preferences. The largest racial or ethnic group is white students, making up a substantial share of the population, followed closely by Black or African American students who represent about a third of the enrollment. Hispanic or Latino students account for a significant portion as well, with smaller shares of students who are two or more races, Asian, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, and American Indian or Alaska Native. Data on the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, as well as the percentages of students with disabilities and English learners, were not available in this data. A parent may want to ask the district directly about these support structures.
The Taunton housing market, based on Zillow data for the local zip code, shows a home value that is above the national benchmark but below the statewide median. Rents in the area are modest relative to national averages, but the estimated monthly mortgage payment for a median-priced home is higher than the area's typical rent, reflecting a market where renting may be more immediately affordable than buying.
No specific parent-relevant changes or recent developments were confirmed for the Taunton district in the available data search. For a family looking at Parker Middle, the core academic picture is one where proficiency rates are in a range that warrants a close conversation with the school about its curriculum, interventions, and how it supports students who are not yet meeting the state's benchmarks. The school is a regular public middle school of a moderate size for its grade band, set within a diverse city with an industrial and government-anchored economy.
See more original research from School Decision →