The top reported proficiency rate is 21% in English language arts. The lowest is 7% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Francis J Mcgrath Elementary
Francis J McGrath Elementary serves students from pre-kindergarten through sixth grade in Worcester, one of New England’s larger cities. It is a regular public school within Worcester Public Schools, the district that covers the city. The enrollment is small for its grade band, and the student body reflects the city’s diversity. Hispanic students make up the largest share of the population, followed by white students, Black students, and smaller groups of Asian, multiracial, and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander students. Data on the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals and students with individualized education programs was not available, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about those supports.
On the Massachusetts Next-Generation MCAS assessments, proficiency rates are low. In math, about one in five students scored at the proficient or advanced level. In English language arts, roughly one in five students did the same. In science, the proficiency rate was lower still, with fewer than one in ten students reaching that bar. Looking back over the years available, proficiency in ELA and math was higher before the pandemic. For example, in the school years before 2020, ELA proficiency was around three in ten or above, and math proficiency was around three in ten. After 2020 those levels dropped and have not returned to pre-pandemic rates. The most recent year’s figures are near the low end of that post-2020 range. When compared with other elementary schools across Worcester County, this school’s overall proficiency index sits in the bottom quarter.
Because the school ends at sixth grade, there is no graduation rate to report. The school environment data, including chronic absenteeism and staffing, was not provided in the available records. A family looking into the school may want to ask about these areas, as they can affect daily experience.
The school sits within Worcester Public Schools, a district that has made several changes in recent years that may affect McGrath families. In fall 2023 the district launched a new elementary literacy curriculum that moved from balanced literacy to structured literacy with explicit phonics instruction. In early 2024 the school committee approved a three-year strategic plan focused on teaching and learning, student well-being, social-emotional learning, and family engagement, with targets for literacy improvement and reducing chronic absenteeism. The district has also outlined a large facilities plan, including a new high school building and renovations to other schools, though funding details and a potential property tax vote are still being discussed. These initiatives signal a period of active change across the system.
Worcester itself is a mid-sized city with a dense, varied built environment. It has a large number of colleges and universities, major hospitals, and a biotechnology sector. The city has seen population growth in recent decades, reversing earlier decline, and it functions as part of the broader Boston region. Housing values in the area sit below the statewide median, and rental costs are moderate relative to incomes, though the market has been active. The city’s economy is anchored by healthcare, higher education, and research. Parents considering a move to Worcester should know that while the city has many assets, school performance varies significantly from building to building, and McGrath is one of the lower-performing elementary schools by state test scores in a district that is itself working to improve student outcomes across the board.
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