Middle Schools in Lawrence

The middle schools in Lawrence, Massachusetts serve students in grades 6-8 and include 8 schools: Arlington Middle School, Parthum Middle School, Frost Middle School, Guilmette Middle School, Spark Academy, Alexander B Bruce, Oliver Middle School, and Leonard Middle School.

Parthum Middle School and Spark Academy stand out as the top-performing middle schools in Lawrence, with proficiency rates well above the district average on MCAS assessments. Frost Middle School also performs strongly, with proficiency rates above the Lawrence average. While the Lawrence middle schools generally lag behind state averages, these standout schools demonstrate that high-quality education is possible within the district.

The data reveals significant performance gaps between the Lawrence middle schools and the state, with proficiency rates often 20-30 percentage points lower. However, the per-student spending and student-teacher ratios do not show a clear correlation with academic performance, suggesting that factors beyond just funding, such as instructional practices and school leadership, may play a more significant role in driving student outcomes. Understanding the successful strategies used by the higher-performing schools could provide valuable insights for improving educational opportunities across the entire Lawrence school district.