Is Paul P Gates Elementary School a good school?

Yes! Paul P Gates Elementary School is one of the best elementary schools in the state. It ranks 22 nd of 916 Massachusetts elementary schools.

How many students attend Paul P Gates Elementary School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 350 students attended Paul P Gates Elementary School.

What is the racial makeup of Paul P Gates Elementary School?

Students at Paul P Gates Elementary School are 56% Asian, 28% White, 8% Two or more races, 7% Hispanic, 1% African American.

What schools do graduates of Paul P Gates Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Paul P Gates Elementary School usually go on to attend: Middle : Raymond J Grey Junior High High : Acton-Boxborough Regional High

Paul P Gates Elementary School

Summary:

Paul P Gates Elementary School is a public elementary school located in Acton, Massachusetts, serving grades K-6 with an enrollment of around 350 students. The school is part of the highly-ranked Acton-Boxborough school district, which is ranked 34th out of 351 districts in Massachusetts and has a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Paul P Gates Elementary School consistently ranks among the top elementary schools in Massachusetts, ranking 22nd out of 916 schools in the 2023-2024 school year. The school's MCAS proficiency rates are significantly higher than the state and district averages across all grade levels and subject areas. For example, in the 2023-2024 school year, 77.27% of all students were proficient or better in English Language Arts, compared to 63.91% in the Acton-Boxborough district and 39.17% statewide. The school has also consistently ranked among the top 5% of Massachusetts elementary schools in terms of performance for special education and disabled students, indicating strong support and resources for these student populations.

During the 2020-2021 school year, when many schools struggled with remote learning, Paul P Gates Elementary School ranked 4th out of 399 Massachusetts elementary schools for students who were tested remotely, demonstrating the school's ability to effectively adapt to the challenges of the pandemic. This level of sustained excellence and adaptability makes Paul P Gates Elementary School a model for other schools to emulate.

Detail:

Public K-6

75 Spruce Street
Acton, MA 01720

(978) 266-2570

District: Acton-Boxborough

SchoolDigger Rank:
22^nd of 916 Massachusetts Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $16,703

Students who attend Paul P Gates Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Raymond J Grey Junior High
High:	Acton-Boxborough Regional High

Student/teacher ratio: 12.3

Number of students: 350

Racial breakdown:

Asian:

56.3%

White:

28.0%

Two or more races:

7.7%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 7.9%

See top rated Massachusetts elementary schools

Compare Paul P Gates Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Paul P Gates Elementary School ranks better than 97.6% of elementary schools in Massachusetts. It also ranks first among 6 ranked elementary schools in the Acton-Boxborough School District! (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 94.67. (See more...)

Student Body

Compare Details Paul P Gates Elementary School has the smallest elementary school student body size in the Acton-Boxborough School District. Racial makeup is: Asian (56.3%), White (28%), two or more races (7.7%). (See more...)

Compare Details

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Paul P Gates Elementary School is 12.3, which is the lowest among 6 elementary schools in the Acton-Boxborough School District! (See more...)

Compare Paul P Gates Elementary School employs 28.4 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Paul P Gates Elementary School is $16,703. 4 elementary schools in the Acton-Boxborough School District spend more per student.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Paul P Gates Elementary School:

SchoolDigger ranks Paul P Gates Elementary School 22^nd of 916 Massachusetts public elementary schools. (See Paul P Gates Elementary School in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Female students:

Male students:

Asian students:

White students:

Acton-Boxborough:

SchoolDigger ranks Acton-Boxborough 34^th of 351 Massachusetts school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Paul P Gates Elementary School

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Rank History for all students at Paul P Gates Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MA State Percentile
2017	91.33	35^th	938	96.3%
2018	88.55	70^th	934	92.5%
2019	95.06	12^th	942	98.7%
2021	93.45	37^th	936	96.0%
2022	95.08	21^st	932	97.7%
2023	95.26	21^st	928	97.7%
2024	94.67	22^nd	916	97.6%

See the entire list of Massachusetts Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Special Education students at Paul P Gates Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MA State Percentile
2018	85.23	73^rd	886	91.8%
2019	97.85	5^th	896	99.4%
2021	94.86	14^th	894	98.4%
2022	95.39	13^th	905	98.6%

See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Female students at Paul P Gates Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MA State Percentile
2018	77.69	168^th	893	81.2%
2019	88.85	62^nd	902	93.1%
2021	86.26	109^th	898	87.9%
2022	91.28	52^nd	901	94.2%
2023	95.61	10^th	887	98.9%
2024	92.88	32^nd	886	96.4%

See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at Paul P Gates Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2018	86.27	49^th	656	92.5%
2019	96.35	10^th	665	98.5%

See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Elementary Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Male students at Paul P Gates Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MA State Percentile
2018	92.48	23^rd	898	97.4%
2019	96.68	4^th	907	99.6%
2021	94.42	11^th	904	98.8%
2022	95.02	14^th	908	98.5%
2023	91.87	48^th	896	94.6%
2024	94.49	22^nd	891	97.5%

See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Tested In Person students at Paul P Gates Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2021	86.95	108^th	925	88.3%

See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Elementary Schools for Tested In Person Students!

Rank History for Tested Remotely students at Paul P Gates Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2021	97.81	4^th	399	99.0%

See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Elementary Schools for Tested Remotely Students!

Rank History for Asian students at Paul P Gates Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MA State Percentile
2018	77.70	23^rd	154	85.1%
2019	83.29	11^th	155	92.9%
2021	80.33	19^th	141	86.5%
2022	77.53	33^rd	143	76.9%
2023	75.27	35^th	145	75.9%
2024	82.88	16^th	152	89.5%

See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Elementary Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for White students at Paul P Gates Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MA State Percentile
2018	62.70	287^th	772	62.8%
2019	77.52	135^th	780	82.7%
2021	47.82	409^th	765	46.5%
2022	66.85	231^st	764	69.8%
2023	85.24	73^rd	762	90.4%
2024	76.88	146^th	753	80.6%

See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Elementary Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

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Enrollment information for Paul P Gates Elementary School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
2015	218	10	184	6	2	0	10	430
2016	191	9	207	7	2	0	12	428
2017	161	7	206	14	4	1	11	404
2018	134	12	221	21	2	0	12	402
2019	124	11	209	19	2	0	11	376
2020	114	10	211	19	0	0	17	371
2021	108	12	225	18	0	0	14	377
2022	96	7	226	21	0	0	18	368
2023	98	4	197	24	0	0	27	350

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Paul P Gates Elementary School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2015	430	n/a	n/a	7.9
2016	428	27.0	15.8	n/a
2017	404	26.5	15.2	n/a
2018	402	26.6	15.1	n/a
2019	376	26.6	14.1	n/a
2020	371	27.0	13.7	n/a
2021	377	17.2	21.8	n/a
2022	368	27.6	13.3	n/a
2023	350	28.4	12.3	n/a

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Paul P Gates Elementary School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2015	430	n/a	n/a	7.9
2016	428	27.0	15.8	n/a
2017	404	26.5	15.2	n/a
2018	402	26.6	15.1	n/a
2019	376	26.6	14.1	n/a
2020	371	27.0	13.7	n/a
2021	377	17.2	21.8	n/a
2022	368	27.6	13.3	n/a
2023	350	28.4	12.3	n/a

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Paul P Gates Elementary School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$425 (2.7%)	$15,404 (97.3%)	$15,829
2020	$843 (2.6%)	$31,702 (97.4%)	$32,546
2021	$936 (5.6%)	$15,767 (94.4%)	$16,703

Data source: Massachusetts Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Paul P Gates Elementary School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 12^th of 942 Elementary schools	Ranks 21^st of 928 Elementary schools	1%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Paul P Gates Elementary School)	84	67.4	16.6%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Acton-Boxborough)	79	64.4	14.6%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Massachusetts)	56	43.9	12.1%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Paul P Gates Elementary School)	83	76.2	6.8%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Acton-Boxborough)	64	53.7	10.3%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Massachusetts)	49	41	8%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Paul P Gates Elementary School)	85	61.4	23.6%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Acton-Boxborough)	70	60.6	9.4%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Massachusetts)	52	39.7	12.3%
4th Grade Mathematics (Paul P Gates Elementary School)	79	81.8	2.8%
4th Grade Mathematics (Acton-Boxborough)	66	63.4	2.6%
4th Grade Mathematics (Massachusetts)	49	45	4%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Paul P Gates Elementary School)	85	79.1	5.9%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Acton-Boxborough)	67	67.7	0.7%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Massachusetts)	52	43.8	8.2%
5th Grade Mathematics (Paul P Gates Elementary School)	81	79.1	1.9%
5th Grade Mathematics (Acton-Boxborough)	64	63.2	0.8%
5th Grade Mathematics (Massachusetts)	49	40.9	8.2%
5th Grade Science (Paul P Gates Elementary School)	83	83.7	0.7%
5th Grade Science (Acton-Boxborough)	65	69.1	4.1%
5th Grade Science (Massachusetts)	48	41.6	6.4%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Paul P Gates Elementary School)	90	78.8	11.2%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Acton-Boxborough)	73	67.9	5.1%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Massachusetts)	54	42.3	11.7%
6th Grade Mathematics (Paul P Gates Elementary School)	83	89.4	6.4%
6th Grade Mathematics (Acton-Boxborough)	76	73.7	2.3%
6th Grade Mathematics (Massachusetts)	51	41	10%
All Grades English Language Arts (Paul P Gates Elementary School)	86	72.5	13.6%
All Grades English Language Arts (Acton-Boxborough)	74	67.1	6.9%
All Grades English Language Arts (Massachusetts)	52	42.3	9.7%
All Grades Mathematics (Paul P Gates Elementary School)	82	82.6	0.6%
All Grades Mathematics (Acton-Boxborough)	72	68.7	3.3%
All Grades Mathematics (Massachusetts)	49	40.6	8.4%
All Grades Science (Paul P Gates Elementary School)	83	83.7	0.7%
All Grades Science (Acton-Boxborough)	72	70.9	1.1%
All Grades Science (Massachusetts)	47	41.2	5.8%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	376	350	6.9%
African American	11	4	63.6%
American Indian	2	0	100%
Asian	209	197	5.7%
Hispanic	19	24	26.3%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	124	98	21%
Two or More Races	11	27	145.5%

Schools Near Paul P Gates Elementary School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				MCAS Next Generation English Language Arts (2024)					MCAS Next Generation Mathematics (2024)					MCAS Next Generation Science (2024)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2021)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	MCAS Next Generation English Language Arts 3rd Grade	MCAS Next Generation English Language Arts 4th Grade	MCAS Next Generation English Language Arts 5th Grade	MCAS Next Generation English Language Arts 6th Grade	MCAS Next Generation English Language Arts All Grades	MCAS Next Generation Mathematics 3rd Grade	MCAS Next Generation Mathematics 4th Grade	MCAS Next Generation Mathematics 5th Grade	MCAS Next Generation Mathematics 6th Grade	MCAS Next Generation Mathematics All Grades	MCAS Next Generation Science 5th Grade	MCAS Next Generation Science All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Paul P Gates Elementary School	Public	K-6	75 Spruce Street	Acton	01720	Middlesex County	Acton-Boxborough	No	No	No	Yes	(978) 266-2570	350	28	12.3		98 (28.0%)	4 (1.1%)	24 (6.9%)	197 (56.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (7.7%)	94.7	22^nd of 916 public elementary schools	97.6%		95.3	21^st of 928 public elementary schools	97.7%	1	95.0	52.4	77.1	84.8	77.3	92.5	64.3	81.3	88.9	81.7	87.5	87.5	$16,703	$936	$15,767
C.T. Douglas Elementary School	Public	K-6	73 Spruce Street	Acton	01720	Middlesex County	Acton-Boxborough	No	No	No	No	(978) 266-2560	377	29	13.0		240 (63.7%)	8 (2.1%)	39 (10.3%)	60 (15.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	30 (8.0%)	76.8	224^th of 916 public elementary schools	75.5%		74	245^th of 928 public elementary schools	73.6%	21	53.6	52.3	57.1	67.4	56.9	46.4	58.5	44.9	87.0	58.3	65.3	65.3	$16,802	$982	$15,821
McCarthy-Towne School	Public	K-6	11 Charter Road	Acton	01720	Middlesex County	Acton-Boxborough	No	No	No	Yes	(978) 264-3377	446	35	12.9		313 (70.2%)	13 (2.9%)	48 (10.8%)	44 (9.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (6.1%)	74.2	254^th of 916 public elementary schools	72.3%		72.4	262^nd of 928 public elementary schools	71.8%	8	52.6	45.2	55.2	61.7	54.3	48.2	61.9	44.8	62.5	54.9	54.6	54.6	$16,289	$996	$15,293
Merriam School	Public	K-6	11 Charter Road	Acton	01720	Middlesex County	Acton-Boxborough	No	No	No	No	(978) 264-3371	431	33	13.2		282 (65.4%)	12 (2.8%)	29 (6.7%)	72 (16.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	34 (7.9%)	77.6	212^th of 916 public elementary schools	76.9%		81.3	169^th of 928 public elementary schools	81.8%	43	53.6	57.1	45.6	62.3	54.7	50.9	56.5	59.1	66.7	58.7	59.7	59.7	$16,998	$1,101	$15,897
Blanchard Memorial School	Public	K-6	493 Massachusetts Avenue	Boxborough	01719	Middlesex County	Acton-Boxborough	No	No	No	No	(978) 263-4569	506	37	13.6		270 (53.4%)	16 (3.2%)	48 (9.5%)	140 (27.7%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	30 (5.9%)	89.1	85^th of 916 public elementary schools	90.7%		86.4	117^th of 928 public elementary schools	87.4%	32	65.3	54.1	62.8	71.7	64.3	65.8	70.5	58.1	75.0	67.3	75.6	75.6	$17,925	$1,027	$16,898
Luther Conant School	Public	K-6	80 Taylor Road	Acton	01720	Middlesex County	Acton-Boxborough	No	No	No	No	(978) 266-2550	408	30	13.6		106 (26.0%)	12 (2.9%)	32 (7.8%)	237 (58.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (5.1%)	91.8	54^th of 916 public elementary schools	94.1%		94.7	25^th of 928 public elementary schools	97.3%	29	66.7	52.2	78.1	83.8	70.9	71.8	60.3	80.6	89.7	76.1	79.2	79.2	$16,777	$944	$15,833
Center School	Public	PK, KG-5	403 Great Rd	Stow	01775	Middlesex County	Nashoba	No	No	No	No	(978) 897-0290	498	43	11.5		391 (78.5%)	3 (0.6%)	40 (8.0%)	30 (6.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	34 (6.8%)	82.7	149^th of 916 public elementary schools	83.7%		87.1	111^th of 928 public elementary schools	88.0%	38	55.9	54.9	58.9		56.8	54.4	67.1	65.6		62.7	69.3	69.3	$19,183	$707	$18,476
Shaker Lane Elementary	Public	PK, KG-2	35 Shaker Lane	Littleton	01460	Middlesex County	Littleton	No	No	No	Yes	(978) 486-3959	436	33	13.1		329 (75.5%)	4 (0.9%)	14 (3.2%)	77 (17.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	11 (2.5%)								(n/a)													$17,638	$745	$16,893
Green Meadow	Public	PK, KG-3	5 Tiger Drive	Maynard	01754	Middlesex County	Maynard	No	No	No	Yes	(978) 897-8246	419	40	10.6		316 (75.4%)	13 (3.1%)	56 (13.4%)	13 (3.1%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (4.8%)								(n/a)	45.8				45.8	34.5				34.5			$19,944	$1,333	$18,610
Thoreau	Public	PK, KG-5	29 Prairie Street	Concord	01742	Middlesex County	Concord	No	No	No	No	(978) 318-1300	433	42	10.2		312 (72.1%)	9 (2.1%)	32 (7.4%)	41 (9.5%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	38 (8.8%)	93.9	31^st of 916 public elementary schools	96.6%		93.1	45^th of 928 public elementary schools	95.2%	14	72.2	65.2	73.3		70.4	69.4	75.0	82.7		75.8	80.0	80.0	$22,631	$315	$22,316

Paul P Gates Elementary School

Paul P Gates Elementary School:

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Acton-Boxborough:

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Rank History for Paul P Gates Elementary School

Rank History for all students at Paul P Gates Elementary School

Rank History for Special Education students at Paul P Gates Elementary School

Rank History for Female students at Paul P Gates Elementary School

Rank History for Disabled students at Paul P Gates Elementary School

Rank History for Male students at Paul P Gates Elementary School

Rank History for Tested In Person students at Paul P Gates Elementary School

Rank History for Tested Remotely students at Paul P Gates Elementary School

Rank History for Asian students at Paul P Gates Elementary School

Rank History for White students at Paul P Gates Elementary School

Enrollment information for Paul P Gates Elementary School

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Paul P Gates Elementary School

Student/Teacher Ratio Paul P Gates Elementary School

Per Pupil Expenditures for Paul P Gates Elementary School

Impact of COVID-19 on Paul P Gates Elementary School

Rankings

Test Scores

Student Body

Schools Near Paul P Gates Elementary School

Frequently Asked Questions about Paul P Gates Elementary School

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