O'Donnell Elementary School

Summary:

O'Donnell Elementary School is a public elementary school serving grades PK-6 in East Boston, MA, with 281 students, the majority of whom are Hispanic. Despite its small class sizes, the school consistently ranks in the bottom 10-15% of Massachusetts elementary schools academically, with only 11.02% of students scoring proficient or better in ELA and 21.19% in Math, far below state averages.

O'Donnell Elementary's academic struggles are not unique to the school itself, as other nearby schools in East Boston, such as McKay K-8 School and Mario Umana Academy, also rank in the bottom 10-20% of Massachusetts elementary schools. This suggests the challenges facing O'Donnell are reflective of broader educational challenges in the East Boston area. Despite spending around $26,000 per student, which is higher than the state average, O'Donnell has not shown significant improvement in its academic outcomes or school ranking over the past decade.

The complex factors contributing to O'Donnell Elementary's underperformance, such as its student demographics and resource needs, will likely require a multi-faceted, sustained approach to drive meaningful improvements. Addressing the educational barriers faced by the school's predominantly Hispanic student population, which includes high rates of English Language Learners, will be crucial in helping O'Donnell and other struggling schools in the Boston Public School district improve academic outcomes.


Detail:

Public PK, KG-6

 33 Trenton Street
       East Boston, MA  02128


(617) 635-8454

District: Boston

SchoolDigger Rank:
824th of 916 Massachusetts Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $26,109 Help


Student/teacher ratio:  11.4 Help
Number of students:  281

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:
89.3%
White:
5.3%
African American:
2.8%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  74.7% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details O'Donnell Elementary School ranks worse than 90% of elementary schools in Massachusetts. It also ranks 46th among 66 ranked elementary schools in the Boston School District. (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 12.93. (See more...)
Student Body
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Compare Details Racial makeup is: Hispanic (89.3%), White (5.3%), African American (2.8%). (See more...)
Teachers
Help
Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at O'Donnell Elementary School is 11.4. 54 elementary schools in the Boston School District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)
Help
Compare O'Donnell Elementary School employs 24.6 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at O'Donnell Elementary School is $26,109. 60 elementary schools in the Boston School District spend more per student.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

O'Donnell Elementary School:

SchoolDigger ranks O'Donnell Elementary School 824th of 916 Massachusetts public elementary schools. (See O'Donnell Elementary School in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


English Language Learner students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
Hispanic students:


Boston:

SchoolDigger ranks Boston 305th of 351 Massachusetts school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for O'Donnell Elementary School

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Compare

Rank History for all students at O'Donnell Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2003 35.41 614th 884 30.5%
2004 49.82 483rd 882 45.2%
2005 22.00 718th 887 19.1%
2006 61.58 363rd 911 60.2%
2007 45.22 558th 911 38.7%
2008 46.57 538th 908 40.7%
2009 43.41 558th 909 38.6%
2010 23.76 743rd 920 19.2%
2011 15.72 794th 924 14.1%
2012 6.58 884th 930 4.9%
2013 17.22 792nd 928 14.7%
2014 13.38 838th 926 9.5%
2015 17.71 780th 914 14.7%
2016 9.68 867th 932 7.0%
2017 15.74 825th 938 12.0%
2018 10.15 870th 934 6.9%
2019 6.08 911th 942 3.3%
2021 10.53 864th 936 7.7%
2022 14.90 810th 932 13.1%
2023 12.06 842nd 928 9.3%
2024 12.93 824th 916 10.0%
See the entire list of Massachusetts Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at O'Donnell Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 55.25 77th 244 68.4%
2019 47.35 103rd 258 60.1%
2021 36.23 151st 240 37.1%
2022 62.44 45th 267 83.1%
2023 42.46 127th 264 51.9%
2024 48.87 106th 282 62.4%
See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Elementary Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at O'Donnell Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 27.17 725th 886 18.2%
2019 16.25 841st 896 6.1%
2021 20.58 784th 894 12.3%
2022 29.71 678th 905 25.1%
See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at O'Donnell Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 30.54 541st 685 21.0%
2019 13.59 671st 700 4.1%
2021 22.33 612th 705 13.2%
2022 30.85 577th 772 25.3%
2023 26.07 620th 757 18.1%
2024 26.54 622nd 760 18.2%
See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at O'Donnell Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 8.70 848th 893 5.0%
2019 9.63 860th 902 4.7%
2021 13.99 795th 898 11.5%
2022 12.45 817th 901 9.3%
2023 9.00 844th 887 4.8%
2024 8.10 856th 886 3.4%
See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at O'Donnell Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 14.03 812th 898 9.6%
2019 5.01 891st 907 1.8%
2021 10.20 851st 904 5.9%
2022 19.69 745th 908 18.0%
2023 13.68 803rd 896 10.4%
2024 17.00 766th 891 14.0%
See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Tested In Person students at O'Donnell Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 7.93 887th 925 4.1%
See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Elementary Schools for Tested In Person Students!

Rank History for Tested Remotely students at O'Donnell Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 30.69 261st 399 34.6%
See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Elementary Schools for Tested Remotely Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at O'Donnell Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 35.84 258th 379 31.9%
2019 23.50 340th 398 14.6%
2021 31.74 265th 379 30.1%
2022 40.51 219th 401 45.4%
2023 30.41 315th 420 25.0%
2024 33.38 312th 446 30.0%
See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Elementary Schools for Hispanic 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.

O'Donnell Elementary School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 







Data source: Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

Review counts

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Reviews:
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Enrollment information for O'Donnell Elementary School

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Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 221 11 70 40 1 n/a n/a 0 343
1989 215 8 70 46 0 n/a n/a 0 339
1990 209 18 53 33 0 n/a n/a 0 313
1991 185 20 59 55 1 n/a n/a 0 320
1992 171 19 54 72 0 n/a n/a 0 316
1993 154 21 70 67 1 n/a n/a 0 313
1994 160 46 68 98 1 n/a n/a 0 373
1995 135 55 67 103 1 n/a n/a 0 361
1996 135 55 67 103 1 n/a n/a 0 361
1997 131 51 51 110 1 n/a n/a 0 344
1998 126 50 44 124 2 n/a n/a 0 346
1999 122 41 40 118 1 n/a n/a 0 322
2000 97 34 39 130 0 n/a n/a 0 300
2001 93 22 39 132 0 n/a n/a 0 286
2002 65 14 26 135 0 n/a n/a 0 240
2003 65 14 26 135 0 n/a n/a 0 240
2004 65 15 18 137 0 n/a n/a 0 235
2005 57 12 14 134 0 n/a n/a 0 217
2006 52 12 11 142 0 n/a n/a 2 219
2007 49 8 12 165 0 n/a n/a 3 237
2008 46 10 14 179 0 n/a n/a 2 251
2009 49 9 14 189 0 0 3 0 264
2010 38 8 13 207 0 0 2 0 268
2011 28 7 10 230 0 0 0 0 275
2012 28 6 15 240 0 0 0 0 289
2013 32 13 15 231 0 0 3 0 294
2014 33 12 11 232 0 0 5 0 293
2015 26 6 7 248 0 0 5 0 292
2016 21 4 3 262 0 0 5 0 295
2017 11 2 7 248 0 0 4 0 272
2018 13 4 5 222 0 0 3 0 247
2019 21 4 6 231 0 0 3 0 265
2020 27 3 7 223 1 0 2 0 263
2021 22 1 7 241 0 0 1 0 272
2022 22 3 4 230 0 0 2 0 261
2023 15 8 3 251 1 0 3 0 281

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 O'Donnell Elementary School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 343 n/a n/a n/a
1989 339 n/a n/a n/a
1990 313 n/a n/a n/a
1991 320 n/a n/a n/a
1992 316 n/a n/a n/a
1993 313 n/a 0.0 n/a
1994 373 n/a n/a n/a
1995 361 n/a 0.0 n/a
1996 361 n/a 0.0 n/a
1997 344 n/a 0.0 n/a
1998 346 n/a 0.0 n/a
1999 322 n/a 0.0 90.7
2000 300 n/a 0.0 89.7
2001 286 n/a 0.0 89.5
2002 240 n/a n/a 90.8
2003 240 n/a n/a 90.8
2004 235 15.5 15.2 90.6
2005 217 17.0 12.8 90.8
2006 219 14.0 15.6 94
2007 237 17.0 13.9 94
2008 251 15.0 16.7 91.6
2009 264 16.8 15.7 88.6
2010 268 15.3 17.5 88.8
2011 275 18.7 14.6 92
2012 289 19.9 14.4 55.4
2013 294 17.5 16.7 71.4
2014 293 18.1 16.1 81.6
2015 292 19.0 15.3 74.7
2016 295 19.0 15.5 n/a
2017 272 15.4 17.6 n/a
2018 247 18.4 13.3 n/a
2019 265 17.3 15.3 n/a
2020 263 19.4 13.5 n/a
2021 272 24.4 11.1 n/a
2022 261 22.9 11.3 n/a
2023 281 24.6 11.4 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 O'Donnell Elementary School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 343 n/a n/a n/a
1989 339 n/a n/a n/a
1990 313 n/a n/a n/a
1991 320 n/a n/a n/a
1992 316 n/a n/a n/a
1993 313 n/a 0.0 n/a
1994 373 n/a n/a n/a
1995 361 n/a 0.0 n/a
1996 361 n/a 0.0 n/a
1997 344 n/a 0.0 n/a
1998 346 n/a 0.0 n/a
1999 322 n/a 0.0 90.7
2000 300 n/a 0.0 89.7
2001 286 n/a 0.0 89.5
2002 240 n/a n/a 90.8
2003 240 n/a n/a 90.8
2004 235 15.5 15.2 90.6
2005 217 17.0 12.8 90.8
2006 219 14.0 15.6 94
2007 237 17.0 13.9 94
2008 251 15.0 16.7 91.6
2009 264 16.8 15.7 88.6
2010 268 15.3 17.5 88.8
2011 275 18.7 14.6 92
2012 289 19.9 14.4 55.4
2013 294 17.5 16.7 71.4
2014 293 18.1 16.1 81.6
2015 292 19.0 15.3 74.7
2016 295 19.0 15.5 n/a
2017 272 15.4 17.6 n/a
2018 247 18.4 13.3 n/a
2019 265 17.3 15.3 n/a
2020 263 19.4 13.5 n/a
2021 272 24.4 11.1 n/a
2022 261 22.9 11.3 n/a
2023 281 24.6 11.4 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 O'Donnell Elementary School

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $1,648 (7.4%) $20,486 (92.6%) $22,134
2020 $1,657 (7.0%) $22,146 (93.0%) $23,803
2021 $2,304 (8.8%) $23,805 (91.2%) $26,109

Data source: Massachusetts Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on O'Donnell 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 911th of 942 Elementary schoolsRanks 842nd of 928 Elementary schools
 6%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (O'Donnell Elementary School)2415.6
 8.4%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Boston)3932.2
 6.8%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Massachusetts)5643.9
 12.1%
3rd Grade Mathematics (O'Donnell Elementary School)529.4
 24.4%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Boston)3427.7
 6.3%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Massachusetts)4941
 8%
4th Grade English Language Arts (O'Donnell Elementary School)160
 16%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Boston)3326.1
 6.9%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Massachusetts)5239.7
 12.3%
4th Grade Mathematics (O'Donnell Elementary School)313
 28%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Boston)3327.6
 5.4%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Massachusetts)4945
 4%
5th Grade English Language Arts (O'Donnell Elementary School)2513.8
 11.2%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Boston)3831.6
 6.4%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Massachusetts)5243.8
 8.2%
5th Grade Mathematics (O'Donnell Elementary School)226.9
 15.1%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Boston)3424.8
 9.2%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Massachusetts)4940.9
 8.2%
5th Grade Science (O'Donnell Elementary School)617.2
 11.2%
   5th Grade Science (Boston)2423.5
 0.5%
   5th Grade Science (Massachusetts)4841.6
 6.4%
All Grades English Language Arts (O'Donnell Elementary School)2213.7
 8.3%
   All Grades English Language Arts (Boston)3629.3
 6.7%
   All Grades English Language Arts (Massachusetts)5242.3
 9.7%
All Grades Mathematics (O'Donnell Elementary School)2015.1
 4.9%
   All Grades Mathematics (Boston)3325.6
 7.4%
   All Grades Mathematics (Massachusetts)4940.6
 8.4%
All Grades Science (O'Donnell Elementary School)617.2
 11.2%
   All Grades Science (Boston)2523.1
 1.9%
   All Grades Science (Massachusetts)4741.2
 5.8%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students265281
 6%
African American48
 100%
American Indian01
Asian63
 50%
Hispanic231251
 8.7%
Pacific Islander00
White2115
 28.6%
Two or More Races33


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Frequently Asked Questions about O'Donnell Elementary School

Students at O'Donnell Elementary School are 89% Hispanic, 5% White, 3% African American, 1% Asian, 1% Two or more races.

In the 2022-23 school year, 281 students attended O'Donnell Elementary School.

O'Donnell Elementary School ranks in the bottom 10.0% of Massachusetts elementary schools.


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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