Shaw Elementary School

Summary:

Shaw Elementary School is a public elementary school in Dorchester, MA, serving 187 students in grades PK-5. The school has a predominantly minority student population, with 59.36% African American and 33.16% Hispanic students.

Despite the school's relatively low student-teacher ratio and high per-student spending, Shaw Elementary consistently underperforms compared to the Boston and Massachusetts averages on state assessments. In 2023-2024, only 13.64% of students were proficient or better in English Language Arts, and just 10.77% were proficient or better in Mathematics, far below the district and state averages. The school has been ranked in the bottom 10% of Massachusetts elementary schools for the past three years, receiving a 0-star rating from SchoolDigger.

The challenges faced by Shaw Elementary are not unique, as nearby schools like Taylor Elementary School, EllisonParks Early Education School, and Lee K-8 School also struggle with low academic performance and rankings. This suggests that the issues at Shaw Elementary may be systemic within the Boston Public School District. Addressing the persistent underperformance, achievement gaps, and resource allocation challenges will require a comprehensive, data-driven approach that prioritizes equity, effective teaching and learning, and continuous improvement.

Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

429 Norfolk Street
Dorchester, MA 02124

(617) 635-8777

District: Boston

SchoolDigger Rank:
875^th of 916 Massachusetts Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $28,247

Students who attend Shaw Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Frederick Pilot Middle School
	Higginson-Lewis K-8 School
	Ohrenberger School
	UP Academy Charter School of Boston
High:	Another Course To College
	Boston Adult Technical Academy
	Boston Arts Academy
	Boston Community Leadership Academy
	More...
	Boston Day and Evening Academy Charter School
	Boston Green Academy Horace Mann Charter School
	Boston International High School & Newcomers Academy
	Boston Latin Academy
	Boston Latin School
	Brighton High School
	Burke High School
	Carter School
	Charlestown High School
	Community Academy
	Community Academy of Science and Health
	Dearborn 6-12 STEM Academy
	East Boston High School
	Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers (Horace Mann
	English High School
	Excel High School
	Fenway High School
	Greater Egleston High School
	Lyon High School
	Madison Park Technical Vocational High School
	Margarita Muniz Academy
	New Mission High School
	O'Bryant School of Math & Science
	Quincy Upper School
	Snowden International High School
	TechBoston Academy

Student/teacher ratio: 11.4

Number of students: 201

Racial breakdown:

African American:

58.7%

Hispanic:

35.3%

Two or more races:

4.0%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 59.4%

See top rated Massachusetts elementary schools

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Shaw Elementary School ranks worse than 95.5% of elementary schools in Massachusetts. It also ranks 57^th among 66 ranked elementary schools in the Boston School District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 8.15. (See more...)

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: African American (58.7%), Hispanic (35.3%), two or more races (4%). (See more...)

Compare Details

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Shaw Elementary School is 11.4. 55 elementary schools in the Boston School District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)

Compare Shaw Elementary School employs 17.5 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Shaw Elementary School is $28,247, which is the 33^rd highest among 66 elementary schools in the Boston School District.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Shaw Elementary School:

SchoolDigger ranks Shaw Elementary School 875^th of 916 Massachusetts public elementary schools. (See Shaw Elementary School in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

African American students:

Boston:

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

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Rank History for Shaw Elementary School

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Rank History for all students at Shaw Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	10.95	857^th	928	7.7%
2024	8.15	875^th	916	4.5%

See the entire list of Massachusetts Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Shaw Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	10.04	741^st	757	2.1%
2024	13.76	727^th	760	4.3%

See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Shaw Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	10.07	833^rd	887	6.1%
2024	10.76	832^nd	886	6.1%

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

Rank History for African American students at Shaw Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	26.68	135^th	167	19.2%
2024	16.96	159^th	167	4.8%

See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Elementary Schools for African American 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 Shaw Elementary School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Two or More Races	Total
2015	1	73	3	26	0	3	106
2016	4	99	5	46	0	6	160
2017	6	133	6	51	0	7	203
2018	7	165	6	63	0	15	256
2019	3	141	3	45	0	6	198
2020	2	121	1	45	4	4	177
2021	2	111	1	43	3	2	162
2022	3	98	4	43	3	3	154
2023	3	111	1	62	2	8	187
2024	3	118	0	71	1	8	201

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 Shaw Elementary School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2015	106	9.0	11.7	59.4
2016	160	7.0	22.8	n/a
2017	203	14.4	14.0	n/a
2018	256	17.9	14.2	n/a
2019	198	14.8	13.3	n/a
2020	177	14.8	11.9	n/a
2021	162	15.4	10.4	n/a
2022	154	15.3	10.0	n/a
2023	187	19.0	9.8	n/a
2024	201	17.5	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 Shaw Elementary School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2015	106	9.0	11.7	59.4
2016	160	7.0	22.8	n/a
2017	203	14.4	14.0	n/a
2018	256	17.9	14.2	n/a
2019	198	14.8	13.3	n/a
2020	177	14.8	11.9	n/a
2021	162	15.4	10.4	n/a
2022	154	15.3	10.0	n/a
2023	187	19.0	9.8	n/a
2024	201	17.5	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 Shaw Elementary School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$1,403 (6.1%)	$21,473 (93.9%)	$22,876
2020	$1,528 (6.0%)	$23,954 (94.0%)	$25,482
2021	$2,293 (8.1%)	$25,953 (91.9%)	$28,247

Data source: Massachusetts Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Shaw 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.

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Shaw Elementary School)	44	27.8	16.2%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Boston)	39	32.2	6.8%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Massachusetts)	56	43.9	12.1%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Shaw Elementary School)	21	22.2	1.2%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Boston)	34	27.7	6.3%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Massachusetts)	49	41	8%
All Grades English Language Arts (Shaw Elementary School)	44	19.1	25%
All Grades English Language Arts (Boston)	36	29.3	6.7%
All Grades English Language Arts (Massachusetts)	52	42.3	9.7%
All Grades Mathematics (Shaw Elementary School)	21	11.9	9.1%
All Grades Mathematics (Boston)	33	25.6	7.4%
All Grades Mathematics (Massachusetts)	49	40.6	8.4%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	198	187	5.6%
African American	141	111	21.3%
American Indian	0	2
Asian	3	1	66.7%
Hispanic	45	62	37.8%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	3	3
Two or More Races	6	8	33.3%

Schools Near Shaw 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 7th Grade	MCAS Next Generation English Language Arts 8th 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 7th Grade	MCAS Next Generation Mathematics 8th Grade	MCAS Next Generation Mathematics All Grades	MCAS Next Generation Science 5th Grade	MCAS Next Generation Science 8th Grade	MCAS Next Generation Science All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Shaw Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	429 Norfolk Street	Dorchester	02124	Suffolk County	Boston	No	No	No	Yes	(617) 635-8777	201	18	11.4		3 (1.5%)	118 (58.7%)	71 (35.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (4.0%)	8.1	875^th of 916 public elementary schools	4.5%		10.9	857^th of 928 public elementary schools	7.7%	18	15.4	9.5	15.8				13.6	7.7	19.1	5.6				10.8	16.7		16.7	$28,247	$2,293	$25,953
Young Achievers K-8 School	Public	PK, KG-8	20 Outlook Road	Mattapan	02126	Suffolk County	Boston	No	No	No	Yes	(617) 635-6804	466	49	9.5		3 (0.6%)	180 (38.6%)	264 (56.7%)	2 (0.4%)	3 (0.6%)	2 (0.4%)	11 (2.4%)	10.4	855^th of 916 public elementary schools	6.7%		7.7	888^th of 928 public elementary schools	4.3%	33	24.1	14.7	11.9	12.5	0.0	3.7	11.7	27.6	20.5	0.0	4.6	6.9	14.8	11.7	14.3	0.0	8.8	$27,472	$2,201	$25,271
Mildred Avenue K-8 School	Public	PK, KG-8	5 Mildred Avenue	Mattapan	02126	Suffolk County	Boston	No	No	No	Yes	(617) 635-1642	590	58	10.2		17 (2.9%)	338 (57.3%)	208 (35.3%)	5 (0.8%)	2 (0.3%)	1 (0.2%)	19 (3.2%)	9.7	864^th of 916 public elementary schools	5.7%		8.5	880^th of 928 public elementary schools	5.2%	16	13.8	17.3	0.0	11.9	3.7	10.9	9.0	20.0	15.7	5.3	19.7	2.5	3.3	9.3	10.5	2.2	5.4	$25,570	$2,227	$23,343
Taylor Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	1060 Morton Street	Mattapan	02126	Suffolk County	Boston	No	No	No	Yes	(617) 635-8731	343	42	8.0		2 (0.6%)	266 (77.6%)	66 (19.2%)	4 (1.2%)	3 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.6%)	9.9	860^th of 916 public elementary schools	6.1%		8.7	878^th of 928 public elementary schools	5.4%	18	7.9	22.9	15.6	6.9			13.6	7.9	25.7	11.1	10.3			13.6	6.7		6.7	$29,665	$2,231	$27,435
KIPP Academy Boston Charter School	Public, Charter	K-8	37 Babson Street	Mattapan	02126	Suffolk County	KIPP Academy Boston Charter School (District)	Yes	No	No	Yes	(617) 393-5682	591	55	10.8		4 (0.7%)	354 (59.9%)	216 (36.5%)	1 (0.2%)	5 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (1.9%)	17.6	769^th of 916 public elementary schools	16.0%		10.9	858^th of 928 public elementary schools	7.5%	89	18.3	20.3	7.8	21.9	24.5	29.1	19.9	32.9	22.5	9.4	34.4	31.5	11.5	24.0	11.1	13.2	12.1	$18,557	$3,018	$15,539
EllisonParks Early Education School	Public	PK, KG-3	108 Babson Street	Mattapan	02126	Suffolk County	Boston	No	No	No	Yes	(617) 635-7680	189	21	9.0		5 (2.6%)	96 (50.8%)	73 (38.6%)	6 (3.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (4.8%)								(n/a)	34.5						34.5	27.6						27.6				$34,622	$2,026	$32,596
Lee K-8 School	Public	PK, KG-8	155 Talbot Avenue	Dorchester	02124	Suffolk County	Boston	No	No	No	Yes	(617) 635-8687	527	56	9.3		27 (5.1%)	264 (50.1%)	192 (36.4%)	17 (3.2%)	4 (0.8%)	1 (0.2%)	22 (4.2%)	5.1	906^th of 916 public elementary schools	1.1%		3.5	925^th of 928 public elementary schools	0.3%	19	17.3	10.0	5.5	0.0	10.2	7.7	8.7	9.6	8.0	1.8	2.3	2.0	5.0	4.8	3.6	7.5	5.3	$31,540	$2,241	$29,299
Lee Academy	Public	PK, KG-3	25 Dunbar Avenue	Dorchester	02124	Suffolk County	Boston	No	No	No	Yes	(617) 635-8618	200	18	11.0		10 (5.0%)	90 (45.0%)	83 (41.5%)	3 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (7.0%)								(n/a)	15.4						15.4	29.6						29.6				$29,252	$2,243	$27,009
Mattahunt Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	123 Alabama St	Mattapan	02126	Suffolk County	Boston	No	No	No	Yes	(617) 635-8792	512	52	9.7		11 (2.1%)	347 (67.8%)	132 (25.8%)	4 (0.8%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (3.3%)	15.5	796^th of 916 public elementary schools	13.1%		17.6	776^th of 928 public elementary schools	16.4%	20	25.5	12.2	20.4	20.5			19.8	18.2	24.5	18.4	12.8			18.8	24.5		24.5	$30,323	$2,287	$28,036
Greenwood Sarah K-8 School	Public	PK, KG-8	189 Glenway Street	Dorchester	02121	Suffolk County	Boston	No	No	No	Yes	(617) 635-8710	359	36	10.1		6 (1.7%)	40 (11.1%)	308 (85.8%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.8%)	5.7	901^st of 916 public elementary schools	1.6%		6.9	896^th of 928 public elementary schools	3.4%	5	2.8	13.9	10.7	0.0	4.6	8.3	6.7	0.0	13.9	3.6	2.9	0.0	12.5	5.6	17.9	4.0	11.3	$27,481	$2,171	$25,310

Frequently Asked Questions about Shaw Elementary School

What is the racial makeup of Shaw Elementary School?

Students at Shaw Elementary School are 59% African American, 35% Hispanic, 4% Two or more races, 1% White.

Is Shaw Elementary School a good school?

Shaw Elementary School ranks in the bottom 4.5% of Massachusetts elementary schools.

What district is Shaw Elementary School in?

Boston

How many students attend Shaw Elementary School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 201 students attended Shaw Elementary School.

What schools do graduates of Shaw Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Shaw Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Frederick Pilot Middle School
Middle : Higginson-Lewis K-8 School
Middle : Ohrenberger School
Middle : UP Academy Charter School of Boston
High : Another Course To College
High : Boston Adult Technical Academy
High : Boston Arts Academy
High : Boston Community Leadership Academy
High : Boston Day and Evening Academy Charter School
High : Boston Green Academy Horace Mann Charter School
High : Boston International High School & Newcomers Academy
High : Boston Latin Academy
High : Boston Latin School
High : Brighton High School
High : Burke High School
High : Carter School
High : Charlestown High School
High : Community Academy
High : Community Academy of Science and Health
High : Dearborn 6-12 STEM Academy
High : East Boston High School
High : Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers (Horace Mann
High : English High School
High : Excel High School
High : Fenway High School
High : Greater Egleston High School
High : Lyon High School
High : Madison Park Technical Vocational High School
High : Margarita Muniz Academy
High : New Mission High School
High : O'Bryant School of Math & Science
High : Quincy Upper School
High : Snowden International High School
High : TechBoston Academy

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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.