McCarthy Middle School

Summary:

McCarthy Middle School is a public middle school located in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, serving grades 7-8 with a total enrollment of 844 students. The school is part of the Chelmsford school district, which is ranked 80 out of 351 districts in Massachusetts and has a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger.

McCarthy Middle School consistently ranks among the top 20% of middle schools in Massachusetts, with a statewide ranking between 62-120 out of 441-501 middle schools over the past 10 years. The school's MCAS proficiency rates in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science are significantly higher than the state averages, often exceeding the Chelmsford district averages as well. For example, in 2023-2024, 52.21% of McCarthy students were proficient or better in ELA, compared to 39.17% statewide and 52.4% in Chelmsford.

When compared to the nearby schools in the Chelmsford and Lowell districts, McCarthy Middle School stands out as a high-performing institution, with significantly higher MCAS proficiency rates and overall rankings. For example, the nearby Col Moses Parker School in Chelmsford and the James S Daley Middle School in Lowell both have lower MCAS proficiency rates and lower statewide rankings compared to McCarthy Middle School.


Detail:

Public 7-8

 250 North Rd
       Chelmsford, MA  01824


(978) 251-5122

District: Chelmsford

SchoolDigger Rank:
103rd of 493 Massachusetts Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $16,745 Help


Students who attend McCarthy Middle School usually attend:

High:    Chelmsford High

Feeder schools for McCarthy Middle School:

Elementary:    Center Elementary School
    South Row

Student/teacher ratio:  13.1 Help
Number of students:  844

Racial breakdown:

White:
62.7%
Asian:
19.1%
Hispanic:
8.6%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  11.6% Help


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Performance Trends
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Compare Details McCarthy Middle School ranks better than 79.1% of middle schools in Massachusetts. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 77.02. (See more...)
Student Body
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Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (62.7%), Asian (19.1%), Hispanic (8.6%). (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at McCarthy Middle School is 13.1. (See more...)
Help
Compare McCarthy Middle School employs 64 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at McCarthy Middle School is $16,745.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

McCarthy Middle School:

SchoolDigger ranks McCarthy Middle School 103rd of 493 Massachusetts public middle schools. (See McCarthy Middle School in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Multi-racial students:
Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
Asian students:
African American students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


Chelmsford:

SchoolDigger ranks Chelmsford 80th of 351 Massachusetts school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for McCarthy Middle School

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Rank History for all students at McCarthy Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2003 77.24 82nd 339 75.8%
2004 72.87 98th 344 71.5%
2005 63.81 129th 356 63.8%
2006 72.77 105th 399 73.7%
2007 73.87 105th 399 73.7%
2008 82.51 73rd 407 82.1%
2009 76.23 100th 409 75.6%
2010 79.47 87th 434 80.0%
2011 77.68 94th 449 79.1%
2012 80.43 84th 455 81.5%
2013 79.17 86th 455 81.1%
2014 83.59 62nd 455 86.4%
2015 79.62 84th 441 81.0%
2016 72.41 120th 482 75.1%
2017 80.37 83rd 487 83.0%
2018 81.43 80th 484 83.5%
2019 85.61 66th 498 86.7%
2021 82.00 76th 501 84.8%
2022 82.66 76th 497 84.7%
2023 76.47 109th 501 78.2%
2024 77.02 103rd 493 79.1%
See the entire list of Massachusetts Middle School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at McCarthy Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 52.30 39th 92 57.6%
2023 80.63 22nd 110 80.0%
2024 77.14 23rd 98 76.5%
See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Middle Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at McCarthy Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 66.40 106th 467 77.3%
2019 76.71 62nd 484 87.2%
2021 75.64 65th 489 86.7%
2022 73.22 75th 503 85.1%
2023 63.91 100th 444 77.5%
2024 55.61 137th 441 68.9%
See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Middle Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at McCarthy Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 80.81 48th 438 89.0%
2019 86.05 36th 452 92.0%
2021 52.66 189th 462 59.1%
2022 62.52 136th 489 72.2%
2023 75.53 78th 481 83.8%
2024 64.27 136th 469 71.0%
See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Middle Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at McCarthy Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 81.26 77th 463 83.4%
2019 84.64 57th 478 88.1%
2021 79.22 87th 483 82.0%
2022 76.97 97th 494 80.4%
2023 71.36 127th 489 74.0%
2024 70.00 131st 481 72.8%
See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Middle Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at McCarthy Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 61.70 111th 417 73.4%
2019 74.29 71st 424 83.3%
2021 79.26 50th 431 88.4%
2022 62.38 103rd 445 76.9%
See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Middle Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Male students at McCarthy Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 78.71 94th 466 79.8%
2019 83.99 73rd 478 84.7%
2021 82.83 72nd 485 85.2%
2022 85.70 66th 497 86.7%
2023 78.69 94th 489 80.8%
2024 81.02 82nd 483 83.0%
See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Middle Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Tested In Person students at McCarthy Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 81.03 80th 491 83.7%
See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Middle Schools for Tested In Person Students!

Rank History for Tested Remotely students at McCarthy Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 85.61 47th 339 86.1%
See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Middle Schools for Tested Remotely Students!

Rank History for Asian students at McCarthy Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 70.49 39th 119 67.2%
2019 76.04 30th 128 76.6%
2021 61.59 58th 123 52.8%
2022 71.27 49th 135 63.7%
2023 60.82 63rd 134 53.0%
2024 62.73 58th 120 51.7%
See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Middle Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for African American students at McCarthy Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 91.88 5th 202 97.5%
See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Middle Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at McCarthy Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 88.22 24th 322 92.5%
2022 72.27 69th 368 81.3%
2023 64.58 95th 364 73.9%
2024 76.70 65th 378 82.8%
See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Middle Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at McCarthy Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 67.21 111th 395 71.9%
2019 75.14 85th 396 78.5%
2021 72.62 84th 401 79.1%
2022 66.05 110th 404 72.8%
2023 54.71 163rd 403 59.6%
2024 52.74 169th 392 56.9%
See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Middle 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.

McCarthy Middle School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 





Data source: Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

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Enrollment information for McCarthy Middle School

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Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 1094 8 36 7 0 n/a n/a 0 1145
1989 1101 6 44 8 0 n/a n/a 0 1159
1990 1089 5 35 7 0 n/a n/a 0 1136
1991 1117 3 23 8 0 n/a n/a 0 1151
1992 1067 1 36 13 0 n/a n/a 0 1117
1993 1130 1 58 8 0 n/a n/a 0 1197
1994 978 2 55 3 0 n/a n/a 0 1038
1995 814 1 49 7 0 n/a n/a 0 871
1996 814 1 49 7 0 n/a n/a 0 871
1997 768 7 61 7 0 n/a n/a 0 843
1998 788 7 62 5 0 n/a n/a 0 862
1999 794 7 54 7 2 n/a n/a 0 864
2000 835 6 62 6 1 n/a n/a 0 910
2001 851 7 67 9 0 n/a n/a 0 934
2002 873 11 60 10 0 n/a n/a 0 954
2003 873 11 60 10 0 n/a n/a 0 954
2004 889 15 62 9 0 n/a n/a 0 975
2005 914 11 67 16 0 n/a n/a 0 1008
2006 878 11 67 11 1 n/a n/a 0 968
2007 846 16 63 16 1 n/a n/a 0 942
2008 843 16 63 21 0 n/a n/a 3 946
2009 835 21 60 21 0 0 10 0 947
2010 813 21 66 26 0 0 5 0 931
2011 815 15 73 24 0 0 8 0 935
2012 792 18 69 24 0 0 12 0 915
2013 745 29 75 33 1 1 14 0 898
2014 742 37 80 21 2 2 16 0 900
2015 716 18 96 23 0 2 16 0 871
2016 681 18 110 34 0 2 18 0 863
2017 657 26 112 34 0 3 18 0 850
2018 608 29 110 42 0 2 25 0 816
2019 593 26 116 41 1 1 29 0 807
2020 566 28 114 48 0 2 37 0 795
2021 527 29 122 54 0 1 37 0 770
2022 539 35 149 67 1 2 35 1 829
2023 529 37 161 73 1 4 36 3 844

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 McCarthy Middle School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 1145 n/a n/a n/a
1989 1159 n/a n/a n/a
1990 1136 n/a n/a n/a
1991 1151 n/a n/a n/a
1992 1117 n/a n/a n/a
1993 1197 n/a 0.0 n/a
1994 1038 n/a n/a n/a
1995 871 n/a 0.0 n/a
1996 871 n/a 0.0 n/a
1997 843 n/a 0.0 n/a
1998 862 n/a 0.0 n/a
1999 864 n/a 0.0 0
2000 910 n/a 0.0 1
2001 934 n/a 0.0 4.4
2002 954 n/a n/a 3.5
2003 954 n/a n/a 3.5
2004 975 64.8 15.0 3.8
2005 1008 62.7 16.1 4.1
2006 968 63.6 15.2 5
2007 942 64.0 14.7 5.8
2008 946 62.4 15.2 6.5
2009 947 66.4 14.3 8.4
2010 931 64.8 14.3 9.2
2011 935 67.1 13.9 10.2
2012 915 69.1 13.2 10.4
2013 898 66.2 13.5 11.2
2014 900 67.2 13.3 9.2
2015 871 69.0 12.6 11.6
2016 863 70.0 12.3 n/a
2017 850 69.1 12.2 n/a
2018 816 67.8 12.0 n/a
2019 807 64.9 12.4 n/a
2020 795 61.5 12.9 n/a
2021 770 62.2 12.3 n/a
2022 829 61.6 13.4 n/a
2023 844 64.0 13.1 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 McCarthy Middle School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 1145 n/a n/a n/a
1989 1159 n/a n/a n/a
1990 1136 n/a n/a n/a
1991 1151 n/a n/a n/a
1992 1117 n/a n/a n/a
1993 1197 n/a 0.0 n/a
1994 1038 n/a n/a n/a
1995 871 n/a 0.0 n/a
1996 871 n/a 0.0 n/a
1997 843 n/a 0.0 n/a
1998 862 n/a 0.0 n/a
1999 864 n/a 0.0 0
2000 910 n/a 0.0 1
2001 934 n/a 0.0 4.4
2002 954 n/a n/a 3.5
2003 954 n/a n/a 3.5
2004 975 64.8 15.0 3.8
2005 1008 62.7 16.1 4.1
2006 968 63.6 15.2 5
2007 942 64.0 14.7 5.8
2008 946 62.4 15.2 6.5
2009 947 66.4 14.3 8.4
2010 931 64.8 14.3 9.2
2011 935 67.1 13.9 10.2
2012 915 69.1 13.2 10.4
2013 898 66.2 13.5 11.2
2014 900 67.2 13.3 9.2
2015 871 69.0 12.6 11.6
2016 863 70.0 12.3 n/a
2017 850 69.1 12.2 n/a
2018 816 67.8 12.0 n/a
2019 807 64.9 12.4 n/a
2020 795 61.5 12.9 n/a
2021 770 62.2 12.3 n/a
2022 829 61.6 13.4 n/a
2023 844 64.0 13.1 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 McCarthy Middle School

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $274 (1.8%) $14,597 (98.2%) $14,871
2020 $262 (1.8%) $14,572 (98.2%) $14,834
2021 $845 (5.0%) $15,900 (95.0%) $16,745

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

Impact of COVID-19 on McCarthy Middle 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 66th of 498 Middle schoolsRanks 109th of 501 Middle schools
 8.5%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
5th Grade English Language Arts (McCarthy Middle School)7756.1
 20.9%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Chelmsford)6955.9
 13.1%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Massachusetts)5243.8
 8.2%
5th Grade Mathematics (McCarthy Middle School)6245.6
 16.4%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Chelmsford)6149.7
 11.3%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Massachusetts)4940.9
 8.2%
5th Grade Science (McCarthy Middle School)6957.8
 11.2%
   5th Grade Science (Chelmsford)6358.1
 4.9%
   5th Grade Science (Massachusetts)4841.6
 6.4%
6th Grade English Language Arts (McCarthy Middle School)7750.7
 26.3%
   6th Grade English Language Arts (Chelmsford)7049.9
 20.1%
   6th Grade English Language Arts (Massachusetts)5442.3
 11.7%
6th Grade Mathematics (McCarthy Middle School)7761.1
 15.9%
   6th Grade Mathematics (Chelmsford)7251.8
 20.2%
   6th Grade Mathematics (Massachusetts)5141
 10%
7th Grade English Language Arts (McCarthy Middle School)7044.8
 25.2%
   7th Grade English Language Arts (Chelmsford)7048.2
 21.8%
   7th Grade English Language Arts (Massachusetts)4840.5
 7.5%
7th Grade Mathematics (McCarthy Middle School)7048
 22%
   7th Grade Mathematics (Chelmsford)6949.7
 19.3%
   7th Grade Mathematics (Massachusetts)4838.1
 9.9%
8th Grade English Language Arts (McCarthy Middle School)6666.3
 0.3%
   8th Grade English Language Arts (Chelmsford)6865
 3%
   8th Grade English Language Arts (Massachusetts)5143.7
 7.3%
8th Grade Mathematics (McCarthy Middle School)5846.3
 11.7%
   8th Grade Mathematics (Chelmsford)5948.5
 10.5%
   8th Grade Mathematics (Massachusetts)4737.7
 9.3%
8th Grade Science (McCarthy Middle School)7057.1
 12.9%
   8th Grade Science (Chelmsford)6757.4
 9.6%
   8th Grade Science (Massachusetts)4640.9
 5.1%
All Grades English Language Arts (McCarthy Middle School)7254.5
 17.6%
   All Grades English Language Arts (Chelmsford)6854.7
 13.3%
   All Grades English Language Arts (Massachusetts)5242.3
 9.7%
All Grades Mathematics (McCarthy Middle School)6750.4
 16.6%
   All Grades Mathematics (Chelmsford)6251.2
 10.8%
   All Grades Mathematics (Massachusetts)4940.6
 8.4%
All Grades Science (McCarthy Middle School)7057.5
 12.5%
   All Grades Science (Chelmsford)6557.7
 7.3%
   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 Students807844
 4.6%
African American2637
 42.3%
American Indian11
Asian116161
 38.8%
Hispanic4173
 78%
Pacific Islander14
 300%
White593529
 10.8%
Two or More Races2936
 24.1%


Schools Near McCarthy Middle School









Frequently Asked Questions about McCarthy Middle School

Students who attend McCarthy Middle School usually go on to attend Chelmsford High

Students at McCarthy Middle School are 63% White, 19% Asian, 9% Hispanic, 4% African American, 4% Two or more races.

McCarthy Middle School ranks 103rd of 493 Massachusetts middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

In the 2022-23 school year, 844 students attended McCarthy Middle School.


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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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