Plum Cove School

Summary:

Plum Cove School is an elementary school located in Gloucester, Massachusetts, serving 203 students from kindergarten to 5th grade. The school consistently outperforms the Gloucester school district and the state of Massachusetts in academic assessments, with 45.63% of students proficient or better in English Language Arts and Mathematics, compared to 32.15% and 28.67% for the district, respectively.

Plum Cove School's performance is particularly strong for certain student subgroups, such as Special Education students and Low Socioeconomic Status students. In the 2022-2023 school year, the school ranked 88th out of 703 Massachusetts elementary schools for Special Education students and 27th out of 772 for Low Socioeconomic Status students, both receiving a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger. Additionally, the school maintains a higher per-student spending compared to the state average, with $20,627 spent per student in the 2020-2021 school year, and a relatively low student-teacher ratio, ranging from 11.8 to 12.9 over the past three school years.

Plum Cove School's consistent academic performance, with a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger, suggests that the school has effective teaching practices and a supportive learning environment. While the school's relatively homogeneous racial composition may suggest a need to further promote diversity and inclusion, its strong performance for vulnerable student populations and well-resourced environment make it a potential model for effective practices that could be replicated in other schools within the region.


Detail:

Public K-5

 15 Hickory Street
       Gloucester, MA  01930


(978) 282-3030

District: Gloucester

SchoolDigger Rank:
343rd of 916 Massachusetts Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $20,627 Help


Students who attend Plum Cove School usually attend:

Middle:    Ralph B O'Maley Middle
High:    Gloucester High

Student/teacher ratio:  12.2 Help
Number of students:  203

Racial breakdown:

White:
86.2%
Two or more races:
6.9%
Hispanic:
6.4%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  31.7% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Plum Cove School ranks better than 62.6% of elementary schools in Massachusetts. It also ranks first among 3 ranked elementary schools in the Gloucester School District! (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 62.7. (See more...)
Student Body
Help
Compare Details Plum Cove School has the smallest elementary school student body size in the Gloucester School District. Racial makeup is: White (86.2%), two or more races (6.9%), Hispanic (6.4%). (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Plum Cove School is 12.2. 1 elementary schools in the Gloucester School District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)
Help
Compare Plum Cove School employs 16.6 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Plum Cove School is $20,627, which is the highest among 3 elementary schools in the Gloucester School District!
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Plum Cove School:

SchoolDigger ranks Plum Cove School 343rd of 916 Massachusetts public elementary schools. (See Plum Cove School in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Special Education students:
Female students:
Male students:
White students:


Gloucester:

SchoolDigger ranks Gloucester 254th of 351 Massachusetts school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Plum Cove School

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Plum Cove School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2009 35.99 632nd 909 30.5%
2010 50.77 519th 920 43.6%
2011 62.37 385th 924 58.3%
2012 65.76 354th 930 61.9%
2013 59.44 417th 928 55.1%
2014 65.31 341st 926 63.2%
2015 77.12 198th 914 78.3%
2016 77.34 200th 932 78.5%
2017 61.92 368th 938 60.8%
2018 61.54 379th 934 59.4%
2019 73.66 249th 942 73.6%
2021 82.07 151st 936 83.9%
2022 75.98 215th 932 76.9%
2023 74.81 236th 928 74.6%
2024 62.70 343rd 916 62.6%
See the entire list of Massachusetts Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Special Education students at Plum Cove School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 59.84 308th 886 65.2%
2019 59.72 299th 896 66.6%
2021 83.51 93rd 894 89.6%
2022 75.28 154th 905 83.0%
2023 79.62 88th 703 87.5%
2024 45.25 351st 731 52.0%
See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Plum Cove School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 72.79 114th 685 83.4%
2021 92.55 14th 705 98.0%
2022 88.93 27th 772 96.5%
2023 88.73 37th 757 95.1%
See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Plum Cove School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 56.00 417th 893 53.3%
2019 60.84 360th 902 60.1%
2021 67.67 283rd 898 68.5%
2022 70.51 252nd 901 72.0%
2023 62.06 345th 887 61.1%
2024 58.27 382nd 886 56.9%
See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Plum Cove School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 65.91 305th 898 66.0%
2019 78.96 168th 907 81.5%
2021 89.66 68th 904 92.5%
2022 76.65 186th 908 79.5%
2023 81.82 144th 896 83.9%
2024 63.96 310th 891 65.2%
See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Tested In Person students at Plum Cove School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 79.10 183rd 925 80.2%
See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Elementary Schools for Tested In Person Students!

Rank History for White students at Plum Cove School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 49.05 432nd 772 44.0%
2019 63.52 278th 780 64.4%
2021 74.34 174th 765 77.3%
2022 64.14 250th 764 67.3%
2023 61.66 277th 762 63.6%
2024 47.75 409th 753 45.7%
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.

Plum Cove 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 Plum Cove School

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1997 56 1 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 57
1998 116 3 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 119
1999 101 2 1 0 0 n/a n/a 0 104
2000 94 0 1 1 0 n/a n/a 0 96
2001 102 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 102
2002 114 3 1 1 0 n/a n/a 0 119
2003 114 3 1 1 0 n/a n/a 0 119
2004 103 1 0 4 0 n/a n/a 0 108
2005 109 1 2 2 0 n/a n/a 0 114
2006 101 1 1 0 0 n/a n/a 1 104
2007 100 0 2 0 0 n/a n/a 1 103
2008 105 0 0 1 0 n/a n/a 1 107
2009 151 1 1 1 2 2 1 0 159
2010 207 0 1 4 2 1 2 0 217
2011 212 1 1 3 1 0 3 0 221
2012 214 0 1 2 0 0 3 0 220
2013 199 2 2 3 0 1 4 0 211
2014 211 2 1 4 0 0 3 0 221
2015 209 2 2 3 2 1 2 0 221
2016 193 2 1 4 2 1 3 0 206
2017 196 6 2 6 0 0 3 0 213
2018 190 7 1 10 0 0 4 0 212
2019 191 4 1 9 0 0 3 0 208
2020 184 5 1 7 0 0 9 0 206
2021 182 4 1 7 0 0 11 0 205
2022 186 3 1 11 0 0 14 0 215
2023 175 1 0 13 0 0 14 0 203

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 Plum Cove School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1997 57 n/a 0.0 n/a
1998 119 n/a 0.0 n/a
1999 104 n/a 0.0 0
2000 96 n/a 0.0 5.2
2001 102 n/a 0.0 7.8
2002 119 n/a n/a 5
2003 119 n/a n/a 5
2004 108 7.2 15.0 5.6
2005 114 6.8 16.8 10.5
2006 104 6.8 15.3 12.6
2007 103 7.0 14.7 12.7
2008 107 7.8 13.7 23.6
2009 159 12.4 12.8 17
2010 217 13.4 16.1 20.3
2011 221 16.4 13.4 22.6
2012 220 15.7 13.9 21.4
2013 211 17.2 12.2 24.2
2014 221 16.9 13.0 28.5
2015 221 17.0 13.0 31.7
2016 206 17.0 12.1 n/a
2017 213 16.8 12.6 n/a
2018 212 15.6 13.5 n/a
2019 208 15.6 13.3 n/a
2020 206 15.5 13.2 n/a
2021 205 17.3 11.8 n/a
2022 215 16.6 12.9 n/a
2023 203 16.6 12.2 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 Plum Cove School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1997 57 n/a 0.0 n/a
1998 119 n/a 0.0 n/a
1999 104 n/a 0.0 0
2000 96 n/a 0.0 5.2
2001 102 n/a 0.0 7.8
2002 119 n/a n/a 5
2003 119 n/a n/a 5
2004 108 7.2 15.0 5.6
2005 114 6.8 16.8 10.5
2006 104 6.8 15.3 12.6
2007 103 7.0 14.7 12.7
2008 107 7.8 13.7 23.6
2009 159 12.4 12.8 17
2010 217 13.4 16.1 20.3
2011 221 16.4 13.4 22.6
2012 220 15.7 13.9 21.4
2013 211 17.2 12.2 24.2
2014 221 16.9 13.0 28.5
2015 221 17.0 13.0 31.7
2016 206 17.0 12.1 n/a
2017 213 16.8 12.6 n/a
2018 212 15.6 13.5 n/a
2019 208 15.6 13.3 n/a
2020 206 15.5 13.2 n/a
2021 205 17.3 11.8 n/a
2022 215 16.6 12.9 n/a
2023 203 16.6 12.2 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 Plum Cove School

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $610 (3.5%) $16,656 (96.5%) $17,266
2020 $709 (3.9%) $17,684 (96.1%) $18,393
2021 $1,807 (8.8%) $18,820 (91.2%) $20,627

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

Impact of COVID-19 on Plum Cove 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 249th of 942 Elementary schoolsRanks 236th of 928 Elementary schools
 1%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Plum Cove School)8248.4
 33.6%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Gloucester)5635.4
 20.7%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Massachusetts)5643.9
 12.1%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Plum Cove School)6845.2
 22.8%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Gloucester)4431
 13%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Massachusetts)4941
 8%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Plum Cove School)5058.3
 8.3%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Gloucester)4845.7
 2.3%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Massachusetts)5239.7
 12.3%
4th Grade Mathematics (Plum Cove School)6869.4
 1.4%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Gloucester)4748.3
 1.3%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Massachusetts)4945
 4%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Plum Cove School)7266.7
 5.3%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Gloucester)5740.5
 16.5%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Massachusetts)5243.8
 8.2%
5th Grade Mathematics (Plum Cove School)5561.1
 6.1%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Gloucester)5333.7
 19.4%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Massachusetts)4940.9
 8.2%
5th Grade Science (Plum Cove School)5747.2
 9.8%
   5th Grade Science (Gloucester)5234.8
 17.2%
   5th Grade Science (Massachusetts)4841.6
 6.4%
All Grades English Language Arts (Plum Cove School)6958.3
 10.8%
   All Grades English Language Arts (Gloucester)4838.2
 9.8%
   All Grades English Language Arts (Massachusetts)5242.3
 9.7%
All Grades Mathematics (Plum Cove School)6359.2
 3.8%
   All Grades Mathematics (Gloucester)4333.7
 9.3%
   All Grades Mathematics (Massachusetts)4940.6
 8.4%
All Grades Science (Plum Cove School)5747.2
 9.8%
   All Grades Science (Gloucester)4435.7
 8.3%
   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 Students208203
 2.4%
African American41
 75%
American Indian00
Asian10
 100%
Hispanic913
 44.4%
Pacific Islander00
White191175
 8.4%
Two or More Races314
 366.7%


Schools Near Plum Cove School









Frequently Asked Questions about Plum Cove School

Plum Cove School ranks 343rd of 916 Massachusetts elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Students who attend Plum Cove School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Ralph B O'Maley Middle
High : Gloucester High

In the 2022-23 school year, 203 students attended Plum Cove School.

Students at Plum Cove School are 86% White, 7% Two or more races, 6% Hispanic.


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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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