James Sullivan Middle School

Summary:

James Sullivan Middle School is a public middle school in Lowell, Massachusetts, serving 592 students in grades 5-8. The school faces significant challenges in improving academic outcomes for its diverse and high-needs student population.

Despite the school's diverse student body, with a high percentage of Hispanic and Asian students, James Sullivan Middle School consistently ranks in the bottom quartile of Massachusetts middle schools. The school's performance on MCAS Next Generation assessments is significantly below the state and district averages across all grades and subjects, with proficiency rates as low as 18.75% in ELA, 20.59% in Math, and 17.82% in Science, compared to the state averages of 39.17%, 40.91%, and 41.95%, respectively.

Compared to nearby schools within the Lowell district, such as Dr. An Wang School and James S. Daley Middle School, James Sullivan Middle School generally performs worse on academic measures. The performance gap becomes even more pronounced when compared to schools in other districts, such as Justus C. Richardson Middle School in Dracut and Wood Hill Middle School in Andover, highlighting the significant challenges faced by James Sullivan Middle School.


Detail:

Public 5-8

 150 Draper Street
       Lowell, MA  01852


(978) 937-8993

District: Lowell

SchoolDigger Rank:
389th of 493 Massachusetts Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $15,886 Help


Students who attend James Sullivan Middle School usually attend:

High:    Leblanc Therapeutic Day School
    Lowell High

Feeder schools for James Sullivan Middle School:

Elementary:    Greenhalge
    John J Shaughnessy
    Moody Elementary
    Peter W Reilly
    More...

Student/teacher ratio:  10.9 Help
Number of students:  592

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:
46.8%
White:
30.9%
Asian:
12.2%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  69.3% Help


 See top rated Massachusetts middle schools

 Compare James Sullivan Middle School to nearby middle schools!

Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details James Sullivan Middle School ranks worse than 78.9% of middle schools in Massachusetts. It also ranks 5th among 6 ranked middle schools in the Lowell School District. (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 20.18. (See more...)
Student Body
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Compare Details Student population at James Sullivan Middle School is diverse. Racial makeup is: Hispanic (46.8%), White (30.9%), Asian (12.2%). (See more...)
Teachers
Help
Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at James Sullivan Middle School is 10.9, which is the 2nd best among 6 middle schools in the Lowell School District. (See more...)
Help
Compare James Sullivan Middle School employs 54.2 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at James Sullivan Middle School is $15,886, which is the 3rd highest among 6 middle schools in the Lowell School District.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

James Sullivan Middle School:

SchoolDigger ranks James Sullivan Middle School 389th of 493 Massachusetts public middle schools. (See James Sullivan Middle School in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


English Language Learner students:
Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Homeless students:
Female students:
Male students:
Asian students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


Lowell:

SchoolDigger ranks Lowell 302nd of 351 Massachusetts school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for James Sullivan Middle School

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Compare

Rank History for all students at James Sullivan Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2003 12.87 301st 339 11.2%
2004 18.34 293rd 344 14.8%
2005 17.40 303rd 356 14.9%
2006 30.12 300th 399 24.8%
2007 37.93 269th 399 32.6%
2008 35.91 277th 407 31.9%
2009 30.01 306th 409 25.2%
2010 22.84 350th 434 19.4%
2011 15.78 385th 449 14.3%
2012 15.24 390th 455 14.3%
2013 10.58 412th 455 9.5%
2014 12.54 405th 455 11.0%
2015 12.23 390th 441 11.6%
2016 26.89 369th 482 23.4%
2017 13.20 429th 487 11.9%
2018 10.33 439th 484 9.3%
2019 13.19 439th 498 11.8%
2021 16.10 421st 501 16.0%
2022 14.64 435th 497 12.5%
2023 20.85 393rd 501 21.6%
2024 20.18 389th 493 21.1%
See the entire list of Massachusetts Middle School Rankings!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at James Sullivan Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 33.91 95th 127 25.2%
2019 36.99 88th 138 36.2%
2021 42.32 60th 135 55.6%
2022 46.71 51st 154 66.9%
2023 34.45 121st 155 21.9%
2024 39.06 102nd 180 43.3%
See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Middle Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at James Sullivan Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 14.40 437th 467 6.4%
2019 17.37 435th 484 10.1%
2021 21.42 426th 489 12.9%
2022 16.21 450th 503 10.5%
2023 25.08 352nd 444 20.7%
2024 25.13 351st 441 20.4%
See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Middle Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at James Sullivan Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 13.31 412th 438 5.9%
2019 18.16 398th 452 11.9%
2021 22.63 393rd 462 14.9%
2022 15.45 442nd 489 9.6%
2023 23.67 393rd 481 18.3%
2024 19.98 404th 469 13.9%
See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Middle Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Homeless students at James Sullivan Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 51.67 9th 21 57.1%
2022 22.92 22nd 26 15.4%
2023 39.28 15th 26 42.3%
2024 25.25 27th 36 25.0%
See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Middle Schools for Homeless Students!

Rank History for Female students at James Sullivan Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 9.94 434th 463 6.3%
2019 10.88 439th 478 8.2%
2021 14.57 421st 483 12.8%
2022 12.86 441st 494 10.7%
2023 25.46 360th 489 26.4%
2024 23.85 361st 481 24.9%
See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Middle Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at James Sullivan Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 23.20 353rd 417 15.3%
2019 19.32 379th 424 10.6%
2021 21.36 394th 431 8.6%
2022 24.38 361st 445 18.9%
See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Middle Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Male students at James Sullivan Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 11.45 426th 466 8.6%
2019 14.97 418th 478 12.6%
2021 18.83 396th 485 18.4%
2022 17.36 422nd 497 15.1%
2023 17.11 416th 489 14.9%
2024 17.00 411th 483 14.9%
See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Middle Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Tested In Person students at James Sullivan Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 15.57 417th 491 15.1%
See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Middle Schools for Tested In Person Students!

Rank History for Tested Remotely students at James Sullivan Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 21.94 280th 339 17.4%
See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Middle Schools for Tested Remotely Students!

Rank History for Asian students at James Sullivan Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 0.78 119th 119 0.0%
2019 5.15 124th 128 3.1%
2021 4.08 120th 123 2.4%
2022 4.55 132nd 135 2.2%
2023 7.84 125th 134 6.7%
2024 4.76 118th 120 1.7%
See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Middle Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for African American students at James Sullivan Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 14.87 165th 172 4.1%
2019 23.37 168th 195 13.8%
2023 23.21 179th 209 14.4%
See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Middle Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at James Sullivan Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 17.89 286th 309 7.4%
2019 21.99 274th 322 14.9%
2021 19.48 302nd 335 9.9%
2022 16.24 349th 368 5.2%
2023 24.26 294th 364 19.2%
2024 23.24 314th 378 16.9%
See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Middle Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at James Sullivan Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 9.81 372nd 395 5.8%
2019 11.12 369th 396 6.8%
2021 19.07 340th 401 15.2%
2022 13.59 368th 404 8.9%
2023 18.17 341st 403 15.4%
2024 18.07 337th 392 14.0%
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.

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







Data source: Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)
100%

0%

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0%

0%

  

Reviews:
by a student
Thursday, October 31, 2019

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Enrollment information for James Sullivan Middle School

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1993 404 4 60 168 0 n/a n/a 0 636
1994 351 13 78 190 2 n/a n/a 0 634
1995 310 10 63 212 2 n/a n/a 0 597
1996 310 10 63 212 2 n/a n/a 0 597
1997 319 10 38 236 0 n/a n/a 0 603
1998 343 5 36 217 0 n/a n/a 0 601
1999 310 12 51 210 0 n/a n/a 0 583
2000 378 8 64 221 0 n/a n/a 0 671
2001 380 14 71 249 0 n/a n/a 0 714
2002 385 13 64 237 0 n/a n/a 0 699
2003 385 13 64 237 0 n/a n/a 0 699
2004 389 16 58 257 0 n/a n/a 0 720
2005 382 18 59 238 0 n/a n/a 0 697
2006 379 17 56 207 0 n/a n/a 0 659
2007 369 24 59 153 0 n/a n/a 1 606
2008 337 20 48 164 1 n/a n/a 1 571
2009 317 28 48 169 0 0 2 0 564
2010 317 33 62 225 0 0 1 0 638
2011 309 25 84 235 0 0 4 0 657
2012 291 29 84 243 1 0 7 0 655
2013 245 29 81 251 0 0 11 0 617
2014 276 29 84 262 0 0 16 0 667
2015 246 42 70 271 0 0 16 0 645
2016 244 52 78 255 0 0 18 0 647
2017 246 61 85 259 0 0 19 0 670
2018 218 58 90 251 0 0 26 0 643
2019 148 41 77 205 0 0 23 0 494
2020 218 44 89 289 0 0 36 0 676
2021 214 34 83 276 0 0 34 0 641
2022 198 40 89 289 0 1 27 0 644
2023 183 36 72 277 0 1 22 1 592

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 James Sullivan Middle School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1993 636 n/a 0.0 n/a
1994 634 n/a n/a n/a
1995 597 n/a 0.0 n/a
1996 597 n/a 0.0 n/a
1997 603 n/a 0.0 n/a
1998 601 n/a 0.0 n/a
1999 583 n/a 0.0 50.4
2000 671 n/a 0.0 44
2001 714 n/a 0.0 40.1
2002 699 n/a n/a 58.5
2003 699 n/a n/a 58.5
2004 720 48.0 15.0 60.1
2005 697 52.4 13.3 54.7
2006 659 51.5 12.8 52.5
2007 606 49.0 12.4 56.9
2008 571 46.5 12.3 53.7
2009 564 44.4 12.7 56.6
2010 638 43.1 14.8 62.4
2011 657 45.0 14.5 64.2
2012 655 47.5 13.7 69.8
2013 617 45.9 13.4 71.6
2014 667 48.1 13.8 72.1
2015 645 48.0 13.4 69.3
2016 647 46.0 14.0 n/a
2017 670 50.0 13.3 n/a
2018 643 46.4 13.8 n/a
2019 494 40.5 12.1 n/a
2020 676 49.4 13.6 n/a
2021 641 47.0 13.6 n/a
2022 644 45.6 14.0 n/a
2023 592 54.2 10.9 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 James Sullivan Middle School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1993 636 n/a 0.0 n/a
1994 634 n/a n/a n/a
1995 597 n/a 0.0 n/a
1996 597 n/a 0.0 n/a
1997 603 n/a 0.0 n/a
1998 601 n/a 0.0 n/a
1999 583 n/a 0.0 50.4
2000 671 n/a 0.0 44
2001 714 n/a 0.0 40.1
2002 699 n/a n/a 58.5
2003 699 n/a n/a 58.5
2004 720 48.0 15.0 60.1
2005 697 52.4 13.3 54.7
2006 659 51.5 12.8 52.5
2007 606 49.0 12.4 56.9
2008 571 46.5 12.3 53.7
2009 564 44.4 12.7 56.6
2010 638 43.1 14.8 62.4
2011 657 45.0 14.5 64.2
2012 655 47.5 13.7 69.8
2013 617 45.9 13.4 71.6
2014 667 48.1 13.8 72.1
2015 645 48.0 13.4 69.3
2016 647 46.0 14.0 n/a
2017 670 50.0 13.3 n/a
2018 643 46.4 13.8 n/a
2019 494 40.5 12.1 n/a
2020 676 49.4 13.6 n/a
2021 641 47.0 13.6 n/a
2022 644 45.6 14.0 n/a
2023 592 54.2 10.9 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 James Sullivan Middle School

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $1,164 (7.7%) $13,917 (92.3%) $15,081
2020 $707 (5.0%) $13,486 (95.0%) $14,193
2021 $1,494 (9.4%) $14,392 (90.6%) $15,886

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

Impact of COVID-19 on James Sullivan 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 439th of 498 Middle schoolsRanks 393rd of 501 Middle schools
 9.7%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
6th Grade English Language Arts (James Sullivan Middle School)3034.1
 4.1%
   6th Grade English Language Arts (Lowell)3627.1
 9%
   6th Grade English Language Arts (Massachusetts)5442.3
 11.7%
6th Grade Mathematics (James Sullivan Middle School)3029.8
 0.2%
   6th Grade Mathematics (Lowell)4025.8
 14.3%
   6th Grade Mathematics (Massachusetts)5141
 10%
7th Grade English Language Arts (James Sullivan Middle School)2113.9
 7.2%
   7th Grade English Language Arts (Lowell)3120.1
 10.9%
   7th Grade English Language Arts (Massachusetts)4840.5
 7.5%
7th Grade Mathematics (James Sullivan Middle School)2313.1
 9.9%
   7th Grade Mathematics (Lowell)3420.9
 13.1%
   7th Grade Mathematics (Massachusetts)4838.1
 9.9%
8th Grade English Language Arts (James Sullivan Middle School)2621
 5%
   8th Grade English Language Arts (Lowell)3628
 8%
   8th Grade English Language Arts (Massachusetts)5143.7
 7.3%
8th Grade Mathematics (James Sullivan Middle School)1918
 1%
   8th Grade Mathematics (Lowell)3421.9
 12.1%
   8th Grade Mathematics (Massachusetts)4737.7
 9.3%
8th Grade Science (James Sullivan Middle School)1613.3
 2.7%
   8th Grade Science (Lowell)2123.6
 2.6%
   8th Grade Science (Massachusetts)4640.9
 5.1%
All Grades English Language Arts (James Sullivan Middle School)2621.5
 4.5%
   All Grades English Language Arts (Lowell)3825.6
 12.4%
   All Grades English Language Arts (Massachusetts)5242.3
 9.7%
All Grades Mathematics (James Sullivan Middle School)2420.5
 3.5%
   All Grades Mathematics (Lowell)3726.1
 10.9%
   All Grades Mathematics (Massachusetts)4940.6
 8.4%
All Grades Science (James Sullivan Middle School)1614.5
 1.5%
   All Grades Science (Lowell)2521.7
 3.3%
   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 Students494592
 19.8%
African American4136
 12.2%
American Indian00
Asian7772
 6.5%
Hispanic205277
 35.1%
Pacific Islander01
White148183
 23.6%
Two or More Races2322
 4.3%


Schools Near James Sullivan Middle School









Frequently Asked Questions about James Sullivan Middle School

James Sullivan Middle School ranks in the bottom 21.1% of Massachusetts middle schools.

In the 2022-23 school year, 592 students attended James Sullivan Middle School.

Students at James Sullivan Middle School are 47% Hispanic, 31% White, 12% Asian, 6% African American, 4% Two or more races.

Students who attend James Sullivan Middle School usually go on to attend Leblanc Therapeutic Day 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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