Francis J McGrath Elementary

Summary:

Francis J McGrath Elementary is a public elementary school in Worcester, MA, serving 208 students in grades PK-6. The school is part of the Worcester school district, which is ranked 308 out of 351 districts in Massachusetts and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Francis J McGrath Elementary has a more diverse student population compared to nearby schools, with a higher percentage of Hispanic (41.35%) and African American (20.67%) students. However, the school consistently ranks in the bottom quarter of Massachusetts elementary schools, with significantly below-average performance on MCAS Next Generation assessments across all grades and subjects. For example, in 2023-2024, only 17.65% of students were proficient or better in English Language Arts, compared to 39.17% statewide and 22.91% in the Worcester district. In Mathematics, the school's proficiency rate was 20.59%, compared to 40.91% statewide and 23.25% in Worcester.

The school's academic struggles are not solely due to district or community factors, as some nearby schools like Flagg Street and Nelson Place demonstrate significantly stronger academic outcomes. Despite having a relatively low student-teacher ratio, Francis J McGrath Elementary faces challenges in supporting the achievement of its diverse student population, particularly its White, English Language Learner, and special education student subgroups. Addressing these issues will require a comprehensive, data-driven approach to school improvement.


Detail:

Public PK, KG-6

 493 Grove Street
       Worcester, MA  01605


(508) 799-3584

District: Worcester

SchoolDigger Rank:
765th of 916 Massachusetts Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $16,089 Help


Students who attend Francis J McGrath Elementary usually attend:

Middle:    Forest Grove Middle
High:    Burncoat Senior High
    University Pk Campus School

Student/teacher ratio:  10.8 Help
Number of students:  208

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:
47.6%
White:
25.0%
African American:
18.3%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  73.9% Help


 See top rated Massachusetts elementary schools

 Compare Francis J McGrath Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends
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Compare Details Francis J McGrath Elementary ranks worse than 83.5% of elementary schools in Massachusetts. It also ranks 18th among 32 ranked elementary schools in the Worcester School District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 17.7. (See more...)
Student Body
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Compare Details Student population at Francis J McGrath Elementary is diverse. Racial makeup is: Hispanic (47.6%), White (25%), African American (18.3%). (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Francis J McGrath Elementary is 10.8, which is the 6th best among 32 elementary schools in the Worcester School District. (See more...)
Help
Compare Francis J McGrath Elementary employs 19.1 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Francis J McGrath Elementary is $16,089. 20 elementary schools in the Worcester School District spend more per student.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Francis J McGrath Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks Francis J McGrath Elementary 765th of 916 Massachusetts public elementary schools. (See Francis J McGrath Elementary in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


Worcester:

SchoolDigger ranks Worcester 308th of 351 Massachusetts school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Your rating for Francis J McGrath Elementary?

Rank History for Francis J McGrath Elementary

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Francis J McGrath Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2003 20.71 722nd 884 18.3%
2004 27.05 668th 882 24.3%
2005 26.59 675th 887 23.9%
2006 24.41 728th 911 20.1%
2007 42.18 595th 911 34.7%
2008 32.34 665th 908 26.8%
2009 25.18 731st 909 19.6%
2010 26.16 722nd 920 21.5%
2011 24.62 740th 924 19.9%
2012 9.65 858th 930 7.7%
2013 13.73 823rd 928 11.3%
2014 18.82 783rd 926 15.4%
2015 10.82 851st 914 6.9%
2016 15.55 826th 932 11.4%
2017 16.72 819th 938 12.7%
2018 28.88 699th 934 25.2%
2019 22.42 767th 942 18.6%
2021 11.78 840th 936 10.3%
2022 20.89 746th 932 20.0%
2023 22.41 721st 928 22.3%
2024 17.70 765th 916 16.5%
See the entire list of Massachusetts Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Francis J McGrath Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 42.84 117th 244 52.0%
2019 52.35 82nd 258 68.2%
2023 28.84 228th 264 13.6%
See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Elementary Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Francis J McGrath Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 44.15 494th 886 44.2%
2019 34.58 634th 896 29.2%
2021 21.76 769th 894 14.0%
2022 42.73 521st 905 42.4%
See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Francis J McGrath Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 43.43 405th 685 40.9%
2019 30.80 536th 700 23.4%
2021 20.79 630th 705 10.6%
2022 50.04 360th 772 53.4%
2023 46.99 405th 757 46.5%
2024 35.15 530th 760 30.3%
See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Francis J McGrath Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 26.57 694th 893 22.3%
2019 12.95 827th 902 8.3%
2021 14.40 786th 898 12.5%
2022 23.81 701st 901 22.2%
2023 29.25 635th 887 28.4%
2024 15.30 784th 886 11.5%
See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at Francis J McGrath Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 14.84 615th 632 2.7%
See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Elementary Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Male students at Francis J McGrath Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 34.02 627th 898 30.2%
2019 29.03 690th 907 23.9%
2021 10.93 840th 904 7.1%
2022 17.48 766th 908 15.6%
2023 20.31 728th 896 18.8%
2024 25.89 672nd 891 24.6%
See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Tested In Person students at Francis J McGrath Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 11.91 834th 925 9.8%
See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Elementary Schools for Tested In Person Students!

Rank History for Tested Remotely students at Francis J McGrath Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 22.31 312th 399 21.8%
See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Elementary Schools for Tested Remotely Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Francis J McGrath Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 55.20 143rd 379 62.3%
2021 25.09 317th 379 16.4%
2022 39.02 227th 401 43.4%
2023 38.49 257th 420 38.8%
2024 33.47 310th 446 30.5%
See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Francis J McGrath Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 18.72 679th 772 12.0%
2019 11.55 738th 780 5.4%
2021 4.98 751st 765 1.8%
2024 6.61 732nd 753 2.8%
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.

Francis J McGrath Elementary 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: 4)
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Reviews:
by a parent
Friday, June 14, 2019

Open Quote We have been very happy in our first year at McGrath. The principal is outstanding, and my son loves his kindergarten teacher. We love that the school emphasizes cultural diversity, kindness, and responsibility. My son is thriving in this environment. There is room for improvement the school lacks a cohesive PTO and playground equipment, and both of these things would contribute to a stronger sense of community. But overall, we are very pleased with our experience at McGrath. Close Quote



Enrollment information for Francis J McGrath Elementary

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 246 8 2 11 0 n/a n/a 0 267
1989 250 10 2 15 0 n/a n/a 0 277
1990 250 15 5 39 0 n/a n/a 0 309
1991 248 25 5 35 0 n/a n/a 0 313
1992 214 38 7 43 0 n/a n/a 0 302
1993 194 29 6 45 0 n/a n/a 0 274
1994 213 38 6 63 1 n/a n/a 0 321
1995 218 46 7 63 2 n/a n/a 0 336
1996 218 46 7 63 2 n/a n/a 0 336
1997 212 48 7 68 1 n/a n/a 0 336
1998 201 49 9 66 2 n/a n/a 0 327
1999 207 37 12 63 2 n/a n/a 0 321
2000 157 37 10 70 1 n/a n/a 0 275
2001 172 47 10 78 0 n/a n/a 0 307
2002 147 42 7 74 0 n/a n/a 0 270
2003 147 42 7 74 0 n/a n/a 0 270
2004 129 48 3 57 0 n/a n/a 0 237
2005 103 40 5 56 0 n/a n/a 0 204
2006 99 37 9 62 0 n/a n/a 1 208
2007 91 32 8 49 0 n/a n/a 0 180
2008 91 32 5 51 0 n/a n/a 1 180
2009 88 44 10 58 0 0 4 0 204
2010 78 44 4 61 0 0 3 0 190
2012 100 64 9 86 1 0 10 0 270
2013 97 63 14 88 1 0 12 0 275
2014 118 57 14 81 1 0 13 0 284
2015 109 66 17 86 2 0 11 0 291
2016 108 61 12 87 1 0 17 0 286
2017 116 54 11 95 1 0 22 0 299
2018 88 44 10 77 1 0 17 0 237
2019 91 43 11 81 0 0 19 0 245
2020 77 42 9 89 0 0 20 0 237
2021 63 46 12 83 0 0 20 0 224
2022 49 42 8 89 0 0 16 0 204
2023 56 43 10 86 0 0 13 0 208
2024 52 38 8 99 0 1 10 0 208

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 Francis J McGrath Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 267 n/a n/a n/a
1989 277 n/a n/a n/a
1990 309 n/a n/a n/a
1991 313 n/a n/a n/a
1992 302 n/a n/a n/a
1993 274 n/a 0.0 n/a
1994 321 n/a n/a n/a
1995 336 n/a 0.0 n/a
1996 336 n/a 0.0 n/a
1997 336 n/a 0.0 n/a
1998 327 n/a 0.0 n/a
1999 321 n/a 0.0 48
2000 275 n/a 0.0 58.9
2001 307 n/a 0.0 61.2
2002 270 n/a n/a 57.8
2003 270 n/a n/a 57.8
2004 237 21.1 11.2 64.1
2005 204 15.0 13.6 67.2
2006 208 16.1 12.9 68.1
2007 180 16.0 11.3 66.7
2008 180 11.4 15.8 70.4
2009 204 16.1 12.7 65.7
2010 190 12.4 15.2 76.8
2012 270 15.3 17.6 70
2013 275 14.3 19.2 78.9
2014 284 13.2 21.4 74.6
2015 291 17.0 17.1 73.9
2016 286 15.0 19.0 n/a
2017 299 18.4 16.2 n/a
2018 237 15.4 15.3 n/a
2019 245 16.4 14.8 n/a
2020 237 15.5 15.2 n/a
2021 224 15.0 14.8 n/a
2022 204 16.8 12.1 n/a
2023 208 17.8 11.6 n/a
2024 208 19.1 10.8 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 Francis J McGrath Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 267 n/a n/a n/a
1989 277 n/a n/a n/a
1990 309 n/a n/a n/a
1991 313 n/a n/a n/a
1992 302 n/a n/a n/a
1993 274 n/a 0.0 n/a
1994 321 n/a n/a n/a
1995 336 n/a 0.0 n/a
1996 336 n/a 0.0 n/a
1997 336 n/a 0.0 n/a
1998 327 n/a 0.0 n/a
1999 321 n/a 0.0 48
2000 275 n/a 0.0 58.9
2001 307 n/a 0.0 61.2
2002 270 n/a n/a 57.8
2003 270 n/a n/a 57.8
2004 237 21.1 11.2 64.1
2005 204 15.0 13.6 67.2
2006 208 16.1 12.9 68.1
2007 180 16.0 11.3 66.7
2008 180 11.4 15.8 70.4
2009 204 16.1 12.7 65.7
2010 190 12.4 15.2 76.8
2012 270 15.3 17.6 70
2013 275 14.3 19.2 78.9
2014 284 13.2 21.4 74.6
2015 291 17.0 17.1 73.9
2016 286 15.0 19.0 n/a
2017 299 18.4 16.2 n/a
2018 237 15.4 15.3 n/a
2019 245 16.4 14.8 n/a
2020 237 15.5 15.2 n/a
2021 224 15.0 14.8 n/a
2022 204 16.8 12.1 n/a
2023 208 17.8 11.6 n/a
2024 208 19.1 10.8 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 Francis J McGrath Elementary

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $1,052 (7.8%) $12,491 (92.2%) $13,543
2020 $890 (6.0%) $13,947 (94.0%) $14,837
2021 $1,203 (7.5%) $14,886 (92.5%) $16,089

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

Impact of COVID-19 on Francis J McGrath Elementary

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 767th of 942 Elementary schoolsRanks 721st of 928 Elementary schools
 3.7%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Francis J McGrath Elementary)428.3
 33.7%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Worcester)3824.8
 13.2%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Massachusetts)5643.9
 12.1%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Francis J McGrath Elementary)238.3
 14.7%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Worcester)3026.3
 3.7%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Massachusetts)4941
 8%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Francis J McGrath Elementary)4013.3
 26.7%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Worcester)3722.6
 14.4%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Massachusetts)5239.7
 12.3%
4th Grade Mathematics (Francis J McGrath Elementary)2013.3
 6.7%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Worcester)3224.2
 7.8%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Massachusetts)4945
 4%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Francis J McGrath Elementary)3226.7
 5.3%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Worcester)3931.9
 7.1%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Massachusetts)5243.8
 8.2%
5th Grade Mathematics (Francis J McGrath Elementary)2040
 20%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Worcester)3326.9
 6.1%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Massachusetts)4940.9
 8.2%
5th Grade Science (Francis J McGrath Elementary)3230
 2%
   5th Grade Science (Worcester)3125.7
 5.3%
   5th Grade Science (Massachusetts)4841.6
 6.4%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Francis J McGrath Elementary)5338.7
 14.3%
   6th Grade English Language Arts (Worcester)4532.2
 12.8%
   6th Grade English Language Arts (Massachusetts)5442.3
 11.7%
6th Grade Mathematics (Francis J McGrath Elementary)6325.8
 37.2%
   6th Grade Mathematics (Worcester)4329
 14%
   6th Grade Mathematics (Massachusetts)5141
 10%
All Grades English Language Arts (Francis J McGrath Elementary)4122.6
 18.4%
   All Grades English Language Arts (Worcester)3726.9
 10.1%
   All Grades English Language Arts (Massachusetts)5242.3
 9.7%
All Grades Mathematics (Francis J McGrath Elementary)2922.6
 6.4%
   All Grades Mathematics (Worcester)3124.1
 6.9%
   All Grades Mathematics (Massachusetts)4940.6
 8.4%
All Grades Science (Francis J McGrath Elementary)3230
 2%
   All Grades Science (Worcester)2724.7
 2.3%
   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 Students245208
 15.1%
African American4343
American Indian00
Asian1110
 9.1%
Hispanic8186
 6.2%
Pacific Islander00
White9156
 38.5%
Two or More Races1913
 31.6%


Schools Near Francis J McGrath Elementary









Frequently Asked Questions about Francis J McGrath Elementary

Francis J McGrath Elementary ranks in the bottom 16.5% of Massachusetts elementary schools.

Students who attend Francis J McGrath Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Forest Grove Middle
High : Burncoat Senior High
High : University Pk Campus School

Students at Francis J McGrath Elementary are 48% Hispanic, 25% White, 18% African American, 5% Two or more races, 4% Asian.

In the 2023-24 school year, 208 students attended Francis J McGrath Elementary.


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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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