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McCarthy Middle School

Q: Is McCarthy Middle School a good school?

McCarthy Middle School ranks 97 th of 484 Massachusetts middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 7-8

97^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 484 Massachusetts Middle Schools

Better than 80% of Massachusetts middle schools

Summary

McCarthy Middle School is a public middle school located in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, serving grades 7-8 with a total enrollment of 782 students. The school is part of the Chelmsford school district, which is ranked 90 out of 348 districts in Massachusetts and has a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger.

McCarthy Middle School consistently ranks in the top 25% of Massachusetts middle schools, with a current ranking of 97 out of 484 schools. The school's MCAS proficiency rates are significantly higher than the state averages across all subjects and grade levels, particularly in English Language Arts (ELA), where 8th-grade proficiency rates consistently exceed 60%, compared to the state average of around 43-44%. The school also excels in supporting its African American and Hispanic student populations, ranking in the top 10% and top 25% of Massachusetts middle schools, respectively, for these subgroups.

When compared to the nearby middle schools in Lowell, which are part of a lower-performing district, McCarthy Middle School stands out as a high-achieving institution. The Lowell schools generally have lower proficiency rates, lower rankings, and higher student-teacher ratios, highlighting the relative strengths of McCarthy Middle School. While the school's overall performance is strong, there may be opportunities to further support the academic growth of its Asian and White student populations, whose performance, while still above state averages, is not as exceptional as the school's other subgroups.

808

Students ?

12.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

$17,715

Per pupil spending ?

11.6%

Free/discounted lunch ?

250 North Rd
Chelmsford, MA 01824

(978) 251-5122

District: Chelmsford

Students who attend McCarthy Middle School usually attend:

High:

Chelmsford High

Feeder schools for McCarthy Middle School:

Elementary:	Center Elementary School
	South Row

Racial breakdown:

White:

63.0%

Asian:

20.3%

Hispanic:

7.8%

See top rated Massachusetts middle schools

Compare McCarthy Middle School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 81st percentile in 2015 → 80th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Massachusetts average (54% vs 41% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 20% of Massachusetts middle schools

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school54%

District avg54%

Massachusetts avg41%

97^th of 484

Massachusetts public middle schools ?

Top 20%▼ down 1 pts since 2015

See the entire ranking list of Massachusetts Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

90^th of 348Chelmsford among Massachusetts districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2025	77.8	97 of 484	80.0%	★★★★☆
2024	77.0	103 of 493	79.1%	★★★★☆
2023	76.5	109 of 501	78.2%	★★★★☆
2022	82.7	76 of 497	84.7%	★★★★☆
2021	82.0	76 of 501	84.8%	★★★★☆
2019	85.6	66 of 498	86.7%	★★★★☆
2018	81.4	80 of 484	83.5%	★★★★☆
2017	80.4	83 of 487	83.0%	★★★★☆
2016	72.4	120 of 482	75.1%	★★★★☆
2015	79.6	84 of 441	81.0%	★★★★☆
2014	83.6	62 of 455	86.4%	★★★★☆
2013	79.2	86 of 455	81.1%	★★★★☆
2012	80.4	84 of 455	81.5%	★★★★☆
2011	77.7	94 of 449	79.1%	★★★★☆
2010	79.5	87 of 434	80.0%	★★★★☆
2009	76.2	100 of 409	75.6%	★★★★☆
2008	82.5	73 of 407	82.1%	★★★★☆
2007	73.9	105 of 399	73.7%	★★★★☆
2006	72.8	105 of 399	73.7%	★★★★☆
2005	63.8	129 of 356	63.8%	★★★☆☆
2004	72.9	98 of 344	71.5%	★★★★☆
2003	77.2	82 of 339	75.8%	★★★★☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2025	90.5	8 of 206	96.1%	★★★★★
2024	91.9	5 of 202	97.5%	★★★★★

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2025	67.6	48 of 127	62.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	62.7	58 of 120	51.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	60.8	63 of 134	53.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	71.3	49 of 135	63.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	61.6	58 of 123	52.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	76.0	30 of 128	76.6%	★★★★☆
2018	70.5	39 of 119	67.2%	★★★☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2022	62.4	103 of 445	76.9%	★★★★☆
2021	79.3	50 of 431	88.4%	★★★★☆
2019	74.3	71 of 424	83.3%	★★★★☆
2018	61.7	111 of 417	73.4%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2025	75.1	107 of 473	77.4%	★★★★☆
2024	70.0	131 of 481	72.8%	★★★★☆
2023	71.4	127 of 489	74.0%	★★★★☆
2022	77.0	97 of 494	80.4%	★★★★☆
2021	79.2	87 of 483	82.0%	★★★★☆
2019	84.6	57 of 478	88.1%	★★★★☆
2018	81.3	77 of 463	83.4%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2025	68.0	89 of 376	76.3%	★★★★☆
2024	76.7	65 of 378	82.8%	★★★★☆
2023	64.6	95 of 364	73.9%	★★★★☆
2022	72.3	69 of 368	81.3%	★★★★☆
2019	88.2	24 of 322	92.5%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2025	67.0	114 of 464	75.4%	★★★★☆
2024	64.3	136 of 469	71.0%	★★★★☆
2023	75.5	78 of 481	83.8%	★★★★☆
2022	62.5	136 of 489	72.2%	★★★★☆
2021	52.7	189 of 462	59.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	86.1	36 of 452	92.0%	★★★★★
2018	80.8	48 of 438	89.0%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2025	78.0	93 of 473	80.3%	★★★★☆
2024	81.0	82 of 483	83.0%	★★★★☆
2023	78.7	94 of 489	80.8%	★★★★☆
2022	85.7	66 of 497	86.7%	★★★★☆
2021	82.8	72 of 485	85.2%	★★★★☆
2019	84.0	73 of 478	84.7%	★★★★☆
2018	78.7	94 of 466	79.8%	★★★★☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2025	65.6	42 of 116	63.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	77.1	23 of 98	76.5%	★★★★☆
2023	80.6	22 of 110	80.0%	★★★★☆
2021	52.3	39 of 92	57.6%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2025	66.6	100 of 435	77.0%	★★★★☆
2024	55.6	137 of 441	68.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	63.9	100 of 444	77.5%	★★★★☆
2022	73.2	75 of 503	85.1%	★★★★☆
2021	75.6	65 of 489	86.7%	★★★★☆
2019	76.7	62 of 484	87.2%	★★★★☆
2018	66.4	106 of 467	77.3%	★★★★☆

Tested In Person

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2021	81.0	80 of 491	83.7%	★★★★☆

Tested Remotely

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2021	85.6	47 of 339	86.1%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2025	53.0	156 of 386	59.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	52.7	169 of 392	56.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	54.7	163 of 403	59.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	66.1	110 of 404	72.8%	★★★★☆
2021	72.6	84 of 401	79.1%	★★★★☆
2019	75.1	85 of 396	78.5%	★★★★☆
2018	67.2	111 of 395	71.9%	★★★★☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

African American (2025)96th percentile+16 vs school

Tested Remotely (2021)86th percentile~ school

Tested In Person (2021)84th percentile~ school

Male (2025)80th percentile~ school

Female (2025)77th percentile-3 vs school

Special Education (2025)77th percentile-3 vs school

Disabled (2022)77th percentile-8 vs school

Hispanic (2025)76th percentile-4 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)75th percentile-5 vs school

Multi-racial (2025)64th percentile-16 vs school

Asian (2025)62nd percentile-18 vs school

White (2025)60th percentile-20 vs school

By subject vs Massachusetts (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts60%+18 vs state

Science56%+14 vs state

Civics50%+11 vs state

Mathematics49%+8 vs state

★

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Schools Near McCarthy Middle School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				MCAS Next Generation English Language Arts (2025)					MCAS Next Generation Mathematics (2025)					MCAS Next Generation Science (2025)			MCAS Next Generation Civics (2025)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
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 (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	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 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	MCAS Next Generation Civics 8th Grade	Total
McCarthy Middle School	Public	7-8	250 North Rd	Chelmsford	01824	Middlesex County	Chelmsford	No	No	No	Yes	(978) 251-5122	808	65	12.4		509 (63.0%)	36 (4.5%)	63 (7.8%)	164 (20.3%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	34 (4.2%)	77.8	97^th of 484 public middle schools	80.0%		77	103^rd of 493 public middle schools	79.1%	6			55.9	63.6	59.7			56.1	40.9	48.6		55.9	55.9	49.9	$17,715
Col Moses Parker School	Public	5-6	75 Graniteville Rd	Chelmsford	01824	Middlesex County	Chelmsford	No	No	No	Yes	(978) 251-5133	778	62	12.5		508 (65.3%)	24 (3.1%)	69 (8.9%)	147 (18.9%)	3 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (3.3%)								(n/a)	57.2	59.1			58.2	47.5	59.0			53.3	65.0		65.0		$17,394
James S Daley Middle School	Public	5-8	150 Fleming Street	Lowell	01851	Middlesex County	Lowell	No	No	No	Yes	(978) 937-8981	669	51	13.2		137 (20.5%)	38 (5.7%)	132 (19.7%)	337 (50.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (3.7%)	66.3	147^th of 484 public middle schools	69.6%		60.5	175^th of 493 public middle schools	64.5%	28	34.8	51.5	52.4	48.4	46.9	56.1	58.2	53.7	39.0	51.9	34.4	30.1	32.3	40.5	$21,507
Dr An Wang School	Public	5-8	365 West Meadow Road	Lowell	01854	Middlesex County	Lowell	No	No	No	Yes	(978) 937-7683	663	43	15.3		175 (26.4%)	47 (7.1%)	270 (40.7%)	141 (21.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	29 (4.4%)	33.2	307^th of 484 public middle schools	36.6%		26.4	356^th of 493 public middle schools	27.8%	49	13.6	27.9	24.0	38.7	26.0	20.8	28.7	19.3	33.3	25.6	17.5	24.2	20.8	32.7	$20,690
Laura Lee Therapeutic Day School	Public	5-8	235 Powell Street	Lowell	01851	Middlesex County	Lowell	No	No	No	Yes	(978) 937-7655	15	6	2.7		5 (33.3%)	1 (6.7%)	7 (46.7%)	1 (6.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (6.7%)								(n/a)					0.0					8.3					$61,065
Kathryn P. Stoklosa Middle School	Public	5-8	560 Broadway Street	Lowell	01854	Middlesex County	Lowell	No	No	No	Yes	(978) 275-6330	613	48	12.7		73 (11.9%)	38 (6.2%)	226 (36.9%)	259 (42.3%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (2.4%)	38.2	281^st of 484 public middle schools	41.9%		36.6	293^rd of 493 public middle schools	40.6%	12	27.7	22.3	30.9	42.0	30.9	38.2	32.2	42.3	42.4	38.7	33.9	14.8	23.6	22.8	$21,519
B.F. Butler Middle School	Public	5-8	1140 Gorham Street	Lowell	01852	Middlesex County	Lowell	No	No	No	Yes	(978) 937-8973	516	39	13.1		94 (18.2%)	35 (6.8%)	213 (41.3%)	154 (29.8%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (3.7%)	33.5	304^th of 484 public middle schools	37.2%		29.9	330^th of 493 public middle schools	33.1%	26	17.8	24.2	29.1	33.9	26.2	18.0	32.3	26.5	42.2	29.9	19.1	22.3	20.8	19.5	$21,153
Justus C. Richardson Middle School	Public	6-8	1570 Lakeview Ave	Dracut	01826	Middlesex County	Dracut	No	No	No	Yes	(978) 957-3330	916	63	14.5		581 (63.4%)	65 (7.1%)	144 (15.7%)	110 (12.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (1.7%)	51.6	208^th of 484 public middle schools	57.0%		45.2	246^th of 493 public middle schools	50.1%	38		44.9	45.6	40.2	43.7		46.4	34.7	30.8	37.4		25.7	25.7	38.0	$14,649
Henry J Robinson Middle	Public	5-8	110 June Street	Lowell	01850	Middlesex County	Lowell	No	No	No	Yes	(978) 937-8974	600	53	11.4		120 (20.0%)	67 (11.2%)	326 (54.3%)	62 (10.3%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (3.8%)	20.8	385^th of 484 public middle schools	20.5%		17.8	407^th of 493 public middle schools	17.4%	22	13.5	22.8	22.1	18.8	19.5	8.7	16.9	24.6	23.0	18.4	12.8	15.3	14.1	21.3	$21,307
James Sullivan Middle School	Public	5-8	150 Draper Street	Lowell	01852	Middlesex County	Lowell	No	No	No	Yes	(978) 937-8993	625	50	12.4		189 (30.2%)	34 (5.4%)	309 (49.4%)	72 (11.5%)	3 (0.5%)	1 (0.2%)	17 (2.7%)	25.8	352^nd of 484 public middle schools	27.3%		20.2	389^th of 493 public middle schools	21.1%	37	11.8	22.3	17.7	31.8	21.2	17.4	18.1	22.1	31.3	22.3	23.2	20.0	21.5	27.2	$21,916

Frequently Asked Questions about McCarthy Middle School

What is the racial makeup of McCarthy Middle School?

Students at McCarthy Middle School are 63% White, 20% Asian, 8% Hispanic, 4% African American, 4% Two or more races.

What district is McCarthy Middle School in?

Chelmsford

What high school do graduates of McCarthy Middle School attend?

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

How many students attend McCarthy Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 808 students attended McCarthy Middle School.

Is McCarthy Middle School a good school?

McCarthy Middle School ranks 97^th of 484 Massachusetts middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Rate 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.