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Joseph Demello

Q: Is Joseph Demello a good school?

Joseph Demello ranks 252 nd of 899 Massachusetts elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Q: How many students attend Joseph Demello?

In the 2024-25 school year, 392 students attended Joseph Demello.

Q: What is the racial makeup of Joseph Demello?

Students at Joseph Demello are 80% White, 9% Hispanic, 7% Two or more races, 2% African American, 1% Asian.

Q: What schools do graduates of Joseph Demello attend?

Students who attend Joseph Demello usually go on to attend: Middle : Dartmouth Middle High : Dartmouth High

Public Grades K-5

252^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 899 Massachusetts Elementary Schools

Better than 72% of Massachusetts elementary schools

Summary

Joseph Demello is a K–5 elementary school in South Dartmouth, MA, part of the Dartmouth Public Schools district, serving 392 students in a coastal area near New Bedford. In 2025–2026, it ranked 252 of 899 Massachusetts elementary schools, placing it in the 72nd percentile with 4 stars; the Dartmouth district overall ranked 153 of 351 districts (56th percentile, 3 stars). That means Joseph Demello is performing above its district’s average statewide standing. The school has been a 4-star school for four consecutive reported years, from 2022–2023 through 2025–2026, after reaching only the 51st percentile in 2017–2018.

In 2025–2026, Joseph Demello’s proficiency rates were above both the district and state averages in all three tested subjects: English language arts 50.53%, mathematics 57.89%, and science 47.54%. Mathematics is the clearest strength: 3rd grade math was 63.79% and 4th grade math was 67.14%, while 5th grade math was 41.94%, much closer to the state average. Compared with the nearest same-district school, James M. Quinn School, Demello outperformed in every 2025–2026 grade/subject comparison, including an all-grade math gap of +20.90 points and a 3rd grade math gap of nearly 43 points (63.79% vs. 20.80%). Among nearby New Bedford schools, most are much lower-performing, though William H Taylor is a close peer in all-grade ELA and math, and James B Congdon is stronger in science and 5th grade. Demello remains the highest-ranked nearby school by percentile.

Subgroup results show notable effectiveness: low socio-economic status students ranked 9 of 742, in the 99th percentile with 5 stars in 2025–2026, up from the 85th percentile in 2024–2025. Special education students ranked in the 86th percentile. Parents should note a few relative watch points: 5th grade math is closer to the state average, and science fell from 64.29% in 2024–2025 to 47.54% in 2025–2026, though it remains above district and state averages. The school also had the highest student–teacher ratio (14.7) among the nearby schools and comparatively low per-student spending ($14,984 in 2020–2021), yet posted strong outcomes; the data do not establish causation, and economic composition could not be fully analyzed from the available free/reduced-lunch field.

392

Students ?

14.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

$19,041

Per pupil spending ?

23.6%

Free/discounted lunch ?

654 Dartmouth Street
South Dartmouth, MA 02748

(508) 996-6750

District: Dartmouth

Students who attend Joseph Demello usually attend:

Middle:	Dartmouth Middle
High:	Dartmouth High

Racial breakdown:

White:

80.4%

Hispanic:

8.9%

Two or more races:

6.9%

See top rated Massachusetts elementary schools

Compare Joseph Demello to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 82nd percentile in 2016 → 72nd in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Massachusetts average (53% vs 41% meeting standards)

✓Above the Massachusetts median (72nd percentile)

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 10 percentile points since 2016

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school53%

District avg47%

Massachusetts avg41%

252^nd of 899

Massachusetts public elementary schools ?

Top 28%▼ down 10 pts since 2016

From top 18% (2016) to top 28% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Massachusetts Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 3Elementary Schools in the Dartmouth

153^rd of 351Dartmouth 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
2026	71.5	252 of 899	72.0%	★★★★☆
2025	74.0	238 of 906	73.7%	★★★★☆
2024	70.3	276 of 916	69.9%	★★★★☆
2023	70.8	279 of 928	69.9%	★★★★☆
2022	55.3	430 of 932	53.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	68.5	291 of 936	68.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	60.2	382 of 942	59.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	54.9	457 of 934	51.1%	★★★☆☆
2017	67.4	302 of 938	67.8%	★★★☆☆
2016	80.2	165 of 932	82.3%	★★★★☆
2015	87.0	74 of 914	91.9%	★★★★★
2014	78.0	186 of 926	79.9%	★★★★☆
2013	72.9	264 of 928	71.6%	★★★★☆
2012	67.2	342 of 930	63.2%	★★★☆☆
2011	71.7	287 of 924	68.9%	★★★☆☆
2010	57.6	417 of 920	54.7%	★★★☆☆
2009	52.7	476 of 909	47.6%	★★☆☆☆
2008	45.6	548 of 908	39.6%	★★☆☆☆
2007	44.6	565 of 911	38.0%	★★☆☆☆
2006	51.4	478 of 911	47.5%	★★☆☆☆
2005	48.5	491 of 887	44.6%	★★☆☆☆
2004	50.7	477 of 882	45.9%	★★☆☆☆
2003	45.4	524 of 884	40.7%	★★☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2022	76.0	100 of 672	85.1%	★★★★☆
2021	76.7	97 of 632	84.7%	★★★★☆
2019	62.3	191 of 665	71.3%	★★★★☆
2018	52.1	255 of 656	61.1%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2026	74.5	213 of 869	75.5%	★★★★☆
2025	71.8	241 of 869	72.3%	★★★★☆
2024	74.1	226 of 886	74.5%	★★★★☆
2023	72.8	241 of 887	72.8%	★★★★☆
2022	60.5	354 of 901	60.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	71.4	245 of 898	72.7%	★★★★☆
2019	61.3	355 of 902	60.6%	★★★☆☆
2018	59.2	382 of 893	57.2%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2026	95.9	9 of 742	98.8%	★★★★★
2025	74.1	110 of 736	85.1%	★★★★☆
2024	72.7	129 of 760	83.0%	★★★★☆
2023	79.6	77 of 757	89.8%	★★★★☆
2022	70.1	167 of 772	78.4%	★★★★☆
2021	80.7	57 of 705	91.9%	★★★★★
2019	58.8	249 of 700	64.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	45.5	377 of 685	45.0%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2026	64.4	301 of 879	65.8%	★★★☆☆
2025	72.7	243 of 884	72.5%	★★★★☆
2024	63.8	311 of 891	65.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	66.3	304 of 896	66.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	49.6	463 of 908	49.0%	★★☆☆☆
2021	63.8	330 of 904	63.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	55.4	416 of 907	54.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	49.3	476 of 898	47.0%	★★☆☆☆

Military Connected

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2022	39.9	3 of 3	0.0%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2026	76.5	99 of 709	86.0%	★★★★☆
2025	79.2	90 of 717	87.4%	★★★★☆
2024	66.8	175 of 731	76.1%	★★★★☆
2023	67.6	170 of 703	75.8%	★★★★☆
2022	65.2	245 of 905	72.9%	★★★★☆
2021	73.0	161 of 894	82.0%	★★★★☆
2019	49.3	447 of 896	50.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	33.6	652 of 886	26.4%	★☆☆☆☆

Tested In Person

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2021	66.6	316 of 925	65.8%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2026	58.0	307 of 734	58.2%	★★★☆☆
2025	61.4	282 of 737	61.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	56.0	333 of 753	55.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	55.3	337 of 762	55.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	40.5	485 of 764	36.5%	★★☆☆☆
2021	54.6	336 of 765	56.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	46.8	447 of 780	42.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	45.5	466 of 772	39.6%	★★☆☆☆

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)

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)99th percentile+27 vs school

Special Education (2026)86th percentile+14 vs school

Disabled (2022)85th percentile+31 vs school

Female (2026)75th percentile+4 vs school

Tested In Person (2021)66th percentile-3 vs school

Male (2026)66th percentile-6 vs school

White (2026)58th percentile-14 vs school

Military Connected (2022)<1st percentile-54 vs school

By subject vs Massachusetts (2025-2026) ?

Mathematics58%+17 vs state

English Language Arts51%+10 vs state

Science48%+7 vs state

★

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Schools Near Joseph Demello

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				MCAS Next Generation English Language Arts (2026)				MCAS Next Generation Mathematics (2026)				MCAS Next Generation Science (2026)		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 (2015)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	MCAS Next Generation English Language Arts 3rd Grade	MCAS Next Generation English Language Arts 4th Grade	MCAS Next Generation English Language Arts 5th Grade	MCAS Next Generation English Language Arts All Grades	MCAS Next Generation Mathematics 3rd Grade	MCAS Next Generation Mathematics 4th Grade	MCAS Next Generation Mathematics 5th Grade	MCAS Next Generation Mathematics All Grades	MCAS Next Generation Science 5th Grade	MCAS Next Generation Science All Grades	Total
Joseph Demello	Public	K-5	654 Dartmouth Street	South Dartmouth	02748	Bristol County	Dartmouth	No	No	No	Yes	(508) 996-6750	392	27	14.7	23.6%	315 (80.4%)	9 (2.3%)	35 (8.9%)	4 (1.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (6.9%)	71.5	252^nd of 899 public elementary schools	72.0%		74	238^th of 906 public elementary schools	73.7%	14	53.5	50.0	48.4	50.5	63.8	67.1	41.9	57.9	47.5	47.5	$19,041
John B Devalles	Public	K-5	120 Katherine Street	New Bedford	02744	Bristol County	New Bedford	No	No	No	Yes	(508) 997-4511	292	26	11.2	100.0%	69 (23.6%)	51 (17.5%)	153 (52.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (6.5%)	6.1	873^rd of 899 public elementary schools	2.9%		10.2	848^th of 906 public elementary schools	6.4%	25	16.0	10.6	10.0	12.4	12.0	8.5	2.5	8.0	12.5	12.5	$22,959
James B Congdon	Public	K-5	50 Hemlock Street	New Bedford	02740	Bristol County	New Bedford	No	No	No	Yes	(508) 997-4511	299	28	10.6	100.0%	102 (34.1%)	61 (20.4%)	115 (38.5%)	1 (0.3%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (6.0%)	53.5	418^th of 899 public elementary schools	53.5%		46.7	486^th of 906 public elementary schools	46.4%	68	34.0	29.0	46.9	37.2	34.7	30.6	85.7	52.2	57.1	57.1	$22,328
Irwin M. Jacobs Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	47 Emery Street	New Bedford	02744	Bristol County	New Bedford	No	No	No	Yes	(508) 997-4511	388	34	11.5	100.0%	94 (24.2%)	36 (9.3%)	235 (60.6%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (5.2%)	4.6	892^nd of 899 public elementary schools	0.8%		6.3	881^st of 906 public elementary schools	2.8%	11	11.7	6.7	3.6	7.4	13.3	5.0	5.4	8.0	5.4	5.4	$23,607
Betsey B Winslow	Public	K-5	561 Allen Street	New Bedford	02740	Bristol County	New Bedford	No	No	No	Yes	(508) 997-4511	227	18	12.9	100.0%	131 (57.7%)	25 (11.0%)	45 (19.8%)	4 (1.8%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (8.8%)	31.1	618^th of 899 public elementary schools	31.3%		21	724^th of 906 public elementary schools	20.1%	106	55.0	32.5	19.4	36.9	27.5	37.5	12.9	27.0	9.7	9.7	$21,164
Alfred J Gomes	Public	PK, KG-5	286 S Second Street	New Bedford	02740	Bristol County	New Bedford	No	No	No	Yes	(508) 997-4511	623	58	10.7	100.0%	64 (10.3%)	94 (15.1%)	445 (71.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (3.0%)	5.6	878^th of 899 public elementary schools	2.3%		12.3	821^st of 906 public elementary schools	9.4%	57	6.6	5.5	13.7	8.2	5.6	7.7	13.7	8.7	11.0	11.0	$23,370
William H Taylor	Public	PK, KG-5	71 Portland Street	New Bedford	02744	Bristol County	New Bedford	No	No	No	Yes	(508) 997-4511	267	21	12.5	100.0%	138 (51.7%)	25 (9.4%)	72 (27.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	32 (12.0%)	67.6	287^th of 899 public elementary schools	68.1%		61.9	349^th of 906 public elementary schools	61.5%	62	67.7	34.9	51.4	50.0	85.3	44.2	48.6	58.0	48.6	48.6	$23,559
James M. Quinn School	Public	K-5	529 Hawthorn Street	Dartmouth	02747	Bristol County	Dartmouth	No	No	No	Yes	(508) 997-3178	703	56	12.5	28.1%	578 (82.2%)	8 (1.1%)	55 (7.8%)	16 (2.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	46 (6.5%)	44.5	497^th of 899 public elementary schools	44.7%		61.7	352^nd of 906 public elementary schools	61.1%	145	31.8	37.9	44.0	37.7	20.8	53.2	37.1	37.0	42.6	42.6	$16,312
Ellen R Hathaway	Public	K-5	256 Court Street	New Bedford	02740	Bristol County	New Bedford	No	No	No	Yes	(508) 997-4511	201	21	9.5	100.0%	63 (31.3%)	39 (19.4%)	89 (44.3%)	3 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (3.5%)	23.3	697^th of 899 public elementary schools	22.5%		15.7	782^nd of 906 public elementary schools	13.7%	85	24.1	28.6	22.2	25.3	17.2	31.4	25.9	25.3	33.3	33.3	$23,836
Sgt Wm H Carney Academy	Public	K-5	247 Elm Street	New Bedford	02740	Bristol County	New Bedford	No	No	No	Yes	(508) 997-4511	618	50	12.3	100.0%	175 (28.3%)	125 (20.2%)	255 (41.3%)	8 (1.3%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	54 (8.7%)	9	852^nd of 899 public elementary schools	5.2%		11.4	834^th of 906 public elementary schools	7.9%	18	15.5	12.0	18.7	14.9	14.6	13.9	9.5	13.0	18.9	18.9	$23,258

Frequently Asked Questions about Joseph Demello

What is the racial makeup of Joseph Demello?

Students at Joseph Demello are 80% White, 9% Hispanic, 7% Two or more races, 2% African American, 1% Asian.

What district is Joseph Demello in?

Dartmouth

What schools do graduates of Joseph Demello attend?

Students who attend Joseph Demello usually go on to attend:

Middle : Dartmouth Middle
High : Dartmouth High

Is Joseph Demello a good school?

Joseph Demello ranks 252^nd of 899 Massachusetts elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Joseph Demello?

In the 2024-25 school year, 392 students attended Joseph Demello.

Rate Joseph Demello!

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Latest Massachusetts data All new data »

2024–25 dropout rates & graduation ratesMar 5, 2026

2024–25 MCAS Next Generation test scoresSep 29, 2025

2023–24 school spending dataMay 8, 2025

2023–24 dropout rates & graduation ratesMay 1, 2025

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.