Dr Paul Nettle

Dr Paul Nettle Middle School is a grades 5–8 school at 150 Boardman Street in Haverhill, Massachusetts, serving 503 students as one of three middle schools in the Haverhill district, which itself ranks in the lower tier of Massachusetts districts.

For 2025–2026, Nettle ranked 395th of 478 Massachusetts middle schools — the 17th percentile, or 1 star — and it has never earned above 2 stars in the history provided. Math is the clearest weakness: all-grades math proficiency was 16.56%, compared with 29.27% across the Haverhill district and 41.11% statewide. The gap widens by grade, from 21.05% in 5th grade to just 12.80% in 8th grade, where the district average is 29.78%. Nettle trails its two Haverhill peers, John G Whittier and Consentino Middle School, in all three subjects, but its math deficit (roughly 9 points) is nearly triple its ELA deficit, so the school is not struggling uniformly.

Science is the relative bright spot at 25.94%, only marginally behind the district, and 5th-grade ELA and science are the only grade/subject results that slightly exceed the district average. English Language Learners are the highest-performing subgroup, at the 42nd percentile statewide — well above the school's overall 17th percentile. The student/teacher ratio of 11.4 is better than most nearby schools, including John G Whittier, Consentino Middle School, and North Andover Middle, though the latter spends less per student while posting much higher proficiency. Nettle does outperform several Lawrence schools, including Henry K. Oliver Middle School, Arlington Middle School, and Francis M Leahy Middle.