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Center School

Q: Is Center School a good school?

Center School ranks 220 th of 899 Massachusetts elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

220^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 899 Massachusetts Elementary Schools

Better than 76% of Massachusetts elementary schools

Summary

Center School is a PK–5 elementary school serving 485 students in Stow, MA, part of the Nashoba district. It currently ranks 220th of 899 Massachusetts elementary schools (76th percentile, 4 stars) — a solid, above-average school that has cooled from its near-top-tier standing a few years ago. It ranked 57th of 932 in 2021–2022 (94th percentile, 5 stars), slipped to 235th by 2024–2025, then rebounded slightly this year. The Nashoba district ranks 69th of 351 statewide.

On 2025–2026 MCAS, Center's all-grade proficiency was 54.94% in ELA, 58.87% in Math, and 50.68% in Science — all well above the state's 40.03%, 41.11%, and 40.98%. The school is essentially at district level in ELA and Math but roughly 8 percentage points below the district in Science, its clearest weakness, down from 69.32% in 2023–2024. Among nearby schools, Center trails Paul P Gates Elementary School, Luther Conant School, and Blanchard Memorial School, but leads McCarthy-Towne School and Merriam School, is close to C.T. Douglas Elementary School, and is well ahead of Forest Avenue Elementary, Mulready Elementary, and C A Farley. Grades 3 and 4 are strengths (4th-grade Math 67.44% vs. district 61.24%), while 5th grade falls below district averages in ELA, Math, and Science.

Subgroup results are a notable strength: Special Education students rank 86th of 709 (88th percentile) and Low Socio Economic Status students 101st of 742 (86th percentile), both above the school's overall 76th percentile. Center is the largest school in its comparison group at 485 students; per-student spending was $19,183 in 2020–2021, higher than the nearby Acton-Boxborough schools, and the student-teacher ratio rose to 12.6 in 2024–2025 from 11.5 in 2022–2023. Note that free/reduced lunch data were unavailable, spending figures end in 2020–2021, and nearby schools serve different grade spans, so comparisons are not perfectly equivalent.

485

Students ?

12.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$22,120

Per pupil spending ?

10.3%

Directly certified for free meals (2024-25) ?

All students in Massachusetts receive free school meals.

95%

Kindergartners with all required immunizations (2025-26)

Exemptions: 5% (any vaccine)

403 Great Rd
Stow, MA 01775

(978) 897-0290

District: Nashoba

Students who attend Center School usually attend:

Middle:	Hale
High:	Nashoba Regional

Racial breakdown:

White:

79.2%

Hispanic:

8.2%

Two or more races:

6.2%

See top rated Massachusetts elementary schools

Compare Center School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 90th percentile in 2016 → 76th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Massachusetts average (56% vs 41% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 24% of Massachusetts elementary schools

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 14 percentile points since 2016

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school56%

District avg57%

Massachusetts avg41%

220^th of 899

Massachusetts public elementary schools ?

Top 24%▼ down 14 pts since 2016

From top 10% (2016) to top 24% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Massachusetts Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

2^nd of 3Elementary Schools in the Nashoba

69^th of 351Nashoba 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	75.5	220 of 899	75.5%	★★★★☆
2025	74.1	235 of 906	74.1%	★★★★☆
2024	82.7	149 of 916	83.7%	★★★★☆
2023	87.1	111 of 928	88.0%	★★★★☆
2022	91.8	57 of 932	93.9%	★★★★★
2021	88.6	95 of 936	89.9%	★★★★☆
2019	89.7	66 of 942	93.0%	★★★★★
2018	89.5	61 of 934	93.5%	★★★★★
2017	90.9	43 of 938	95.4%	★★★★★
2016	86.4	95 of 932	89.8%	★★★★☆
2015	85.6	94 of 914	89.7%	★★★★☆
2014	80.0	166 of 926	82.1%	★★★★☆
2013	77.5	201 of 928	78.3%	★★★★☆
2012	83.4	128 of 930	86.2%	★★★★☆
2011	85.5	105 of 924	88.6%	★★★★☆
2010	84.7	114 of 920	87.6%	★★★★☆
2009	80.0	169 of 909	81.4%	★★★★☆
2008	81.6	145 of 908	84.0%	★★★★☆
2007	83.2	129 of 911	85.8%	★★★★☆
2006	88.0	78 of 911	91.4%	★★★★★
2005	73.9	252 of 887	71.6%	★★★★☆
2004	88.8	60 of 882	93.2%	★★★★★
2003	90.1	41 of 884	95.4%	★★★★★

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2018	87.3	5 of 154	96.8%	★★★★★

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2022	79.9	76 of 672	88.7%	★★★★☆
2021	72.4	130 of 632	79.4%	★★★★☆
2019	78.5	98 of 665	85.3%	★★★★☆
2018	79.5	87 of 656	86.7%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2026	74.7	211 of 869	75.7%	★★★★☆
2025	71.9	239 of 869	72.5%	★★★★☆
2024	79.8	171 of 886	80.7%	★★★★☆
2023	88.1	85 of 887	90.4%	★★★★★
2022	92.4	35 of 901	96.1%	★★★★★
2021	86.1	113 of 898	87.4%	★★★★☆
2019	89.4	55 of 902	93.9%	★★★★★
2018	88.7	59 of 893	93.4%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2026	75.7	101 of 742	86.4%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2026	72.6	233 of 879	73.5%	★★★★☆
2025	73.6	231 of 884	73.9%	★★★★☆
2024	82.4	135 of 891	84.8%	★★★★☆
2023	80.4	160 of 896	82.1%	★★★★☆
2022	88.1	85 of 908	90.6%	★★★★★
2021	87.5	92 of 904	89.8%	★★★★☆
2019	86.5	93 of 907	89.7%	★★★★☆
2018	88.8	61 of 898	93.2%	★★★★★

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2026	79.4	86 of 709	87.9%	★★★★☆
2025	67.8	153 of 717	78.7%	★★★★☆
2024	83.6	74 of 731	89.9%	★★★★★
2023	78.7	97 of 703	86.2%	★★★★☆
2022	81.4	104 of 905	88.5%	★★★★☆
2021	65.7	219 of 894	75.5%	★★★★☆
2019	63.2	257 of 896	71.3%	★★★★☆
2018	69.9	187 of 886	78.9%	★★★★☆

Tested In Person

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2021	87.7	95 of 925	89.7%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2026	61.4	273 of 734	62.8%	★★★☆☆
2025	57.1	326 of 737	55.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	72.2	187 of 753	75.2%	★★★★☆
2023	79.6	128 of 762	83.2%	★★★★☆
2022	87.5	55 of 764	92.8%	★★★★★
2021	84.5	80 of 765	89.5%	★★★★☆
2019	86.2	57 of 780	92.7%	★★★★★
2018	85.1	66 of 772	91.5%	★★★★★

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)

Asian (2018)97th percentile+3 vs school

Tested In Person (2021)90th percentile~ school

Disabled (2022)89th percentile-5 vs school

Special Education (2026)88th percentile+12 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)86th percentile+11 vs school

Female (2026)76th percentile~ school

Male (2026)73rd percentile~ school

White (2026)63rd percentile-13 vs school

By subject vs Massachusetts (2025-2026) ?

Mathematics59%+18 vs state

English Language Arts55%+15 vs state

Science51%+10 vs state

★

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Schools Near Center School

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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 Vaccination 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)		Vaccination (2025-26)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
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	Directly certified (2024-25)	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 6th 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 6th Grade	MCAS Next Generation Mathematics All Grades	MCAS Next Generation Science 5th Grade	MCAS Next Generation Science All Grades	Vaccination: Kindergartners with all required immunizations	Vaccination: Exemption rate	Total
Center School	Public	PK, KG-5	403 Great Rd	Stow	01775	Middlesex County	Nashoba	No	No	No	No	(978) 897-0290	485	38	12.6	10.3%	384 (79.2%)	7 (1.4%)	40 (8.2%)	24 (4.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	30 (6.2%)	75.5	220^th of 899 public elementary schools	75.5%		74.1	235^th of 906 public elementary schools	74.1%	15	56.9	62.1	44.6		54.9	63.4	67.4	44.6		58.9	50.7	50.7	95%	5%	$22,120
Green Meadow	Public	PK, KG-3	5 Tiger Drive	Maynard	01754	Middlesex County	Maynard	No	No	No	Yes	(978) 897-8246	456	38	11.9	23.9%	322 (70.6%)	20 (4.4%)	70 (15.4%)	12 (2.6%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	30 (6.6%)								(n/a)	32.2				32.2	29.6				29.6			91%	0%	$23,909
Blanchard Memorial School	Public	K-6	493 Massachusetts Avenue	Boxborough	01719	Middlesex County	Acton-Boxborough	No	No	No	No	(978) 263-4569	469	40	11.8	12.4%	235 (50.1%)	12 (2.6%)	44 (9.4%)	142 (30.3%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	33 (7.0%)	88.8	90^th of 899 public elementary schools	90.0%		87.5	102^nd of 906 public elementary schools	88.7%	12	63.9	65.1	62.5	56.1	61.9	59.0	73.0	72.5	80.6	71.6	66.3	66.3	96%	2%	$22,036
Mulready Elementary	Public	PK, KG-4	306 Cox Street	Hudson	01749	Middlesex County	Hudson	No	No	No	No	(978) 567-6170	249	28	8.8	36.1%	174 (69.9%)	8 (3.2%)	60 (24.1%)	2 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (2.0%)	51.5	442^nd of 899 public elementary schools	50.8%		68.5	295^th of 906 public elementary schools	67.4%	147	28.6	55.3			41.3	29.3	63.2			45.6					$27,214
C.T. Douglas Elementary School	Public	K-6	73 Spruce Street	Acton	01720	Middlesex County	Acton-Boxborough	No	No	No	No	(978) 266-2560	408	30	13.8	14.5%	256 (62.7%)	7 (1.7%)	49 (12.0%)	58 (14.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	38 (9.3%)	72.3	245^th of 899 public elementary schools	72.7%		69.1	290^th of 906 public elementary schools	68.0%	45	46.9	42.4	54.1	78.3	55.8	43.8	47.0	56.5	82.6	57.9	54.8	54.8	98%	0%	$19,696
Paul P Gates Elementary School	Public	K-6	75 Spruce Street	Acton	01720	Middlesex County	Acton-Boxborough	No	No	No	Yes	(978) 266-2570	380	30	12.6	12.4%	109 (28.7%)	10 (2.6%)	24 (6.3%)	209 (55.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (7.4%)	96.6	8^th of 899 public elementary schools	99.1%		97	3^rd of 906 public elementary schools	99.7%	5	78.8	67.2	92.5	79.1	77.9	74.2	78.1	82.5	86.4	79.4	97.5	97.5	98%	0%	$21,064
Forest Avenue Elementary	Public	PK, KG-4	136 Forest Avenue	Hudson	01749	Middlesex County	Hudson	No	No	No	No	(978) 567-6190	269	27	9.8	28.3%	195 (72.5%)	8 (3.0%)	55 (20.4%)	3 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (3.0%)	54.9	404^th of 899 public elementary schools	55.1%		60.1	359^th of 906 public elementary schools	60.4%	45	50.8	32.1			42.1	44.3	50.9			47.4			97%	2%	$23,776
McCarthy-Towne School	Public	K-6	11 Charter Road	Acton	01720	Middlesex County	Acton-Boxborough	No	No	No	Yes	(978) 264-3377	431	35	12.3	18.3%	286 (66.4%)	18 (4.2%)	62 (14.4%)	40 (9.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (5.8%)	66.8	293^rd of 899 public elementary schools	67.4%		72.3	256^th of 906 public elementary schools	71.7%	37	52.3	47.8	38.6	54.8	48.7	47.7	55.6	41.1	58.7	50.7	54.4	54.4	100%	0%	$21,405
Merriam School	Public	K-6	11 Charter Road	Acton	01720	Middlesex County	Acton-Boxborough	No	No	No	No	(978) 264-3371	395	30	13.1	12.2%	254 (64.3%)	16 (4.1%)	30 (7.6%)	65 (16.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (7.3%)	61.6	342^nd of 899 public elementary schools	62.0%		79.5	188^th of 906 public elementary schools	79.2%	154	35.7	35.4	46.4	69.4	47.6	23.8	38.5	57.9	64.1	47.8	56.1	56.1	97%	0%	$20,263
C A Farley	Public	PK, KG-4	119 Cottage Street	Hudson	01749	Middlesex County	Hudson	No	No	No	Yes	(978) 567-6153	474	45	10.5	43.0%	291 (61.4%)	17 (3.6%)	149 (31.4%)	4 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (2.7%)	16.8	765^th of 899 public elementary schools	14.9%		39	558^th of 906 public elementary schools	38.4%	207	18.3	24.2			21.6	15.5	28.6			22.8			100%	0%	$22,935

Frequently Asked Questions about Center School

How many students attend Center School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 485 students attended Center School.

What district is Center School in?

Nashoba

What schools do graduates of Center School attend?

Students who attend Center School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Hale
High : Nashoba Regional

Is Center School a good school?

Center School ranks 220^th of 899 Massachusetts elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Center School?

Students at Center School are 79% White, 8% Hispanic, 6% Two or more races, 5% Asian, 1% African American.

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Schools in Stow, MA

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Latest Massachusetts data All new data »

2024–25 school spending dataNewNov 1, 2026

2020–21 through 2023–24 school spending data (updated)NewNov 1, 2026

2023–24 through 2024–25 teacher salary dataNewNov 1, 2026

2020–21 through 2022–23 teacher salary data (updated)NewNov 1, 2026

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.