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Peirce

Q: Is Peirce a good school?

Peirce ranks 130 th of 899 Massachusetts elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-5

130^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 899 Massachusetts Elementary Schools

Better than 86% of Massachusetts elementary schools

Summary

Peirce Elementary is a K–5 school in West Newton, Massachusetts, serving 249 students as part of the Newton Public Schools district — one of the highest-ranked districts in the state (30th of 351, 91st percentile, 5 stars).

Peirce has a long record of strong results, though the newest data show a relative dip. In 2025–2026 it ranked 130th of 899 elementary schools (86th percentile, 4 stars), down from 20th of 932 (98th percentile) in 2021–2022. That is still top 14% statewide, but it is the lowest rank in the available history and the school's first 4-star year. On 2025–2026 MCAS Next Generation percent proficient, Peirce scored 60.36% in English language arts, 62.16% in math, and 67.57% in science. All three are well above state averages, but ELA and math are below the district averages, while science is slightly above. Science is the school's strongest relative subject, and math is its weakest.

Among nearby schools, Peirce sits in the middle-to-upper tier, 5th of 11. It trails Mason-Rice, A E Angier, and C C Burr in all three subjects, and is below Schofield in Wellesley in ELA and math, though nearly tied in science. It is ahead of Zervas, Williams, Cabot, Horace Mann, and Franklin, and far ahead of Henry Whittemore Elementary School in Waltham. Two points are worth asking about: 5th-grade math proficiency was 54.05%, roughly 10 points below the district, and the school's effectiveness ranking for low-income students was 589th of 742 (21st percentile, 1 star), far below its overall ranking. Peirce's student-teacher ratio is 11.7, tied for the highest in this group, and per-student spending was $22,440 in 2020–2021. Free/reduced lunch percentages were not available.

249

Students ?

11.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

$27,559

Per pupil spending ?

12.4%

Directly certified for free meals (2024-25) ?

All students in Massachusetts receive free school meals.

97%

Kindergartners with all required immunizations (2025-26)

Exemptions: 0% (any vaccine)

170 Temple Street
West Newton, MA 02465

(617) 559-9630

District: Newton

Students who attend Peirce usually attend:

Middle:	F A Day Middle
High:	Newton North High

Racial breakdown:

White:

56.2%

Asian:

17.7%

Hispanic:

12.4%

See top rated Massachusetts elementary schools

Compare Peirce to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 93rd percentile in 2016 → 86th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Massachusetts average (62% vs 41% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 14% of Massachusetts elementary schools

✓Small classes — about 12 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 7 percentile points since 2016

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school62%

District avg67%

Massachusetts avg41%

130^th of 899

Massachusetts public elementary schools ?

Top 14%▼ down 7 pts since 2016

From top 7% (2016) to top 14% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Massachusetts Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

7^th of 15Elementary Schools in the Newton

30^th of 351Newton 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	84.6	130 of 899	85.5%	★★★★☆
2025	89.3	79 of 906	91.3%	★★★★★
2024	90.5	66 of 916	92.8%	★★★★★
2023	91.8	56 of 928	94.0%	★★★★★
2022	95.1	20 of 932	97.9%	★★★★★
2021	93.5	36 of 936	96.2%	★★★★★
2019	89.5	69 of 942	92.7%	★★★★★
2018	88.7	67 of 934	92.8%	★★★★★
2017	88.3	73 of 938	92.2%	★★★★★
2016	88.4	69 of 932	92.6%	★★★★★
2015	85.9	89 of 914	90.3%	★★★★★
2014	86.3	80 of 926	91.4%	★★★★★
2013	86.7	76 of 928	91.8%	★★★★★
2012	90.1	44 of 930	95.3%	★★★★★
2011	89.1	54 of 924	94.2%	★★★★★
2010	90.7	26 of 920	97.2%	★★★★★
2009	87.7	70 of 909	92.3%	★★★★★
2008	87.3	68 of 908	92.5%	★★★★★
2007	91.0	34 of 911	96.3%	★★★★★
2006	92.7	17 of 911	98.1%	★★★★★
2005	92.3	25 of 887	97.2%	★★★★★
2004	92.9	17 of 882	98.1%	★★★★★
2003	89.5	45 of 884	94.9%	★★★★★

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2021	72.0	45 of 141	68.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	84.0	7 of 155	95.5%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2026	79.4	156 of 869	82.0%	★★★★☆
2025	89.8	66 of 869	92.4%	★★★★★
2024	86.6	97 of 886	89.1%	★★★★☆
2023	89.1	74 of 887	91.7%	★★★★★
2022	94.1	20 of 901	97.8%	★★★★★
2021	93.1	30 of 898	96.7%	★★★★★
2019	92.2	23 of 902	97.5%	★★★★★
2018	88.7	60 of 893	93.3%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2026	28.0	589 of 742	20.6%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2026	84.7	113 of 879	87.1%	★★★★☆
2025	84.0	121 of 884	86.3%	★★★★☆
2024	91.4	45 of 891	94.9%	★★★★★
2023	91.7	51 of 896	94.3%	★★★★★
2022	93.6	30 of 908	96.7%	★★★★★
2021	91.7	44 of 904	95.1%	★★★★★
2019	82.2	133 of 907	85.3%	★★★★☆
2018	85.0	107 of 898	88.1%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2022	87.4	56 of 905	93.8%	★★★★★
2019	77.2	123 of 896	86.3%	★★★★☆
2018	69.9	189 of 886	78.7%	★★★★☆

Tested In Person

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2021	90.8	59 of 925	93.6%	★★★★★

Tested Remotely

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2021	98.4	1 of 399	99.7%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2026	70.6	182 of 734	75.2%	★★★★☆
2025	82.5	96 of 737	87.0%	★★★★☆
2024	84.6	75 of 753	90.0%	★★★★★
2023	83.9	84 of 762	89.0%	★★★★☆
2022	93.0	14 of 764	98.2%	★★★★★
2021	92.6	13 of 765	98.3%	★★★★★
2019	85.6	61 of 780	92.2%	★★★★★
2018	84.4	73 of 772	90.5%	★★★★★

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)

Tested Remotely (2021)100th percentile+4 vs school

Special Education (2022)94th percentile-4 vs school

Tested In Person (2021)94th percentile-3 vs school

Male (2026)87th percentile~ school

Female (2026)82nd percentile-3 vs school

White (2026)75th percentile-10 vs school

Asian (2021)68th percentile-28 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)21st percentile-65 vs school

By subject vs Massachusetts (2025-2026) ?

Science68%+27 vs state

Mathematics62%+21 vs state

English Language Arts60%+20 vs state

★

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Schools Near Peirce

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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 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	Vaccination: Kindergartners with all required immunizations	Vaccination: Exemption rate	Total
Peirce	Public	K-5	170 Temple Street	West Newton	02465	Middlesex County	Newton	No	No	No	No	(617) 559-9630	249	21	11.7	12.4%	140 (56.2%)	10 (4.0%)	31 (12.4%)	44 (17.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (9.2%)	84.6	130^th of 899 public elementary schools	85.5%		89.3	79^th of 906 public elementary schools	91.3%	51	57.9	58.3	64.9	60.4	65.8	66.7	54.1	62.2	67.6	67.6	97%	0%	$27,559
C C Burr	Public	K-5	171 Pine Street	Auburndale	02466	Middlesex County	Newton	No	No	No	Yes	(617) 559-9360	350	31	11.1	14.9%	169 (48.3%)	16 (4.6%)	49 (14.0%)	82 (23.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (8.3%)	93	41^st of 899 public elementary schools	95.4%		93.6	42^nd of 906 public elementary schools	95.4%	1	63.8	66.1	67.9	65.9	69.0	78.6	77.8	75.0	83.3	83.3			$25,197
Williams	Public	K-5	141 Grove Street	Auburndale	02466	Middlesex County	Newton	No	No	No	No	(617) 559-6480	211	25	8.5	13.7%	98 (46.4%)	6 (2.8%)	19 (9.0%)	75 (35.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (6.2%)	81.9	154^th of 899 public elementary schools	82.9%		84.8	128^th of 906 public elementary schools	85.9%	26	55.9	62.9	52.9	57.3	55.9	82.9	58.8	66.0	58.8	58.8			$32,183
A E Angier	Public	K-5	1697 Beacon Street	Waban	02468	Middlesex County	Newton	No	No	No	No	(617) 559-9300	383	38	10.0	7.8%	232 (60.6%)	14 (3.7%)	19 (5.0%)	72 (18.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	44 (11.5%)	94	33^rd of 899 public elementary schools	96.3%		95.7	14^th of 906 public elementary schools	98.5%	19	64.8	60.3	76.5	67.4	72.2	76.1	86.8	78.8	85.1	85.1	100%	0%	$26,909
Zervas	Public	K-5	30 Beethoven Avenue	Waban	02468	Middlesex County	Newton	No	No	No	Yes	(617) 559-6750	399	35	11.3	13.5%	178 (44.6%)	32 (8.0%)	43 (10.8%)	94 (23.6%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	49 (12.3%)	83.1	143^rd of 899 public elementary schools	84.1%		79.7	186^th of 906 public elementary schools	79.5%	43	70.9	55.4	55.2	59.9	64.8	62.2	56.1	61.1	61.4	61.4	92%	8%	$28,767
Franklin	Public	K-5	125 Derby Street	West Newton	02465	Middlesex County	Newton	No	No	No	No	(617) 559-9500	320	32	9.8	13.8%	190 (59.4%)	12 (3.8%)	41 (12.8%)	48 (15.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (8.8%)	71	256^th of 899 public elementary schools	71.5%		74.9	230^th of 906 public elementary schools	74.6%	26	42.5	51.9	61.6	53.9	42.5	50.0	50.0	48.2	62.2	62.2	100%	0%	$26,393
Henry Whittemore Elementary School	Public	K-5	30 Parmenter Road	Waltham	02453	Middlesex County	Waltham	No	No	No	Yes	(781) 314-5785	372	41	9.0	71.8%	40 (10.8%)	18 (4.8%)	287 (77.2%)	14 (3.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (3.5%)	25.6	670^th of 899 public elementary schools	25.5%		27.2	658^th of 906 public elementary schools	27.4%	12	14.6	21.2	32.7	22.4	25.5	42.3	30.6	32.7	24.5	24.5	100%	0%	$28,796
Horace Mann	Public	K-5	191 Pearl Street	Newton	02458	Middlesex County	Newton	No	No	No	No	(617) 559-9510	351	33	10.5	15.4%	187 (53.3%)	18 (5.1%)	39 (11.1%)	64 (18.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	42 (12.0%)	79.3	178^th of 899 public elementary schools	80.2%		78.1	203^rd of 906 public elementary schools	77.6%	25	58.5	50.9	58.5	55.9	69.2	57.6	52.3	59.1	60.0	60.0	100%	0%	$25,534
Cabot	Public	K-5	229 Cabot Street	Newtonville	02460	Middlesex County	Newton	No	No	No	No	(617) 559-9400	414	38	11.0	12.8%	200 (48.3%)	18 (4.3%)	63 (15.2%)	76 (18.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	56 (13.5%)	79.5	173^rd of 899 public elementary schools	80.8%		75.9	225^th of 906 public elementary schools	75.2%	52	60.3	64.2	50.6	57.4	51.5	73.1	61.9	61.3	56.0	56.0	100%	0%	$26,842
Mason-Rice	Public	K-5	149 Pleasant Street	Newton Centre	02459	Middlesex County	Newton	No	No	No	No	(617) 559-9570	321	27	11.7	3.1%	195 (60.7%)	5 (1.6%)	20 (6.2%)	64 (19.9%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.6%)	35 (10.9%)	94.3	28^th of 899 public elementary schools	96.9%		95.7	15^th of 906 public elementary schools	98.3%	13	82.3	55.4	81.0	73.5	79.4	67.9	82.5	76.9	81.0	81.0	100%	0%	$26,122

Frequently Asked Questions about Peirce

What schools do graduates of Peirce attend?

Students who attend Peirce usually go on to attend:

Middle : F A Day Middle
High : Newton North High

What is the racial makeup of Peirce?

Students at Peirce are 56% White, 18% Asian, 12% Hispanic, 9% Two or more races, 4% African American.

Is Peirce a good school?

Peirce ranks 130^th of 899 Massachusetts elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Peirce?

In the 2024-25 school year, 249 students attended Peirce.

What district is Peirce in?

Newton

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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.