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John E. McCarthy

Q: Is John E. McCarthy a good school?

John E. McCarthy ranks 564 th of 899 Massachusetts elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-5

564^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 899 Massachusetts Elementary Schools

Better than 37% of Massachusetts elementary schools

Summary

John E. McCarthy is a K–5 elementary school at 76 Lake Street in Peabody, Massachusetts, serving 385 students as one of several elementary schools in Peabody Public Schools.

The school's own standing sits slightly above its district's: in 2025–2026 it ranked 564th of 899 Massachusetts elementary schools (37th percentile, 2 stars), while the Peabody district ranks 266th of 351 (24th percentile). That said, McCarthy trails most of the schools closest to it. Three of four same-district Peabody schools rank higher — West Memorial (65th percentile), South Memorial (64th), and John E Burke (58th) — and only Center (32nd) ranks below it. In 2025–2026, all-grades proficiency was 36.77% in English Language Arts, 34.84% in Math, and 27.66% in Science: ahead of the district in ELA and Math, slightly behind in Science, and below the state in all three. The longer trend is downward — from the 76th percentile in 2016–2017, through the mid-to-high 40s for several years, to the mid-30s today — though the last two years suggest the slide has leveled off.

Science is the sharpest weakness and the most volatile measure, since it is tested only in 5th grade: results swung from 44.19% in 2023–2024 to 20.37% the next year and back to 27.66%. Grade-level performance otherwise climbs with grade: 5th-grade Math reached 42.55%, above the state average, while 3rd-grade Math (30.19%) showed the largest gap. McCarthy spends less per student ($12,681) than any nearby school examined, and its 13.3:1 student-teacher ratio is among the more favorable locally, showing that resources alone don't predict outcomes — Capt William G Shoemaker in Lynn spends far more yet ranks lower, while Huckleberry Hill and Summer Street in Lynnfield rank far higher.

385

Students ?

13.3

Student/teacher ratio ?

$15,979

Per pupil spending ?

56.6%

Directly certified for free meals (2024-25) ?

All students in Massachusetts receive free school meals.

76 Lake Street
Peabody, MA 01960

(978) 536-5625

District: Peabody

Students who attend John E. McCarthy usually attend:

Middle:	J Henry Higgins Middle
High:	Peabody Veterans Memorial High

Racial breakdown:

White:

44.2%

Hispanic:

26.5%

African American:

20.5%

See top rated Massachusetts elementary schools

Compare John E. McCarthy to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 59th percentile in 2016 → 37th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Massachusetts average (35% vs 41% meeting standards)

!Ranking has slipped — down 22 percentile points since 2016

!Science scores 13 pts below the Massachusetts average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school35%

District avg30%

Massachusetts avg41%

564^th of 899

Massachusetts public elementary schools ?

Bottom 37%▼ down 21 pts since 2016

From top 41% (2016) to bottom 37% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Massachusetts Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

4^th of 8Elementary Schools in the Peabody

266^th of 351Peabody 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	37.6	564 of 899	37.3%	★★☆☆☆
2025	35.3	594 of 906	34.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	47.5	498 of 916	45.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	47.4	496 of 928	46.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	46.3	502 of 932	46.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	61.0	382 of 936	59.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	51.2	481 of 942	48.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	51.0	491 of 934	47.4%	★★☆☆☆
2017	74.6	226 of 938	75.9%	★★★★☆
2016	60.9	385 of 932	58.7%	★★★☆☆
2015	68.9	298 of 914	67.4%	★★★☆☆
2014	61.0	398 of 926	57.0%	★★★☆☆
2013	67.2	332 of 928	64.2%	★★★☆☆
2012	60.7	407 of 930	56.2%	★★★☆☆
2011	59.8	408 of 924	55.8%	★★★☆☆
2010	49.9	525 of 920	42.9%	★★☆☆☆
2009	45.6	538 of 909	40.8%	★★☆☆☆
2008	50.6	493 of 908	45.7%	★★☆☆☆
2007	62.3	380 of 911	58.3%	★★★☆☆
2006	56.4	422 of 911	53.7%	★★★☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2025	54.9	69 of 169	59.2%	★★★☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2018	44.1	327 of 656	50.2%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2026	40.1	514 of 869	40.9%	★★☆☆☆
2025	32.5	597 of 869	31.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	40.9	531 of 886	40.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	43.6	518 of 887	41.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	48.9	482 of 901	46.5%	★★☆☆☆
2021	68.6	267 of 898	70.3%	★★★★☆
2019	63.4	333 of 902	63.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	62.8	352 of 893	60.6%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2026	74.7	63 of 475	86.7%	★★★★☆
2025	59.1	129 of 458	71.8%	★★★★☆
2024	74.3	63 of 446	85.9%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2026	51.5	334 of 742	55.0%	★★★☆☆
2025	42.5	425 of 736	42.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	62.8	221 of 760	70.9%	★★★★☆
2023	62.3	226 of 757	70.1%	★★★★☆
2022	57.9	286 of 772	63.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	81.7	51 of 705	92.8%	★★★★★
2019	48.4	371 of 700	47.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	60.2	220 of 685	67.9%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2026	36.1	568 of 879	35.4%	★★☆☆☆
2025	40.8	527 of 884	40.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	57.8	374 of 891	58.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	51.2	438 of 896	51.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	38.7	561 of 908	38.2%	★★☆☆☆
2021	55.9	411 of 904	54.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	38.9	573 of 907	36.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	41.3	559 of 898	37.8%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2024	36.7	448 of 731	38.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	59.4	305 of 905	66.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	71.0	175 of 894	80.4%	★★★★☆
2019	46.0	494 of 896	44.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	48.7	435 of 886	50.9%	★★★☆☆

Tested In Person

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2021	59.9	389 of 925	57.9%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2026	29.1	562 of 734	23.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	29.8	558 of 737	24.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	30.0	581 of 753	22.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	38.8	501 of 762	34.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	37.0	514 of 764	32.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	43.7	448 of 765	41.4%	★★☆☆☆
2019	39.1	518 of 780	33.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	38.0	527 of 772	31.7%	★★☆☆☆

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)

Hispanic (2026)87th percentile+49 vs school

African American (2025)59th percentile+25 vs school

Tested In Person (2021)58th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)55th percentile+18 vs school

Disabled (2018)50th percentile+3 vs school

Female (2026)41st percentile+4 vs school

Special Education (2024)39th percentile-7 vs school

Male (2026)35th percentile~ school

White (2026)23rd percentile-14 vs school

By subject vs Massachusetts (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts37%-3 vs state

Mathematics35%-6 vs state

Science28%-13 vs state

★

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Schools Near John E. McCarthy

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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	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	Total
John E. McCarthy	Public	K-5	76 Lake Street	Peabody	01960	Essex County	Peabody	No	No	No	Yes	(978) 536-5625	385	29	13.3	56.6%	170 (44.2%)	79 (20.5%)	102 (26.5%)	18 (4.7%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (3.6%)	37.6	564^th of 899 public elementary schools	37.3%		35.3	594^th of 906 public elementary schools	34.4%	30	34.0	36.4	40.4	36.8	30.2	32.7	42.6	34.8	27.7	27.7	$15,979
West Memorial	Public	PK, KG-5	15 Bow Street	Peabody	01960	Essex County	Peabody	No	No	No	No	(978) 536-5850	294	21	14.1	23.5%	234 (79.6%)	11 (3.7%)	33 (11.2%)	5 (1.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (3.7%)	64.3	318^th of 899 public elementary schools	64.6%		61.8	350^th of 906 public elementary schools	61.4%	32	42.1	42.9	71.4	51.3	46.2	50.0	60.0	51.7	42.9	42.9	$19,836
Huckleberry Hill	Public	K-4	5 Knoll Road	Lynnfield	01940	Essex County	Lynnfield	No	No	No	Yes	(781) 334-5835	416	31	13.4	11.1%	301 (72.4%)	13 (3.1%)	31 (7.5%)	50 (12.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (5.0%)	86.9	115^th of 899 public elementary schools	87.2%		86.3	112^th of 906 public elementary schools	87.6%	3	64.9	54.9		59.8	72.7	66.3		69.4			$18,682
John E Burke	Public	K-5	127 Birch Street	Peabody	01960	Essex County	Peabody	No	No	No	No	(978) 536-5400	294	27	11.0	20.4%	240 (81.6%)	9 (3.1%)	36 (12.2%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (2.4%)	57.4	376^th of 899 public elementary schools	58.2%		55.6	399^th of 906 public elementary schools	56.0%	23	37.8	51.9	38.8	43.2	24.4	61.1	57.1	48.7	42.9	42.9	$19,898
Summer Street	Public	K-4	262 Summer Street	Lynnfield	01940	Essex County	Lynnfield	No	No	No	No	(781) 334-5830	440	32	13.7	5.9%	376 (85.5%)	5 (1.1%)	16 (3.6%)	23 (5.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (4.5%)	92.3	49^th of 899 public elementary schools	94.5%		87	107^th of 906 public elementary schools	88.2%	58	67.4	75.7		71.8	68.5	71.8		70.3			$18,110
Capt William G Shoemaker	Public	PK, KG-5	26 Regina Rd	Lynn	01904	Essex County	Lynn	No	No	No	Yes	(781) 477-7450	361	41	8.7	53.7%	115 (31.9%)	37 (10.2%)	167 (46.3%)	24 (6.6%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (4.7%)	29.7	628^th of 899 public elementary schools	30.1%		27.6	656^th of 906 public elementary schools	27.6%	28	36.4	24.5	23.5	28.4	25.5	35.4	31.4	30.5	37.3	37.3	$31,702
Highlands	Public	K-5	190 Hobart Street	Danvers	01923	Essex County	Danvers	No	No	No	Yes	(978) 774-5011	385	23	16.4	30.1%	272 (70.6%)	28 (7.3%)	68 (17.7%)	10 (2.6%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	5 (1.3%)	29.1	635^th of 899 public elementary schools	29.4%		33.9	604^th of 906 public elementary schools	33.3%	31	44.1	21.2	27.0	30.3	32.2	36.4	28.6	32.5	19.1	19.1	$17,780
Center	Public	PK, KG-5	18 Irving Street	Peabody	01960	Essex County	Peabody	No	No	No	Yes	(978) 536-5475	123	7	17.5	49.6%	64 (52.0%)	13 (10.6%)	31 (25.2%)	9 (7.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (4.9%)	32.9	608^th of 899 public elementary schools	32.4%					(n/a)	21.2	20.0	27.8	23.2	43.8	31.0	36.1	37.1	41.7	41.7	$18,540
Fuller Meadow	Public	K-2	143 South Main Street	Middleton	01949	Essex County	Middleton	No	No	No	Yes	(978) 750-4756	269	30	9.0	14.5%	227 (84.4%)	4 (1.5%)	18 (6.7%)	8 (3.0%)	1 (0.4%)	1 (0.4%)	10 (3.7%)								(n/a)											$23,417
South Memorial	Public	PK, KG-5	16 Maple St Ext	Peabody	01960	Essex County	Peabody	No	No	No	No	(978) 536-5700	506	32	16.0	26.7%	366 (72.3%)	18 (3.6%)	82 (16.2%)	11 (2.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (5.5%)	63.7	325^th of 899 public elementary schools	63.8%		56.2	394^th of 906 public elementary schools	56.5%	69	38.8	55.6	45.0	46.3	29.9	68.3	55.0	50.5	56.7	56.7	$17,801

Frequently Asked Questions about John E. McCarthy

How many students attend John E. McCarthy?

In the 2024-25 school year, 385 students attended John E. McCarthy.

What schools do graduates of John E. McCarthy attend?

Students who attend John E. McCarthy usually go on to attend:

Middle : J Henry Higgins Middle
High : Peabody Veterans Memorial High

Is John E. McCarthy a good school?

John E. McCarthy ranks 564^th of 899 Massachusetts elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What district is John E. McCarthy in?

Peabody

What is the racial makeup of John E. McCarthy?

Students at John E. McCarthy are 44% White, 26% Hispanic, 21% African American, 5% Asian, 4% Two or more races.

Rate John E. McCarthy!

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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.