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Bates

Q: Is Bates a good school?

Bates ranks 536 th of 899 Massachusetts elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

536^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 899 Massachusetts Elementary Schools

Better than 40% of Massachusetts elementary schools

Summary

Bates is a PK–5 elementary school serving about 410 students at 53 Liberty Hill Avenue in Salem, Massachusetts, part of the Salem Public Schools district on the North Shore. The district ranks 288th of 351 districts statewide — about the 18th percentile, with a 1-star rating — yet Bates itself ranked 536th of 899 Massachusetts elementary schools in 2025–2026, the 40th percentile with 2 stars, making it a relative bright spot in its local context.

Bates outperforms the Salem district in all three tested subjects: 34.13% ELA, 38.55% math, and 36.73% science, versus 30.36%, 25.46%, and 29.64% district-wide. All three remain below state averages (40.03% ELA, 41.11% math, 40.98% science), but math is the standout — more than 13 points above the district and only about 2.6 points below the state. Bates posts the highest math proficiency among same-district peers, ahead of Witchcraft Heights (34.93%) and Carlton (32.50%), and far above Horace Mann Laboratory and Bentley Academy Innovation School. Carlton edges Bates in ELA and science. Nearby, Ayers/Ryal Side School in Beverly and Riverside in Danvers rank higher overall; Bates generally outperforms the nearby Peabody schools, including Center, Thomas Carroll, and William A Welch Senior.

Subgroup results are a strength: Hispanic students ranked in the 71st percentile in 2025–2026, English Language Learner students reached the 83rd percentile in 2022–2023, and Special Education students have ranged from the 62nd to 80th percentile recently — all above Bates' overall 40th percentile. Bates has improved from the 22nd percentile in 2017–2018 to roughly 40th in 2024–2026. It also spent less per student ($18,948 in 2020–2021) than every nearby Salem peer, though that data is old. Science is volatile: 46.77% in 2024–2025, then 36.73%. Free/reduced lunch data is unavailable.

410

Students ?

12.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$22,713

Per pupil spending ?

54.1%

Directly certified for free meals (2024-25) ?

All students in Massachusetts receive free school meals.

97%

Kindergartners with all required immunizations (2025-26)

Exemptions: 3% (any vaccine)

53 Liberty Hill Avenue
Salem, MA 01970

(978) 740-1250

District: Salem

Students who attend Bates usually attend:

Middle:	Collins Middle
High:	Salem High
	Salem Prep High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

48.8%

Hispanic:

35.6%

African American:

7.3%

See top rated Massachusetts elementary schools

Compare Bates to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 37th percentile in 2016 → 40th in 2026

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school36%

District avg28%

Massachusetts avg41%

536^th of 899

Massachusetts public elementary schools ?

Bottom 40%▲ up 4 pts since 2016

From bottom 37% (2016) to bottom 40% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Massachusetts Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

2^nd of 6Elementary Schools in the Salem

288^th of 351Salem 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	39.9	536 of 899	40.4%	★★☆☆☆
2025	42.8	526 of 906	41.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	38.6	568 of 916	38.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	37.2	591 of 928	36.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	30.5	655 of 932	29.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	29.0	672 of 936	28.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	31.2	682 of 942	27.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	25.2	732 of 934	21.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	45.5	548 of 938	41.6%	★★☆☆☆
2016	40.7	591 of 932	36.6%	★★☆☆☆
2015	47.4	529 of 914	42.1%	★★☆☆☆
2014	31.8	681 of 926	26.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	42.8	576 of 928	37.9%	★★☆☆☆
2012	28.2	701 of 930	24.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	37.1	631 of 924	31.7%	★★☆☆☆
2010	25.8	725 of 920	21.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	22.5	747 of 909	17.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	41.0	600 of 908	33.9%	★★☆☆☆
2007	25.3	730 of 911	19.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	38.5	607 of 911	33.4%	★★☆☆☆
2005	31.3	630 of 887	29.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2004	27.3	665 of 882	24.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2003	32.8	629 of 884	28.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2022	38.3	383 of 672	43.0%	★★☆☆☆
2021	46.4	296 of 632	53.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	36.7	406 of 665	38.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	30.1	479 of 656	27.0%	★☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2023	60.8	44 of 264	83.3%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2026	38.4	526 of 869	39.5%	★★☆☆☆
2025	39.4	533 of 869	38.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	46.4	484 of 886	45.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	38.2	558 of 887	37.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	34.4	598 of 901	33.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	31.8	624 of 898	30.5%	★★☆☆☆
2019	29.1	679 of 902	24.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	23.1	726 of 893	18.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2026	59.0	137 of 475	71.2%	★★★★☆
2025	50.9	187 of 458	59.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	48.9	194 of 446	56.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	38.2	261 of 420	37.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	34.0	274 of 401	31.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	35.3	238 of 379	37.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	45.1	217 of 398	45.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	42.1	229 of 379	39.6%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2026	42.8	422 of 742	43.1%	★★☆☆☆
2025	51.7	319 of 736	56.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	48.3	366 of 760	51.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	36.1	516 of 757	31.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	40.3	472 of 772	38.9%	★★☆☆☆
2021	43.5	395 of 705	44.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	36.5	482 of 700	31.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	21.4	603 of 685	12.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2026	42.0	514 of 879	41.5%	★★☆☆☆
2025	46.8	470 of 884	46.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	32.7	602 of 891	32.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	37.6	585 of 896	34.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	28.3	667 of 908	26.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	29.0	653 of 904	27.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	34.8	628 of 907	30.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	28.8	675 of 898	24.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2026	52.4	272 of 709	61.6%	★★★☆☆
2025	69.9	142 of 717	80.2%	★★★★☆
2024	59.4	228 of 731	68.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	49.9	301 of 703	57.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	32.7	645 of 905	28.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	32.2	636 of 894	28.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	32.4	657 of 896	26.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	20.6	803 of 886	9.4%	☆☆☆☆☆

Tested In Person

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2021	29.3	661 of 925	28.5%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2026	47.1	406 of 734	44.7%	★★☆☆☆
2025	53.2	356 of 737	51.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	46.4	425 of 753	43.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	48.1	413 of 762	45.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	30.0	579 of 764	24.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	28.7	604 of 765	21.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	35.5	554 of 780	29.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	24.7	636 of 772	17.6%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

English Language Learner (2023)83rd percentile+47 vs school

Hispanic (2026)71st percentile+31 vs school

Special Education (2026)62nd percentile+21 vs school

White (2026)45th percentile+4 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)43rd percentile+3 vs school

Disabled (2022)43rd percentile+13 vs school

Male (2026)42nd percentile~ school

Female (2026)39th percentile~ school

Tested In Person (2021)29th percentile~ school

By subject vs Massachusetts (2025-2026) ?

Mathematics39%-3 vs state

Science37%-4 vs state

English Language Arts34%-6 vs state

★

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Schools Near Bates

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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 (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	Vaccination: Kindergartners with all required immunizations	Vaccination: Exemption rate	Total
Bates	Public	PK, KG-5	53 Liberty Hill Avenue	Salem	01970	Essex County	Salem	No	No	No	Yes	(978) 740-1250	410	33	12.5	54.1%	200 (48.8%)	30 (7.3%)	146 (35.6%)	5 (1.2%)	6 (1.5%)	2 (0.5%)	20 (4.9%)	39.9	536^th of 899 public elementary schools	40.4%		42.8	526^th of 906 public elementary schools	41.9%	10	36.7	32.8	32.7	34.1	40.7	39.7	34.7	38.6	36.7	36.7	97%	3%	$22,713
Thomas Carroll	Public	PK, KG-5	60 Northend Street	Peabody	01960	Essex County	Peabody	No	No	No	Yes	(978) 536-4200	645	46	13.9	54.6%	307 (47.6%)	36 (5.6%)	264 (40.9%)	14 (2.2%)	3 (0.5%)	2 (0.3%)	19 (2.9%)	17.5	755^th of 899 public elementary schools	16.0%		19.3	751^st of 906 public elementary schools	17.1%	4	27.3	20.4	24.1	23.7	25.0	18.3	21.5	21.4	21.5	21.5	98%	1%	$16,954
Carlton	Public	K-5	10 Skerry Street	Salem	01970	Essex County	Salem	No	No	No	Yes	(978) 740-1280	247	24	10.4	45.7%	136 (55.1%)	15 (6.1%)	80 (32.4%)	4 (1.6%)	1 (0.4%)	1 (0.4%)	9 (3.6%)	43.1	509^th of 899 public elementary schools	43.4%		38.9	559^th of 906 public elementary schools	38.3%	50	56.1	32.4	33.3	40.8	34.2	27.0	35.7	32.5	42.9	42.9	98%	2%	$24,681
Bentley Academy Innovation School	Public	PK, KG-5	25 Memorial Drive	Salem	01970	Essex County	Salem	No	No	No	Yes	(978) 740-1260	286	20	14.3	71.7%	36 (12.6%)	21 (7.3%)	224 (78.3%)	2 (0.7%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.7%)	11.7	826^th of 899 public elementary schools	8.1%		18.1	760^th of 906 public elementary schools	16.1%	66	10.0	35.3	12.0	17.7	2.5	25.7	4.0	9.6	14.6	14.6	100%	0%	$27,350
Ayers/Ryal Side School	Public	K-4	40 Woodland Avenue	Beverly	01915	Essex County	Beverly	No	No	No	Yes	(978) 921-6116	388	27	14.1	19.8%	329 (84.8%)	11 (2.8%)	35 (9.0%)	8 (2.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.3%)	83.1	144^th of 899 public elementary schools	84.0%		85.2	124^th of 906 public elementary schools	86.3%	20	58.0	53.4		55.9	68.2	65.8		67.1			96%	4%	$18,358
Witchcraft Heights	Public	K-5	1 Frederick Street	Salem	01970	Essex County	Salem	No	No	No	Yes	(978) 740-1271	455	33	13.6	54.9%	196 (43.1%)	35 (7.7%)	185 (40.7%)	18 (4.0%)	2 (0.4%)	2 (0.4%)	17 (3.7%)	33.1	605^th of 899 public elementary schools	32.7%		35.4	590^th of 906 public elementary schools	34.9%	15	30.9	21.6	33.9	28.5	29.4	33.8	41.8	34.9	37.3	37.3	100%	0%	$24,568
Saltonstall School	Public	K-5	211 Lafayette Street	Salem	01970	Essex County	Salem	No	No	No	Yes	(978) 740-1297	412	31	13.2	66.0%	135 (32.8%)	22 (5.3%)	222 (53.9%)	4 (1.0%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (6.6%)	33.8	597^th of 899 public elementary schools	33.6%		41.4	537^th of 906 public elementary schools	40.7%	60	43.2	33.3	30.8	35.0	43.2	22.9	26.9	29.9	30.8	30.8	100%	0%	$23,905
William A Welch Senior	Public	K-5	50 Swampscott Avenue	Peabody	01960	Essex County	Peabody	No	No	No	Yes	(978) 536-5775	408	29	13.9	69.6%	148 (36.3%)	18 (4.4%)	222 (54.4%)	6 (1.5%)	3 (0.7%)	1 (0.2%)	10 (2.5%)	16.3	772^nd of 899 public elementary schools	14.1%		15.3	783^rd of 906 public elementary schools	13.6%	11	24.2	15.3	26.4	21.5	15.2	23.3	17.0	18.8	30.2	30.2	95%	2%	$19,289
Horace Mann Laboratory	Public	PK, KG-5	79 Willson Street	Salem	01970	Essex County	Salem	No	No	No	Yes	(978) 740-1290	293	25	11.8	64.8%	100 (34.1%)	22 (7.5%)	150 (51.2%)	11 (3.8%)	2 (0.7%)	1 (0.3%)	7 (2.4%)	17.5	753^rd of 899 public elementary schools	16.2%		12.5	820^th of 906 public elementary schools	9.5%	67	20.0	31.7	19.1	23.4	9.1	26.8	23.8	19.7	19.5	19.5	100%	0%	$23,351
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	100%	0%	$18,540

Frequently Asked Questions about Bates

Is Bates a good school?

Bates ranks 536^th of 899 Massachusetts elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What district is Bates in?

Salem

What is the racial makeup of Bates?

Students at Bates are 49% White, 36% Hispanic, 7% African American, 5% Two or more races, 1% American Indian, 1% Asian.

How many students attend Bates?

In the 2024-25 school year, 410 students attended Bates.

What schools do graduates of Bates attend?

Students who attend Bates usually go on to attend:

Middle : Collins Middle
High : Salem High
High : Salem Prep High School

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Latest Massachusetts data All new data »

2013–14 through 2025–26 immunization rates (updated)NewOct 20, 2026

2024–25 dropout rates & graduation ratesMar 5, 2026

2024–25 MCAS Next Generation test scoresSep 29, 2025

2023–24 school spending dataMay 8, 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.