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Walter J. Paton School

Q: Is Walter J. Paton School a good school?

Walter J. Paton School ranks 105 th of 899 Massachusetts elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-4

105^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 899 Massachusetts Elementary Schools

Better than 88% of Massachusetts elementary schools

Summary

Walter J. Paton School is a K–4 elementary school with 269 students in Shrewsbury, MA, part of the Shrewsbury district, which ranks 41st of 351 statewide. In 2025–2026 Paton ranked 105th of 899 Massachusetts elementary schools (88th percentile, 4 stars)—strong, though below its 2015–2016 peak of 8th of 932 (99th percentile, 5 stars). Since then it has mostly held 4 stars. Because Paton serves only K–4, its MCAS results cover grades 3 and 4 only, with no grade 5 science score.

Paton's 2025–2026 MCAS proficiency is high: 66.09% in ELA and 76.07% in math, versus 57.52% and 65.51% for the district and 40.03% and 41.11% statewide. Among same-district peers, Paton has the highest all-grade ELA score and is essentially tied with Spring Street School in math (76.07% vs. 76.42%). The sharpest pattern is a grade-level split: 3rd graders scored 85.96% proficient in both subjects—above every nearby school shown—while 4th graders scored 46.55% in ELA and 66.67% in math, below the district and below Calvin Coolidge School, Spring Street School, Floral Street School, and Major Howard W. Beal School.

Subgroup results show the school's strengths and its one clear gap. Paton ranked 1st of 149 schools for Asian students (99th percentile, 5 stars), up from the 36th percentile in 2021–2022, and 52nd of 742 for low-income students (93rd percentile, 5 stars); male students placed in the top decile. Special education rankings improved to the 67th–73rd percentile in 2023–2025 but sit below the school's overall 88th percentile—the clearest area to watch. Paton spent $14,596 per student in 2020–2021, less than Spring Street School, Floral Street School, and Major Howard W. Beal School, and its 2024–2025 student-teacher ratio of 12.0 is the lowest among same-district peers. Free/reduced-lunch data are unavailable.

269

Students ?

12.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$21,003

Per pupil spending ?

9.3%

Free/discounted lunch ?

58 Grafton Street
Shrewsbury, MA 01545

(508) 841-8626

District: Shrewsbury

Students who attend Walter J. Paton School usually attend:

Middle:	Oak Middle School
	Sherwood Middle School
High:	Shrewsbury High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

59.5%

Asian:

19.0%

Hispanic:

9.7%

See top rated Massachusetts elementary schools

Compare Walter J. Paton School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 99th percentile in 2016 → 88th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Massachusetts average (71% vs 41% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 12% of Massachusetts elementary schools

✓Small classes — about 12 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 11 percentile points since 2016

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school71%

District avg62%

Massachusetts avg41%

105^th of 899

Massachusetts public elementary schools ?

Top 12%▼ down 11 pts since 2016

From top 1% (2016) to top 12% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Massachusetts Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

3^rd of 5Elementary Schools in the Shrewsbury

41^st of 351Shrewsbury 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	87.8	105 of 899	88.3%	★★★★☆
2025	83.7	138 of 906	84.8%	★★★★☆
2024	81.2	168 of 916	81.7%	★★★★☆
2023	87.7	102 of 928	89.0%	★★★★☆
2022	78.3	197 of 932	78.9%	★★★★☆
2021	86.2	127 of 936	86.4%	★★★★☆
2019	87.6	92 of 942	90.2%	★★★★★
2018	90.0	56 of 934	94.0%	★★★★★
2017	88.8	67 of 938	92.9%	★★★★★
2016	94.1	8 of 932	99.1%	★★★★★
2015	89.8	42 of 914	95.4%	★★★★★
2014	89.7	42 of 926	95.5%	★★★★★
2013	93.2	11 of 928	98.8%	★★★★★
2012	96.5	1 of 930	99.9%	★★★★★
2011	95.2	1 of 924	99.9%	★★★★★
2010	96.0	1 of 920	99.9%	★★★★★
2009	95.3	5 of 909	99.4%	★★★★★
2008	93.8	13 of 908	98.6%	★★★★★
2007	91.2	31 of 911	96.6%	★★★★★
2006	88.4	69 of 911	92.4%	★★★★★
2005	84.4	120 of 887	86.5%	★★★★☆
2004	74.8	232 of 882	73.7%	★★★★☆
2003	78.7	191 of 884	78.4%	★★★★☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2026	90.0	1 of 149	99.3%	★★★★★
2022	49.5	92 of 143	35.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	80.7	17 of 141	87.9%	★★★★☆
2019	47.1	94 of 155	39.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	80.7	17 of 154	89.0%	★★★★☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2022	39.2	374 of 672	44.3%	★★☆☆☆
2021	36.8	393 of 632	37.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	63.4	182 of 656	72.3%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2026	80.6	149 of 869	82.9%	★★★★☆
2025	75.7	201 of 869	76.9%	★★★★☆
2024	81.1	157 of 886	82.3%	★★★★☆
2023	89.2	71 of 887	92.0%	★★★★★
2022	78.1	181 of 901	79.9%	★★★★☆
2021	86.7	104 of 898	88.4%	★★★★☆
2019	84.8	104 of 902	88.5%	★★★★☆
2018	89.9	44 of 893	95.1%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2026	84.1	52 of 742	93.0%	★★★★★
2022	53.4	333 of 772	56.9%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2026	90.9	53 of 879	94.0%	★★★★★
2025	89.5	68 of 884	92.3%	★★★★★
2024	77.6	185 of 891	79.2%	★★★★☆
2023	83.8	125 of 896	86.0%	★★★★☆
2022	75.3	199 of 908	78.1%	★★★★☆
2021	82.3	145 of 904	84.0%	★★★★☆
2019	87.4	75 of 907	91.7%	★★★★★
2018	87.5	78 of 898	91.3%	★★★★★

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2025	55.8	239 of 717	66.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	62.4	200 of 731	72.6%	★★★★☆
2022	42.1	524 of 905	42.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	68.2	199 of 894	77.7%	★★★★☆
2019	36.5	614 of 896	31.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	49.1	432 of 886	51.2%	★★★☆☆

Tested In Person

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2021	83.1	144 of 925	84.4%	★★★★☆

Tested Remotely

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2021	93.3	26 of 399	93.5%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2026	76.8	137 of 734	81.3%	★★★★☆
2025	64.4	253 of 737	65.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	78.7	127 of 753	83.1%	★★★★☆
2023	80.1	123 of 762	83.9%	★★★★☆
2022	59.9	297 of 764	61.1%	★★★☆☆
2021	67.1	230 of 765	69.9%	★★★★☆
2019	84.1	75 of 780	90.4%	★★★★★
2018	85.4	62 of 772	92.0%	★★★★★

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 (2026)99th percentile+11 vs school

Male (2026)94th percentile+6 vs school

Tested Remotely (2021)93rd percentile+7 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)93rd percentile+5 vs school

Tested In Person (2021)84th percentile~ school

Female (2026)83rd percentile-5 vs school

White (2026)81st percentile-7 vs school

Special Education (2025)67th percentile-18 vs school

Disabled (2022)44th percentile-35 vs school

By subject vs Massachusetts (2025-2026) ?

Mathematics76%+35 vs state

English Language Arts66%+26 vs state

★

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Schools Near Walter J. Paton 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 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	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients (2015)	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	Total
Walter J. Paton School	Public	K-4	58 Grafton Street	Shrewsbury	01545	Worcester County	Shrewsbury	No	No	No	No	(508) 841-8626	269	22	12.0	9.3%	160 (59.5%)	6 (2.2%)	26 (9.7%)	51 (19.0%)	3 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (8.2%)	87.8	105^th of 899 public elementary schools	88.3%		83.7	138^th of 906 public elementary schools	84.8%	33	86.0	46.6			66.1	86.0	66.7			76.1			$21,003
Spring Street School	Public	K-4	123 Spring Street	Shrewsbury	01545	Worcester County	Shrewsbury	No	No	No	No	(508) 841-8700	304	21	14.4	5.2%	161 (53.0%)	7 (2.3%)	26 (8.6%)	94 (30.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (5.3%)	89	86^th of 899 public elementary schools	90.4%		82.6	151^st of 906 public elementary schools	83.3%	65	73.0	50.0			61.8	82.5	70.0			76.4			$19,794
Floral Street School	Public	K-4	57 Floral Street	Shrewsbury	01545	Worcester County	Shrewsbury	No	No	No	No	(508) 841-8720	524	42	12.5	15.4%	160 (30.5%)	28 (5.3%)	49 (9.4%)	243 (46.4%)	8 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	36 (6.9%)	88	102^nd of 899 public elementary schools	88.7%		85.7	118^th of 906 public elementary schools	87.0%	16	58.6	63.1			61.0	66.7	74.8			71.0			$19,839
Major Howard W. Beal School	Public	K-4	214 Lake St	Shrewsbury	01545	Worcester County	Shrewsbury	No	No	No	Yes	(508) 841-8860	623	48	12.9	12.3%	235 (37.7%)	30 (4.8%)	85 (13.6%)	230 (36.9%)	5 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	38 (6.1%)	83.5	141^st of 899 public elementary schools	84.3%		79.5	187^th of 906 public elementary schools	79.4%	46	57.6	52.9			55.3	65.9	72.1			68.9			$20,357
Calvin Coolidge School	Public	K-4	1 Florence Street	Shrewsbury	01545	Worcester County	Shrewsbury	No	No	No	Yes	(508) 841-8880	287	22	12.8	29.8%	109 (38.0%)	20 (7.0%)	61 (21.3%)	77 (26.8%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (6.6%)	70.5	259^th of 899 public elementary schools	71.2%		79.1	190^th of 906 public elementary schools	79.0%	69	42.6	54.0			48.4	49.2	71.4			60.5			$20,453
Lake View	Public	PK, KG-6	133 Coburn Avenue	Worcester	01604	Worcester County	Worcester	No	No	No	Yes	(508) 799-3536	284	20	14.4	65.7%	100 (35.2%)	60 (21.1%)	88 (31.0%)	26 (9.2%)	1 (0.4%)	1 (0.4%)	8 (2.8%)	65.5	306^th of 899 public elementary schools	66.0%		69	291^st of 906 public elementary schools	67.9%	15	35.7	47.8	48.4	62.9	48.1	40.5	56.5	41.9	57.1	49.4	64.5	64.5	$20,991
Lincoln Street	Public	K-6	549 Lincoln Street	Worcester	01605	Worcester County	Worcester	No	No	No	Yes	(508) 799-3504	177	18	9.5	91.7%	32 (18.1%)	44 (24.9%)	74 (41.8%)	14 (7.9%)	1 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (6.8%)	23.2	700^th of 899 public elementary schools	22.1%		20.2	733^rd of 906 public elementary schools	19.1%	33	42.9	23.3	20.0	11.1	24.7	38.1	30.0	15.0	22.2	27.0	20.0	20.0	$24,001
Boylston Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	200 Sewall Street	Boylston	01505	Worcester County	Berlin-Boylston	No	No	No	Yes	(508) 869-2200	347	27	12.8		271 (78.1%)	4 (1.2%)	39 (11.2%)	19 (5.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (4.0%)	75.6	216^th of 899 public elementary schools	76.0%		78.2	200^th of 906 public elementary schools	77.9%	16	77.8	47.7	57.5		60.4	70.4	46.2	37.5		52.2	70.0	70.0	$18,403
Fannie E Proctor	Public	K-5	26 Jefferson Rd	Northborough	01532	Worcester County	Northborough	No	No	No	Yes	(508) 351-7040	238	20	12.0	14.5%	147 (61.8%)	9 (3.8%)	29 (12.2%)	38 (16.0%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (5.9%)	76.6	208^th of 899 public elementary schools	76.9%		83.4	141^st of 906 public elementary schools	84.4%	67	57.9	52.8	51.2		53.9	56.8	61.1	58.5		58.8	53.7	53.7	$22,367
Worcester Arts Magnet School	Public	PK, KG-6	315 St Nicholas Avenue	Worcester	01606	Worcester County	Worcester	No	No	No	Yes	(508) 799-3575	372	26	14.5	36.4%	139 (37.4%)	82 (22.0%)	100 (26.9%)	40 (10.8%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (2.7%)	63.1	330^th of 899 public elementary schools	63.3%		51.9	436^th of 906 public elementary schools	51.9%	106	50.0	49.2	61.5	57.1	53.7	28.0	32.8	46.2	61.9	40.7	61.5	61.5	$23,599

Frequently Asked Questions about Walter J. Paton School

Is Walter J. Paton School a good school?

Walter J. Paton School ranks 105^th of 899 Massachusetts elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What schools do graduates of Walter J. Paton School attend?

Students who attend Walter J. Paton School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Oak Middle School
Middle : Sherwood Middle School
High : Shrewsbury High School

What district is Walter J. Paton School in?

Shrewsbury

How many students attend Walter J. Paton School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 269 students attended Walter J. Paton School.

What is the racial makeup of Walter J. Paton School?

Students at Walter J. Paton School are 59% White, 19% Asian, 10% Hispanic, 8% Two or more races, 2% African American, 1% American Indian.

Rate Walter J. Paton School!

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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.