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Dawson

Q: Is Dawson a good school?

Dawson ranks 101 st of 906 Massachusetts elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-5

101^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 906 Massachusetts Elementary Schools

Better than 89% of Massachusetts elementary schools

Summary

Dawson is an exceptional elementary school located in Holden, MA that serves 488 students in grades K-5. As part of the Wachusett school district, which is ranked 83 out of 348 districts in Massachusetts, Dawson has consistently ranked in the top 20% of Massachusetts elementary schools over the past decade, with a current ranking of 101 out of 906 schools for the 2024-2025 school year.

Dawson's academic performance is truly impressive, consistently outperforming the Wachusett district and the state of Massachusetts on MCAS Next Generation assessments across all grades and subjects. In 2024-2025, 64.22% of Dawson students were proficient or better in ELA, compared to 52.59% for Wachusett and 41.53% for the state. In math, 67.67% of Dawson students were proficient or better, compared to 55.55% for Wachusett and 40.74% for the state. Dawson also excels in supporting various student subgroups, ranking in the top 10% of Massachusetts elementary schools for special education students and in the top 5% for low socioeconomic status students.

Dawson's exceptional performance extends beyond just academic metrics. The school has maintained a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger for the past decade, indicating sustained excellence. Compared to nearby schools in the Wachusett district, such as Davis Hill Elementary and Leroy E. Mayo, Dawson's academic performance is notably higher across ELA, math, and science assessments. This consistent high performance across diverse student groups and the school's commitment to equity and inclusive practices make Dawson an exceptional choice for families in the Holden community.

487

Students ?

13.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$16,257

Per pupil spending ?

14%

Free/discounted lunch ?

155 Salisbury Street
Holden, MA 01520-1499

(508) 829-6828

District: Wachusett

Students who attend Dawson usually attend:

Middle:	Mountview Middle
High:	Wachusett Regional High

Racial breakdown:

White:

79.3%

Hispanic:

8.4%

Two or more races:

5.1%

See top rated Massachusetts elementary schools

Compare Dawson to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 92nd percentile in 2015 → 89th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Massachusetts average (66% vs 41% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 11% of Massachusetts elementary schools

✓Among the top-ranked schools in Wachusett

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school66%

District avg54%

Massachusetts avg41%

101^st of 906

Massachusetts public elementary schools ?

Top 11%▼ down 3 pts since 2015

From top 8% (2015) to top 11% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Massachusetts Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 7Elementary Schools in the Wachusett

83^rd of 348Wachusett 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
2025	87.5	101 of 906	88.9%	★★★★☆
2024	79.6	188 of 916	79.5%	★★★★☆
2023	82.2	161 of 928	82.7%	★★★★☆
2022	81.4	166 of 932	82.2%	★★★★☆
2021	79.8	186 of 936	80.1%	★★★★☆
2019	81.1	159 of 942	83.1%	★★★★☆
2018	79.4	177 of 934	81.0%	★★★★☆
2017	85.9	103 of 938	89.0%	★★★★☆
2016	85.0	112 of 932	88.0%	★★★★☆
2015	87.3	71 of 914	92.2%	★★★★★
2014	88.3	60 of 926	93.5%	★★★★★
2013	91.1	26 of 928	97.2%	★★★★★
2012	90.5	42 of 930	95.5%	★★★★★
2011	86.8	81 of 924	91.2%	★★★★★
2010	83.7	134 of 920	85.4%	★★★★☆
2009	85.6	96 of 909	89.4%	★★★★☆
2008	84.5	111 of 908	87.8%	★★★★☆
2007	81.4	151 of 911	83.4%	★★★★☆
2006	80.7	162 of 911	82.2%	★★★★☆
2005	77.9	204 of 887	77.0%	★★★★☆
2004	77.1	203 of 882	77.0%	★★★★☆
2003	82.0	147 of 884	83.4%	★★★★☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2019	89.6	30 of 665	95.5%	★★★★★
2018	95.1	10 of 656	98.5%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2025	84.4	116 of 869	86.7%	★★★★☆
2024	80.9	160 of 886	81.9%	★★★★☆
2023	73.2	236 of 887	73.4%	★★★★☆
2022	73.1	227 of 901	74.8%	★★★★☆
2021	75.0	214 of 898	76.2%	★★★★☆
2019	77.2	187 of 902	79.3%	★★★★☆
2018	74.3	213 of 893	76.1%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2024	67.9	170 of 760	77.6%	★★★★☆
2023	88.3	39 of 757	94.8%	★★★★★
2022	72.9	137 of 772	82.3%	★★★★☆
2021	89.8	23 of 705	96.7%	★★★★★
2019	56.4	277 of 700	60.4%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2025	88.3	80 of 884	91.0%	★★★★★
2024	73.8	230 of 891	74.2%	★★★★☆
2023	85.5	110 of 896	87.7%	★★★★☆
2022	83.8	121 of 908	86.7%	★★★★☆
2021	80.4	168 of 904	81.4%	★★★★☆
2019	81.4	143 of 907	84.2%	★★★★☆
2018	81.5	138 of 898	84.6%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2023	97.9	7 of 703	99.0%	★★★★★
2022	85.1	79 of 905	91.3%	★★★★★
2021	86.3	73 of 894	91.8%	★★★★★
2019	80.5	98 of 896	89.1%	★★★★☆
2018	91.2	31 of 886	96.5%	★★★★★

Tested In Person

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2021	78.1	194 of 925	79.0%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2025	79.8	112 of 737	84.8%	★★★★☆
2024	67.9	230 of 753	69.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	72.2	179 of 762	76.5%	★★★★☆
2022	69.8	199 of 764	74.0%	★★★★☆
2021	70.3	202 of 765	73.6%	★★★★☆
2019	74.3	168 of 780	78.5%	★★★★☆
2018	71.3	200 of 772	74.1%	★★★★☆

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)

Special Education (2023)99th percentile+16 vs school

Disabled (2019)95th percentile+12 vs school

Male (2025)91st percentile~ school

Female (2025)87th percentile~ school

White (2025)85th percentile-4 vs school

Tested In Person (2021)79th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2024)78th percentile~ school

By subject vs Massachusetts (2024-2025) ?

Science69%+27 vs state

Mathematics68%+27 vs state

English Language Arts64%+23 vs state

★

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Schools Near Dawson

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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 (2025)				Ranking (2024)				MCAS Next Generation English Language Arts (2025)					MCAS Next Generation Mathematics (2025)					MCAS Next Generation Science (2025)		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	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	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
Dawson	Public	K-5	155 Salisbury Street	Holden	01520	Worcester County	Wachusett	No	No	No	Yes	(508) 829-6828	487	36	13.5		386 (79.3%)	13 (2.7%)	41 (8.4%)	20 (4.1%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	25 (5.1%)	87.5	101^st of 906 public elementary schools	88.9%		79.6	188^th of 916 public elementary schools	79.5%	87	61.1	66.2	66.2		64.2	67.8	61.8	73.0		67.7	68.9	68.9	$16,257
Davis Hill Elementary	Public	K-5	78 Jamieson Road	Holden	01520	Worcester County	Wachusett	No	No	No	Yes	(508) 829-1754	431	38	11.3		366 (84.9%)	13 (3.0%)	30 (7.0%)	10 (2.3%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (2.6%)	81.2	166^th of 906 public elementary schools	81.7%		66.3	311^th of 916 public elementary schools	66.0%	145	63.2	58.6	60.0		60.5	60.5	60.9	65.7		62.2	55.7	55.7	$16,122
Leroy E.Mayo	Public	K-5	351 Bullard Street	Holden	01520	Worcester County	Wachusett	No	No	No	Yes	(508) 829-3203	472	35	13.6		373 (79.0%)	22 (4.7%)	41 (8.7%)	18 (3.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	17 (3.6%)	69.2	288^th of 906 public elementary schools	68.2%		60.6	359^th of 916 public elementary schools	60.8%	71	54.0	47.8	54.7		51.9	68.4	22.6	66.7		50.4	73.3	73.3	$16,448
Norrback Avenue	Public	PK, KG-6	44 Malden Street	Worcester	01606	Worcester County	Worcester	No	No	No	Yes	(508) 799-3500	504	43	11.8		143 (28.4%)	146 (29.0%)	183 (36.3%)	12 (2.4%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (3.8%)	17.4	770^th of 906 public elementary schools	15.0%		13.1	823^rd of 916 public elementary schools	10.2%	53	14.3	27.1	10.9	29.2	20.4	12.5	27.1	21.9	23.9	21.3	23.4	23.4	$27,007
Burncoat Street	Public	K-6	526 Burncoat Street	Worcester	01606	Worcester County	Worcester	No	No	No	Yes	(508) 799-3537	223	21	10.8		63 (28.3%)	32 (14.3%)	118 (52.9%)	6 (2.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.8%)	12.2	822^nd of 906 public elementary schools	9.3%		16	788^th of 916 public elementary schools	14.0%	34	16.7	12.5	7.4	26.7	16.0	11.1	18.8	7.4	30.0	16.8	14.8	14.8	$23,532
Worcester Academic Center for Transition (ACT)	Public	1-6	14 New Bond Street	Worcester	01609	Worcester County	Worcester	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(508) 538-9106	49	13	3.8		15 (30.6%)	7 (14.3%)	23 (46.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (2.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (6.1%)								(n/a)
Nelson Place	Public	PK, KG-6	35 Nelson Pl	Worcester	01605	Worcester County	Worcester	No	No	No	Yes	(508) 799-3506	621	46	13.4		274 (44.1%)	109 (17.6%)	158 (25.4%)	46 (7.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	34 (5.5%)	43.3	522^nd of 906 public elementary schools	42.4%		48.6	487^th of 916 public elementary schools	46.8%	35	41.0	27.4	33.8	34.2	34.2	38.5	37.0	48.8	34.2	39.6	48.8	48.8	$23,581
Flagg Street	Public	K-6	115 Flagg Street	Worcester	01602	Worcester County	Worcester	No	No	No	Yes	(508) 799-3522	412	23	18.2		285 (69.2%)	22 (5.3%)	55 (13.3%)	20 (4.9%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (6.8%)	78.9	194^th of 906 public elementary schools	78.6%		69.9	279^th of 916 public elementary schools	69.5%	85	63.2	45.1	55.2	61.9	56.6	63.2	54.9	60.3	69.1	61.6	58.6	58.6	$20,092
West Tatnuck	Public	PK, KG-6	300 Mower Street	Worcester	01602	Worcester County	Worcester	No	No	No	Yes	(508) 799-3596	343	24	14.4		168 (49.0%)	49 (14.3%)	74 (21.6%)	27 (7.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (7.3%)	73.2	244^th of 906 public elementary schools	73.1%		77.2	218^th of 916 public elementary schools	76.2%	26	66.7	59.5	59.1	76.7	65.5	53.9	45.2	68.2	42.9	52.7	37.2	37.2	$20,404
Major Edwards Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	70 Crescent Street	West Boylston	01583	Worcester County	West Boylston	No	No	No	Yes	(508) 835-4461	462	34	13.7		340 (73.6%)	23 (5.0%)	56 (12.1%)	14 (3.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (6.1%)	64.8	331^st of 906 public elementary schools	63.5%		64.4	326^th of 916 public elementary schools	64.4%	5	50.0	43.3	25.4		39.6	57.9	61.7	63.4		60.9	54.9	54.9	$18,617

Frequently Asked Questions about Dawson

How many students attend Dawson?

In the 2024-25 school year, 487 students attended Dawson.

What schools do graduates of Dawson attend?

Students who attend Dawson usually go on to attend:

Middle : Mountview Middle
High : Wachusett Regional High

Is Dawson a good school?

Dawson ranks 101^st of 906 Massachusetts elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What district is Dawson in?

Wachusett

What is the racial makeup of Dawson?

Students at Dawson are 79% White, 8% Hispanic, 5% Two or more races, 4% Asian, 3% African American.

Rate Dawson!

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MAMassachusetts Elementary School Rankings

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Schools in Holden, MA

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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.