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First Parish Church, Chelmsford, MAPhoto: John Phelan · CC BY 3.0
B+
Schools in Chelmsford · Chelmsford School District

Chelmsford’s public schools outscore 73% of Massachusetts districts

Reading proficiency in Chelmsford’s districts is 58%, above the Massachusetts average (44%). The grade covers the public school district serving Chelmsford, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Massachusetts, not nationally.

#76of 283 Massachusetts townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Massachusetts state tests taken in spring 2022, when 100% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
58%
▲ 14 pts vs MA 44%
2021–22
Math proficiency
53%
▲ 12 pts vs MA 41%
2021–22
Graduate on time
94%
▲ 5 pts vs MA 89%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$18.8K
▼ 29% vs MA $26.5K
FY2024
Students per teacher
13.1
MA 11.9 · larger classes
Schools in town
13
5,068 students on the public path
In brief

Chelmsford’s schools, in brief

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 58% and math 53% in spring 2022, against 44% and 41% statewide; 94% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 89%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $18,805 per student, against $26,530 across Massachusetts (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Four elementary schools, then one middle and one high school

Which elementary school depends on the address; from grade 7 the district’s path is McCarthy Middle School, then Chelmsford High. Enrollment is up 5% since 2020–21. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Lighthouse School, Inc (private), Keystone Montessori School (private), Klub Kid Too (private) and Greater Visions Childrens Center (private) are in town. Every school ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Chelmsford’s grade

A− Test scoresB− Graduation

B+: better than 73% of Massachusetts school districts, #76 of 283 Massachusetts towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the Massachusetts average; test scores are the stronger of the two.

Massachusetts school districts we grade (394)Better than 73%
Lower resultsHigher results
Massachusetts towns with similar household incomes (241)Better than 75%
Towns in Middlesex County (41)Better than 37%
B+A−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 2,678 test results and a graduating class of 324 could put Chelmsford anywhere from B+ to A−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 100% of Chelmsford’s students in the tested grades sat them (2,680 in math, 2,675 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Chelmsford, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
K–44 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressB to B+
7–8McCarthy Middle SchoolChelmsford School DistrictB+
9–12Chelmsford HighChelmsford School DistrictA+

Chelmsford’s public schools are run by Chelmsford School District. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Chelmsford School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 8 schools · 5,068 students, up 5% since 2020–21 · 13.1 per teacher (MA 11.9)
$18,805MA $26,530 · FY2024
B+
Test scores · 2021–22

Well above the state in reading

Reading58%
State average 43.7% · 2675 students tested
Math53%
State average 40.7% · 2680 students tested

Chelmsford vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Massachusetts towns that share Chelmsford’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
ChelmsfordB+Chelmsford
TyngsboroughC+Tyngsborough
LowellDLowell
BillericaB−Billerica
WestfordAWestford
CarlisleA+Carlisle PK–8 · Concord-Carlisle 9–12

Every school in Chelmsford

13 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Massachusetts’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Chelmsfordby address
Community Education Center
Prekindergarten · Grades PK
158 students18:1Rate it →
Byam School
Elementary · Grades K–4
B+
510 students13:1Rate it →
Center Elementary School
Elementary · Grades K–4
B+
480 students13:1Rate it →
Charles D Harrington
Elementary · Grades K–4 · North Chelmsford
B
468 students12:1Rate it →
South Row
Elementary · Grades K–4
B+
464 students13:1Rate it →
Col Moses Parker School
Middle · Grades 5–6
B
778 students13:1Rate it →
McCarthy Middle School
Middle · Grades 7–8
B+
808 students12:1Rate it →
Chelmsford High
High · Grades 9–12 · North Chelmsford
A+
1,402 students14:1Rate it →
Other public schools in Chelmsfordrun by other districts or the state
Dr. Janice Adie Day School
Grades PK–12
D−
Special Education
70 students5:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Lighthouse School, Inc
Grades PK–12 · North Chelmsford
Private · Special education
214 students7:1Rate it →
Keystone Montessori School
Elementary · Grades PK–6 · North Chelmsford
Private · Nonsectarian
75 students6:1Rate it →
Klub Kid Too
Elementary · Grades PK–K
Private · Nonsectarian
66 studentsRate it →
Greater Visions Childrens Center
Elementary · Grades PK–K
Private · Nonsectarian
46 studentsRate it →

Questions about Chelmsford’s schools

Are Chelmsford’s schools good?

By Massachusetts’s own tests, yes: the public schools Chelmsford children attend outscore 73% of Massachusetts’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B+ Schools grade, #76 of 283 Massachusetts towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 75%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Chelmsford in?

Chelmsford School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 5,068 students in 8 schools (2024–25).

Where do Chelmsford kids go to high school?

Chelmsford High in North Chelmsford, with 1,402 students; its own test results earn an A+.

What is Chelmsford’s graduation rate?

94% of the class of 2023 in Chelmsford School District graduated in four years, against 89% across Massachusetts.

How much does Chelmsford spend per student?

$18,805 in Chelmsford School District (FY2024), against $26,530 across Massachusetts. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Chelmsford?

Yes: Lighthouse School, Inc (special education, grades PK–12, 214 students), Keystone Montessori School (nonsectarian, grades PK–6, 75 students), Klub Kid Too (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 66 students) and Greater Visions Childrens Center (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 46 students).

Parents talk

What Chelmsford families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Chelmsford → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Massachusetts. Stars are from neighbors.