Top-ranked 8th grade districts

Here are the top 8th grade school districts, ranked by math and science scores on the spring 2004 MCAS exam. Boston.com determined the rankings by adding the percentage of students who scored either "Advanced" or "Proficient" in the subjects. 100 is the highest possible score.

MATHEMATICS 2004 Rank District name Number tested Score 1 Carlisle Public Schools 102 82 2 Acton-Boxborough Regional Schools 470 80 3 Westford Public Schools 391 79 4 Wellesley Public Schools 297 78 5 Wayland Public Schools 258 77 5 Hamilton-Wenham Regional Schools 163 77 7 Harvard Public Schools 106 76 7 Lexington Public Schools 552 76 9 Weston Public Schools 198 75 9 Concord Public Schools 208 75 9 Nashoba Regional Schools 263 75 9 Cohasset Public Schools 100 75 13 Dover-Sherborn Regional Schools 155 74 13 Longmeadow Public Schools 280 74 15 Roxbury Prep Charter School 51 73 15 Newton Public Schools 864 73 15 Hadley Public Schools 46 73 18 Winchester Public Schools 308 72 18 Medfield Public Schools 245 72 18 Belmont Public Schools 293 72 18 Manchester-Essex Regional 96 72 22 Martha's Vineyard Community School 14 71 22 Andover Public Schools 507 71 24 Cape Cod Lighthouse Community School 60 70 25 Sudbury Public Schools 339 69 25 Medway Public Schools 186 69 25 Tisbury Public Schools 44 69 28 Reading Public Schools 369 68 29 Norwell Public Schools 167 67 29 Brookline Public Schools 445 67 29 Westborough Public Schools 299 67 32 Westwood Public Schools 219 66 32 West Tisbury Regional Schools 50 66 32 Community Day Care 29 66 32 Needham Public Schools 376 66 36 Southborough Public Schools 158 65 36 Scituate Public Schools 288 65 36 Sharon Public Schools 289 65 36 Tyngsborough Public Schools 197 65 40 Western Mass. Hilltown Community School 14 64 40 Lincoln Public Schools 141 64 40 Benjamin Franklin Community School 25 64 40 Lynnfield Public Schools 176 64 40 Richmond Public Schools 30 64 45 Groton-Dunstable Regional Schools 233 63 45 Holliston Public Schools 265 63 47 Bedford Public Schools 170 61 47 Grafton Public Schools 173 61 47 Swampscott Public Schools 221 61 50 Northborough Public Schools 221 60 50 Marshfield Public Schools 338 60 52 Walpole Public Schools 292 59 52 Hingham Public Schools 304 59 54 North Andover Public Schools 372 58 54 Abington Public Schools 212 58 54 Nauset Regional Schools 239 58 54 Ipswich Public Schools 170 58 58 Shrewsbury Public Schools 440 57 58 Milton Public Schools 303 57 58 West Bridgewater Public Schools 96 57 61 Masconomet Regional Schools 351 56 61 Hopkinton Public Schools 267 56 61 Old Rochester Regional Schools 268 56 61 Amherst-Pelham Regional Schools 331 56 65 Hanover Public Schools 203 55 65 Wachusett Regional Schools 618 55 65 North Reading Public Schools 193 55 65 Arlington Public Schools 351 55 65 Lenox Public Schools 69 55 65 Natick Public Schools 349 55 65 Chelmsford Public Schools 469 55 72 Marblehead Community School 42 54 72 Lunenburg Public Schools 152 54 72 Hampden-Wilbraham Regional Schools 327 54 72 Sutton Public Schools 118 54 72 Mystic Valley Regional Community School 63 54 77 Duxbury Public Schools 246 53 77 Mansfield Public Schools 383 53 77 East Bridgewater Public Schools 219 53 80 Southwick-Tolland Regional Schools 132 52 80 Braintree Public Schools 426 52 80 Oak Bluffs Public Schools 52 52 80 Ashland Public Schools 184 52 84 Burlington Public Schools 300 51 84 Franklin Public Schools 478 51 84 Sandwich Public Schools 341 51 84 Marblehead Public Schools 222 51 84 Foxborough Public Schools 239 51 84 Wakefield Public Schools 286 51 84 Bridgewater-Raynham Regional Schools 494 51 91 North Middlesex Regional Schools 391 50 91 River Valley Charter School 38 50 91 Shirley Public Schools 91 50 94 Rockport Public Schools 84 49 94 Frontier Regional Schools 146 49 94 Belchertown Public Schools 207 49 94 Falmouth Public Schools 394 49 94 Auburn Public Schools 186 49 94 Nantucket Public Schools 99 49 100 Georgetown Public Schools 100 48 100 Danvers Public Schools 320 48 100 Sabis Foxboro Regional Community School 56 48 100 Watertown Public Schools 232 48 104 King Philip Regional Schools 423 47 104 Tewksbury Public Schools 422 47 104 Acushnet Public Schools 145 47 107 Francis W. Parker Community School 65 46 107 Wilmington Public Schools 335 46 107 Hopedale Public Schools 90 46 107 Northampton Public Schools 241 46 107 Tantasqua Regional Schools 315 46 107 Beverly Public Schools 376 46 107 Rising Tide Charter School 46 46 107 Amesbury Public Schools 232 46 107 North Brookfield Public Schools 69 46 116 Canton Public Schools 240 45 116 Easton Public Schools 289 45 116 Stoneham Public Schools 237 45 116 Maynard Public Schools 121 45 116 Mount Greylock Regional Schools 131 45 116 Florida Public Schools 11 45 122 Newburyport Public Schools 197 44 122 Swansea Public Schools 187 44 122 Central Berkshire Regional Schools 226 44 122 Pentucket Regional Schools 304 44 122 Chatham Public Schools 62 44 122 Somerset Public Schools 241 44 122 Dudley-Charlton Regional Regional Schools 373 44 129 Littleton Public Schools 114 43 129 Berkley Public Schools 92 43 129 Ashburnham-Westminster Regional Schools 235 43 129 Peabody Public Schools 512 43 129 Winthrop Public Schools 157 43 129 Blackstone-Millville Regional Schools 186 43 129 Northbridge Public Schools 210 43 129 Barnstable Public Schools 579 43 129 Triton Regional Schools 275 43 129 Academy Of Pacific Rim 59 43 139 North Attleborough Public Schools 420 42 139 Billerica Public Schools 567 42 139 Freetown-Lakeville Regional Schools 260 42 139 Southern Berkshire Regional Schools 78 42 139 Quabbin Regional Schools 291 42 139 Ayer Public Schools 87 42 145 West Boylston Public Schools 96 41 145 Pioneer Valley Regional Schools 118 41 145 Carver Public Schools 173 41 145 Marlborough Public Schools 418 41 149 So. Boston Harbor Academy Charter School 45 40 149 Millis Public Schools 97 40 149 Melrose Public Schools 275 40 149 Edgartown Public Schools 38 40 149 Millbury Public Schools 178 40 149 Leicester Public Schools 179 40 155 Hudson Public Schools 247 39 155 Norton Public Schools 266 39 155 Stoughton Public Schools 349 39 155 Bourne Public Schools 206 39 155 Easthampton Public Schools 153 39 160 Woburn Public Schools 407 38 160 Mendon-Upton Regional Schools 203 38 160 East Longmeadow Public Schools 223 38 160 Saugus Public Schools 249 38 160 Milford Public Schools 326 38 160 Granby Public Schools 100 38 160 Mohawk Trail Regional Schools 159 38 160 Dracut Public Schools 353 38 168 Provincetown Public Schools 24 37 168 Whitman-Hanson Regional Schools 378 37 168 Dennis-Yarmouth Regional Schools 382 37 168 Four Rivers Charter School 32 37 168 Methuen Public Schools 636 37 173 Uxbridge Public Schools 200 36 173 Dartmouth Public Schools 385 36 175 Dedham Public Schools 245 35 175 Norwood Public Schools 320 35 175 Berlin-Boylston Regional Schools 85 35 175 Silver Lake Regional Schools 576 35 175 Waltham Public Schools 363 35 175 Medford Public Schools 413 35 175 Framingham Public Schools 631 35 182 Dighton-Rehoboth Regional Schools 294 34 182 Hampshire Regional Schools 154 34 182 Weymouth Public Schools 579 34 182 South Hadley Public Schools 197 34 182 Palmer Public Schools 180 34 182 Leominster Public Schools 492 34 182 Hatfield Public Schools 49 34 189 Clinton Public Schools 153 33 189 Ludlow Public Schools 274 33 189 Agawam Public Schools 378 33 189 Monson Public Schools 134 33 193 Quincy Public Schools 707 32 193 Greenfield Public Schools 172 32 193 West Springfield Public Schools 342 32 193 Westport Community Public Schools 151 32 193 Cambridge Public Schools 498 32 198 Seekonk Public Schools 219 31 198 Adams-Cheshire Regional Schools 150 31 200 Hull Public Schools 128 30 200 Avon Public Schools 67 30 200 Somerville Public Schools 402 30 200 Everett Public Schools 407 30 200 Fairhaven Public Schools 199 30 205 Granville Public Schools 35 29 205 South Shore Community School 28 29 205 Middleborough Public Schools 325 29 205 Harwich Public Schools 136 29 205 Attleboro Public Schools 563 29 205 Somerville Charter School 69 29 211 Plymouth Public Schools 671 28 211 Rockland Public Schools 239 28 211 Holbrook Public Schools 139 28 211 Clarksburg Public Schools 18 28 211 Wareham Public Schools 339 28 211 Revere Public Schools 471 28 217 Douglas Public Schools 120 27 217 Sabis International Community School 122 27 217 Spencer-East Brookfield Regional Schools 192 27 217 Bellingham Public Schools 228 27 217 Murdoch Middle Public Charter School 60 27 217 Lee Public Schools 78 27 217 Haverhill Public Schools 760 27 224 Quaboag Regional Schools 125 26 224 Taunton Public Schools 753 26 224 Westfield Public Schools 562 26 227 Salem Public Schools 401 25 227 Webster Public Schools 163 25 229 Gloucester Public Schools 280 24 229 Oxford Public Schools 178 24 229 Winchendon Public Schools 149 24 229 Randolph Public Schools 391 24 229 Boston Public Schools 4,775 24 234 Neighborhood House Community School 22 23 234 Ralph Mahar Regional Schools 161 23 234 Gill-Montague Regional Schools 140 23 234 Berkshire Hills Regional Schools 111 23 234 Lynn Public Schools 1,014 23 239 Malden Public Schools 511 22 239 Narragansett Regional Schools 154 22 239 Seven Hills Charter School 70 22 239 Athol-Royalston Regional Schools 216 22 239 Pittsfield Public Schools 542 22 239 North Central Charter Essential School 86 22 245 Gardner Public Schools 269 21 246 Ware Public Schools 119 20 246 Mashpee Public Schools 188 20 246 New Bedford Global Charter School 63 20 246 North Adams Public Schools 162 20 250 Gateway Regional Schools 123 19 250 Southbridge Public Schools 205 19 250 Atlantis Charter School 62 19 250 Renaissance Charter School 87 19 254 Fitchburg Public Schools 430 18 254 Lowell Public Schools 1,309 18 254 Chelsea Public Schools 454 18 257 Robert M. Hughes Charter School 12 17 258 Brockton Public Schools 1,386 16 258 Benjamin Banneker Community School 31 16 260 Abby Kelly Foster Community School 42 15 261 Worcester Public Schools 1,964 14 261 Lawrence Family Development Community School 52 14 263 Chicopee Public Schools 603 13 263 New Bedford Public Schools 1,196 13 265 Fall River Public Schools 999 11 265 Frederick Douglass Charter School 70 11 267 Lawrence Public Schools 1,154 10 268 Springfield Public Schools 1,981 9 269 Holyoke Public Schools 556 7 270 New Leadership Charter School 57 4

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 2004 Rank District name Number tested Score 1 West Tisbury Regional Schools 50 84 2 Martha's Vineyard Community School 14 78 3 Wayland Public Schools 258 77 4 Belmont Public Schools 293 73 5 Acton-Boxborough Regional Schools 470 72 6 Carlisle Public Schools 102 71 6 Concord Public Schools 209 71 8 Longmeadow Public Schools 279 69 9 Westford Public Schools 391 68 9 Tisbury Public Schools 44 68 11 Lexington Public Schools 552 67 12 Needham Public Schools 376 65 13 Winchester Public Schools 308 64 13 Cape Cod Lighthouse Community School 60 64 13 Sudbury Public Schools 339 64 13 Benjamin Franklin Community School 25 64 17 Hamilton-Wenham Regional Schools 163 63 17 Cohasset Public Schools 100 63 17 Manchester-Essex Regional 96 63 17 Westwood Public Schools 219 63 17 Tyngsborough Public Schools 197 63 22 Harvard Public Schools 105 62 23 Nashoba Regional Schools 263 61 23 Holliston Public Schools 265 61 23 Franklin Public Schools 478 61 26 Medfield Public Schools 245 60 26 Andover Public Schools 507 60 26 Norwell Public Schools 167 60 26 Lincoln Public Schools 140 60 26 Nauset Regional Schools 239 60 31 Dover-Sherborn Regional Schools 155 59 31 Medway Public Schools 186 59 31 Sutton Public Schools 118 59 31 Rockport Public Schools 83 59 35 Masconomet Regional Schools 350 58 35 Auburn Public Schools 185 58 37 Marblehead Community School 42 57 38 Wellesley Public Schools 298 56 38 Lynnfield Public Schools 175 56 38 Groton-Dunstable Regional Schools 233 56 38 Swampscott Public Schools 221 56 38 Old Rochester Regional Schools 268 56 38 Southwick-Tolland Regional Schools 132 56 38 Francis W. Parker Community School 65 56 45 Newton Public Schools 864 55 45 Hingham Public Schools 304 55 47 Sharon Public Schools 289 54 47 Shrewsbury Public Schools 440 54 49 Weston Public Schools 198 53 49 Northborough Public Schools 221 53 49 Hanover Public Schools 203 53 49 North Reading Public Schools 192 53 49 Chelmsford Public Schools 469 53 49 North Middlesex Regional Schools 391 53 49 Pentucket Regional Schools 304 53 49 North Attleborough Public Schools 420 53 57 Hadley Public Schools 46 52 57 Southborough Public Schools 158 52 57 Hopedale Public Schools 89 52 60 Westborough Public Schools 299 51 60 Bedford Public Schools 170 51 60 West Bridgewater Public Schools 96 51 60 Hampden-Wilbraham Regional Schools 327 51 60 Duxbury Public Schools 245 51 65 Brookline Public Schools 445 50 65 Arlington Public Schools 349 50 67 Reading Public Schools 369 49 67 Walpole Public Schools 292 49 67 Hopkinton Public Schools 267 49 67 Lunenburg Public Schools 152 49 67 Quabbin Regional Schools 291 49 67 East Longmeadow Public Schools 222 49 73 Wachusett Regional Schools 618 48 73 Sabis Foxboro Regional Community School 56 48 73 Rising Tide Charter School 46 48 73 Mount Greylock Regional Schools 131 48 73 Somerset Public Schools 241 48 73 Bourne Public Schools 206 48 79 River Valley Charter School 38 47 79 Tantasqua Regional Schools 315 47 79 Blackstone-Millville Regional Schools 186 47 79 Four Rivers Charter School 32 47 83 Richmond Public Schools 30 46 83 Milton Public Schools 303 46 83 Oak Bluffs Public Schools 52 46 83 Nantucket Public Schools 99 46 83 Newburyport Public Schools 197 46 83 Pioneer Valley Regional Schools 117 46 89 Roxbury Prep Charter School 51 45 89 Lenox Public Schools 69 45 89 Natick Public Schools 350 45 89 Marblehead Public Schools 222 45 89 Bridgewater-Raynham Regional Schools 494 45 89 Georgetown Public Schools 100 45 89 Tewksbury Public Schools 422 45 89 Acushnet Public Schools 145 45 89 Stoneham Public Schools 237 45 89 Triton Regional Schools 274 45 99 North Andover Public Schools 373 44 99 Ashland Public Schools 184 44 99 Sandwich Public Schools 341 44 99 Wakefield Public Schools 285 44 99 Easton Public Schools 289 44 99 Dudley-Charlton Regional Regional Schools 373 44 99 Peabody Public Schools 512 44 99 Milford Public Schools 326 44 107 Scituate Public Schools 288 43 107 Grafton Public Schools 173 43 107 Mystic Valley Regional Community School 63 43 107 Swansea Public Schools 187 43 107 Ashburnham-Westminster Regional Schools 235 43 112 Amherst-Pelham Regional Schools 331 42 112 Leicester Public Schools 179 42 112 Mashpee Public Schools 188 42 115 North Brookfield Public Schools 69 41 115 Woburn Public Schools 407 41 115 Berkshire Hills Regional Schools 111 41 118 Northampton Public Schools 241 40 118 Berkley Public Schools 92 40 118 West Boylston Public Schools 96 40 118 Melrose Public Schools 275 40 118 Dighton-Rehoboth Regional Schools 294 40 123 Burlington Public Schools 299 39 123 Frontier Regional Schools 146 39 123 Canton Public Schools 240 39 123 Littleton Public Schools 114 39 123 Ayer Public Schools 87 39 128 Abington Public Schools 212 38 128 Falmouth Public Schools 394 38 128 Amesbury Public Schools 232 38 128 Weymouth Public Schools 579 38 132 East Bridgewater Public Schools 220 37 132 Braintree Public Schools 427 37 132 Danvers Public Schools 320 37 132 King Philip Regional Schools 422 37 132 Beverly Public Schools 376 37 132 Chatham Public Schools 62 37 132 Barnstable Public Schools 579 37 132 Southern Berkshire Regional Schools 78 37 132 Norwood Public Schools 320 37 132 Palmer Public Schools 179 37 132 Agawam Public Schools 378 37 132 Bellingham Public Schools 229 37 132 Oxford Public Schools 178 37 145 Mansfield Public Schools 383 36 145 Freetown-Lakeville Regional Schools 260 36 145 West Springfield Public Schools 342 36 145 Abby Kelly Foster Community School 42 36 149 Western Mass. Hilltown Community School 14 35 149 Central Berkshire Regional Schools 225 35 149 Monson Public Schools 134 35 149 Plymouth Public Schools 671 35 149 Rockland Public Schools 239 35 149 Spencer-East Brookfield Regional Schools 192 35 155 Shirley Public Schools 91 34 155 Belchertown Public Schools 207 34 155 Northbridge Public Schools 209 34 155 Edgartown Public Schools 38 34 155 Granby Public Schools 99 34 155 Mohawk Trail Regional Schools 159 34 155 Westfield Public Schools 562 34 162 Billerica Public Schools 566 33 162 Millbury Public Schools 178 33 162 Norton Public Schools 266 33 165 Maynard Public Schools 121 32 165 Millis Public Schools 97 32 165 Dedham Public Schools 245 32 165 Silver Lake Regional Schools 575 32 165 Seekonk Public Schools 218 32 165 Harwich Public Schools 136 32 171 Foxborough Public Schools 239 31 171 Mendon-Upton Regional Schools 204 31 171 Berlin-Boylston Regional Schools 85 31 171 Medford Public Schools 413 31 171 Clinton Public Schools 153 31 171 Quincy Public Schools 708 31 171 Sabis International Community School 122 31 178 Marshfield Public Schools 339 30 178 Saugus Public Schools 249 30 178 Westport Community Public Schools 151 30 178 Adams-Cheshire Regional Schools 150 30 182 Academy Of Pacific Rim 59 29 182 Marlborough Public Schools 418 29 182 Easthampton Public Schools 153 29 182 Provincetown Public Schools 24 29 182 Dartmouth Public Schools 386 29 182 Granville Public Schools 35 29 182 South Shore Community School 28 29 182 Somerville Charter School 69 29 182 Gloucester Public Schools 281 29 191 Watertown Public Schools 231 28 191 Wilmington Public Schools 335 28 191 Framingham Public Schools 631 28 191 Hatfield Public Schools 49 28 191 Ludlow Public Schools 274 28 191 Middleborough Public Schools 325 28 191 Winchendon Public Schools 148 28 191 North Adams Public Schools 162 28 199 Ipswich Public Schools 170 27 199 Florida Public Schools 11 27 199 So. Boston Harbor Academy Charter School 45 27 199 Stoughton Public Schools 349 27 199 Whitman-Hanson Regional Schools 377 27 199 South Hadley Public Schools 197 27 199 Quaboag Regional Schools 124 27 206 Taunton Public Schools 754 26 206 Ralph Mahar Regional Schools 161 26 208 Carver Public Schools 173 25 208 Dracut Public Schools 353 25 208 Dennis-Yarmouth Regional Schools 382 25 208 Uxbridge Public Schools 200 25 208 Cambridge Public Schools 498 25 208 Douglas Public Schools 120 25 214 Community Day Care 29 24 214 Hudson Public Schools 247 24 214 Revere Public Schools 471 24 214 Murdoch Middle Public Charter School 59 24 214 Lee Public Schools 78 24 219 Waltham Public Schools 363 23 219 Leominster Public Schools 492 23 219 Greenfield Public Schools 172 23 219 Gill-Montague Regional Schools 140 23 219 Ware Public Schools 119 23 224 Attleboro Public Schools 563 22 224 Clarksburg Public Schools 18 22 224 Narragansett Regional Schools 155 22 227 Methuen Public Schools 637 21 227 Hampshire Regional Schools 154 21 227 Somerville Public Schools 403 21 227 Wareham Public Schools 339 21 227 Haverhill Public Schools 594 21 232 Winthrop Public Schools 157 20 232 North Central Charter Essential School 86 20 232 Gateway Regional Schools 123 20 235 Athol-Royalston Regional Schools 216 19 235 Pittsfield Public Schools 542 19 237 Randolph Public Schools 390 18 237 Lynn Public Schools 1,014 18 237 Gardner Public Schools 269 18 240 Hull Public Schools 128 17 240 Everett Public Schools 407 17 240 Malden Public Schools 512 17 240 Lowell Public Schools 1,309 17 240 Robert M. Hughes Charter School 12 17 245 Fairhaven Public Schools 199 16 245 Salem Public Schools 401 16 247 Holbrook Public Schools 139 15 247 Southbridge Public Schools 205 15 249 Neighborhood House Community School 21 14 249 Fitchburg Public Schools 430 14 249 Fall River Public Schools 1,000 14 249 New Leadership Charter School 57 14 253 Webster Public Schools 163 13 253 Chelsea Public Schools 454 13 255 Worcester Public Schools 1,964 12 255 Chicopee Public Schools 603 12 257 Avon Public Schools 66 11 257 Brockton Public Schools 1,388 11 259 Boston Public Schools 4,772 10 260 New Bedford Public Schools 1,197 9 261 Atlantis Charter School 62 8 261 Springfield Public Schools 1,980 8 261 Holyoke Public Schools 556 8 264 Seven Hills Charter School 70 6 264 Renaissance Charter School 87 6 266 New Bedford Global Charter School 63 5 267 Benjamin Banneker Community School 31 3 267 Lawrence Public Schools 1,154 3 269 Lawrence Family Development Community School 52 2 270 Frederick Douglass Charter School 70 1