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GreatSchools Rating

Thompson Elementary School

Public | K-5 & ungraded | 335 students

Last modified
Community Rating

4 stars

Community Rating by Year
2013:
No new ratings
2012:
Based on 1 rating
2011:
No new ratings
2010:
Based on 1 rating

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Parent involvement

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6 reviews of this school


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Posted July 13, 2012

Wonderful school with highly committed teachers. We love the diversity, and the more realistic environment this school provides for our children.
—Submitted by a parent


Posted March 24, 2010

Thompson is a gem. Except that it is going to be rebuilt over the next few years, it has everything going for it: principal, parents, teachers, community, diversity. We love our school.
—Submitted by a parent


Posted February 25, 2010

We loved this school. the teachers were great and the parents are very involved. The diversity is unparalled. Soon, they will will be giving it a major facelift which is important but not really the most important thing in my mind. My daughter got a good academic start.
—Submitted by a parent


Posted January 11, 2005

I went here as well as my daughter and soon new child. It's still the great community it was when I was young. Parents and teachers are very involved. The extra activites are fantastic!
—Submitted by a parent


Posted April 2, 2004

Volvo or not This Principal is amazing! We moved within Arlington with 2 kids in Thompson to another school district - and hurried back to Thompson after experiencing unexceptable behavior by the principal of one of the newly updated schools in the 'better' neighborhood. Arlington allows school choice and it is worth the short commute to drop off. There are essentially no busses - all neighborhood schools which really builds community. The diversity is unparralled. And this principal goes out of his way to honor every important event in the town relating to cultures represented in his school. Which is the reason they play down the major Christain or American holidays. Why make people feel like they are 'different'? They have made a big sacrifice to leave their families to relocate here. I for one applaude this tradition. Thompson School Rules in Arlington.
—Submitted by a parent


Posted March 6, 2004

Thompson school needs major updating in appearance inside and out. It's ironic to observe when the principal drives a brand spanking new Volvo and parks it right in front of a very old and decrepit school. Other than that, the principal is very involved with the school. The parent involvement is unbelievably high and the school encourages it. There are a few things other things that I am guessing is a result of public education that I have problems with: timed (with a cooking timer) parent/teacher meetings -it made me feel rushed and unrelaxed; not getting into the hoidays wether it be christmas, hannukah or halloween; the ease of putting a child in 'special program' because the teacher doesn't want to spend extra time with a particular student - I'm guessing this is a result of high student to teacher ratio.
—Submitted by a parent


Community ratings and reviews do not represent the views of GreatSchools nor does GreatSchools check their accuracy or verify the reviewers' identities. Use your discretion when evaluating these reviews.

About these ratings

The Community Rating is the school’s average rating from its community members (e.g., parents, students, and school staff). The highest possible rating is five stars; the lowest is one star.

The test results by subgroup show how the designated group of students is performing in comparison to the general population.
English Language Arts

The state average for English Language Arts was 61% in 2011.

50 students were tested at this school in 2011.

2011

 
 
78%

2010

 
 
78%

2009

 
 
75%

2008

 
 
53%
Math

The state average for Math was 66% in 2011.

50 students were tested at this school in 2011.

2011

 
 
88%

2010

 
 
89%

2009

 
 
90%

2008

 
 
59%
Scale: % at or above proficient

About the tests


In 2010-2011 Massachusetts used the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) to test students in grades 3 though 8 and 10 in English language arts and math and in grades 5, 8, and 10 in science. The grade 10 MCAS is a high school graduation requirement. The MCAS is a standards-based test, which means it measures specific skills defined for each grade by the state of Massachusetts. The goal is for all students to score at or above proficient on the test.

See Massachusetts' state standards

Source: Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

English Language Arts

The state average for English Language Arts was 53% in 2011.

62 students were tested at this school in 2011.

2011

 
 
71%

2010

 
 
61%

2009

 
 
59%

2008

 
 
71%
Math

The state average for Math was 47% in 2011.

63 students were tested at this school in 2011.

2011

 
 
69%

2010

 
 
51%

2009

 
 
49%

2008

 
 
76%
Scale: % at or above proficient

About the tests


In 2010-2011 Massachusetts used the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) to test students in grades 3 though 8 and 10 in English language arts and math and in grades 5, 8, and 10 in science. The grade 10 MCAS is a high school graduation requirement. The MCAS is a standards-based test, which means it measures specific skills defined for each grade by the state of Massachusetts. The goal is for all students to score at or above proficient on the test.

See Massachusetts' state standards

Source: Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

English Language Arts

The state average for English Language Arts was 67% in 2011.

47 students were tested at this school in 2011.

2011

 
 
83%

2010

 
 
73%

2009

 
 
71%

2008

 
 
85%
Math

The state average for Math was 59% in 2011.

47 students were tested at this school in 2011.

2011

 
 
70%

2010

 
 
48%

2009

 
 
84%

2008

 
 
68%
Science

The state average for Science was 50% in 2011.

48 students were tested at this school in 2011.

2011

 
 
55%

2010

 
 
65%

2009

 
 
61%

2008

 
 
75%
Scale: % at or above proficient

About the tests


In 2010-2011 Massachusetts used the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) to test students in grades 3 though 8 and 10 in English language arts and math and in grades 5, 8, and 10 in science. The grade 10 MCAS is a high school graduation requirement. The MCAS is a standards-based test, which means it measures specific skills defined for each grade by the state of Massachusetts. The goal is for all students to score at or above proficient on the test.

See Massachusetts' state standards

Source: Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

English Language Arts

All Students78%
Female92%
Male65%
African Americann/a
Asiann/a
Hispanicn/a
Multiracialn/a
Native Americann/a
White82%
Economically disadvantaged40%
Not economically disadvantaged94%
Students with disabilitiesn/a
English language learnersn/a

Math

All Students88%
Female87%
Male89%
African Americann/a
Asiann/a
Hispanicn/a
Multiracialn/a
Native Americann/a
White94%
Economically disadvantaged67%
Not economically disadvantaged97%
Students with disabilitiesn/a
English language learnersn/a
Scale: % at or above proficient

About the tests


In 2010-2011 Massachusetts used the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) to test students in grades 3 though 8 and 10 in English language arts and math and in grades 5, 8, and 10 in science. The grade 10 MCAS is a high school graduation requirement. The MCAS is a standards-based test, which means it measures specific skills defined for each grade by the state of Massachusetts. The goal is for all students to score at or above proficient on the test.

The different student groups are identified by the Massachusetts Department of Education. If there are a small number of students in a particular group, the state doesn't report data for that group.

See Massachusetts' state standards

Source: Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

English Language Arts

All Students71%
Female69%
Male73%
African Americann/a
Asian50%
Hispanicn/a
Multiracialn/a
White83%
Economically disadvantaged38%
Not economically disadvantaged83%
Students with disabilitiesn/a
English language learnersn/a

Math

All Students69%
Female63%
Male73%
African Americann/a
Asian57%
Hispanicn/a
Multiracialn/a
White71%
Economically disadvantaged56%
Not economically disadvantaged72%
Students with disabilitiesn/a
English language learnersn/a
Scale: % at or above proficient

About the tests


In 2010-2011 Massachusetts used the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) to test students in grades 3 though 8 and 10 in English language arts and math and in grades 5, 8, and 10 in science. The grade 10 MCAS is a high school graduation requirement. The MCAS is a standards-based test, which means it measures specific skills defined for each grade by the state of Massachusetts. The goal is for all students to score at or above proficient on the test.

The different student groups are identified by the Massachusetts Department of Education. If there are a small number of students in a particular group, the state doesn't report data for that group.

See Massachusetts' state standards

Source: Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

English Language Arts

All Students83%
Female88%
Male76%
African Americann/a
Asiann/a
Hispanicn/a
Multiracialn/a
White88%
Economically disadvantaged50%
Not economically disadvantaged97%
Students with disabilitiesn/a
English language learnersn/a

Math

All Students70%
Female66%
Male76%
African Americann/a
Asiann/a
Hispanicn/a
Multiracialn/a
White69%
Economically disadvantaged53%
Not economically disadvantaged79%
Students with disabilitiesn/a
English language learnersn/a

Science

All Students55%
Female59%
Male48%
African Americann/a
Asiann/a
Hispanicn/a
Multiracialn/a
White56%
Economically disadvantaged33%
Not economically disadvantaged63%
Students with disabilitiesn/a
English language learnersn/a
Scale: % at or above proficient

About the tests


In 2010-2011 Massachusetts used the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) to test students in grades 3 though 8 and 10 in English language arts and math and in grades 5, 8, and 10 in science. The grade 10 MCAS is a high school graduation requirement. The MCAS is a standards-based test, which means it measures specific skills defined for each grade by the state of Massachusetts. The goal is for all students to score at or above proficient on the test.

The different student groups are identified by the Massachusetts Department of Education. If there are a small number of students in a particular group, the state doesn't report data for that group.

See Massachusetts' state standards

Source: Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

Breaking down the GreatSchools Rating

GreatSchools Ratings are based on the most recent standardized test results for schools. Use the breakdown ratings below to compare types of students at this school. Learn more »


Student ethnicity

Ethnicity This school State average
White 66% 70%
Asian 20% 5%
Hispanic 8% 14%
Black 4% 8%
Two or more races 2% 2%
American Indian/Alaska Native N/A 0%
Hawaiian Native/Pacific Islander 0% 0%
Source: NCES, 2008-2009

Student subgroups

  This school District averageState average
Students participating in free or reduced-price lunch program 30%N/A31%
Source: NCES, 2008-2009

Student-teacher ratio

  This school District averageState average
Students per FTE teacher 16N/A14
Source: NCES, 2008-2009
Notice an inaccuracy? Let us know!

60 North Union St
Arlington, MA 02474
Phone: (781) 316-3769

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