McCarthy-Towne School

mct.abschools.org

431 Students

Elementary School K - 6th

School Overview

The McCarthy-Towne School (McT), located in Acton, Massachusetts, is an integrated elementary school serving students in grades K–6 within the Acton-Boxborough Regional School District. Known for its progressive and student-centered philosophy, the school emphasizes a "whole child" approach that balances rigorous academics with social-emotional development. The school’s curriculum is deeply rooted in the "open classroom" tradition, which encourages collaboration, hands-on learning, and project-based exploration, fostering an environment where students are active participants in their own education.

A defining characteristic of McCarthy-Towne is its strong sense of community and parent involvement. The school prioritizes multi-age groupings and thematic units of study, allowing students to learn at their own pace while developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills. By focusing on creating a supportive, inclusive atmosphere, McCarthy-Towne aims to cultivate not only academic success but also a lifelong love of learning and a sense of social responsibility among its diverse student body.

431

Total Students

35.0

Full-Time Teachers

12.3

Student/Teacher Ratio

N/A

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for McCarthy-Towne School
Demographic	Student Count
White	286
Hispanic	62
Black	18
Asian	40
Two or More	25

White
286 (66.4%)
Hispanic
62 (14.4%)
Asian
40 (9.3%)
Two or More
25 (5.8%)
Black
18 (4.2%)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Elementary School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	Acton-Boxborough
Phone:	(978)264-3377
Website:	http://mct.abschools.org
Grade Range:	K - 6th
Total Students:	431
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	35.0
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	12.3
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes participating without using any Provision or the CEO
Qualified Free Lunch:	0
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	0

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Kindergarten 54

Grade 1 64

Grade 2 63

Grade 3 44

Grade 4 64

Grade 5 68

Grade 6 74