- Enrollment
- 1,622
- Students per teacher
- 13.2:1
- Resource Index
- 57/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Acton, MA
Merriam School
Federal NCES profile for Merriam School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 43/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 250171000029
👥 S:T ratio 51
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 21
📋 Attendance 68
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Merriam School earns 43/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Massachusetts median.
- #1 of 5
- elementary schools in Acton · Resource Index
- 43
- Resource Index · Typical
- 12.3:1
- students per teacher
- 395
- students enrolled
Merriam School has class sizes near the Massachusetts median. Computed live against every Massachusetts school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Merriam School ranks #1 of 5 elementary schools in Acton, MA.
School address
District: Acton-Boxborough · Massachusetts
NCES ID 250171000029 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-27 students YoY
Merriam School shrank from 431 students in 2022-23 to 404 in 2023-24 (-6.3%).
Teacher FTE lost 32.5 → 32.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-27 students YoY 250171000029 · Acton, MA Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
395 enr · 12.3:1 · RII 43
Nearest enrollment peer: Acton-Boxborough Regional High (1,622 students)
Merriam School shrank from 431 students in 2022-23 to 404 in 2023-24 (-6.3%). Teacher FTE lost 32.5 → 32.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Massachusetts schools → · Find another →
Merriam School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Acton-Boxborou
Acton-Boxborough Regional High
1,622 students
- Raymond J Grey
Raymond J Grey Junior High
824 students
- Blanchard Memo 469
Blanchard Memorial School
469 students
- Mccarthy-Towne 431
Mccarthy-Towne School
431 students
- Luther Conant 410
Luther Conant School
410 students
- This school 395
Merriam School
395 students
What this shows Merriam School reports 395 students on the CCD universe file.
How Merriam School compares
Merriam School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Massachusetts and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Massachusetts | Massachusetts avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 12.3:1 | ▼ 0% | 12.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Enrollment | 395 | top 53% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.3:1
Leaner classes than 73% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
395
Bigger than 47% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Staffing depth
12.3:1
students per teacher
- 0% above state mean
Top 57% in Massachusetts - lower ratio than 43% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
12.7%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
Funding equity
$20,676
per pupil, district-wide
- below Massachusetts avg of $23,695
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 395 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 64.5%
Asian 16.5%
Hispanic or Latino 7.6%
Two or More 7.4%
African American 4.1%
Largest group: White at 64.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 54.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 54.4, Merriam School is more mixed than the Massachusetts school average of 47.3.
Programs
District finance for Acton-Boxborough reports $20,676 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Merriam School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Larger | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
| Raymond J Grey Junior High | Larger | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
| Blanchard Memorial School | Similar size | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
| Mccarthy-Towne School | Similar size | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
| Luther Conant School | Similar size | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Merriam School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 824
- Students per teacher
- 11.4:1
- Resource Index
- 56/100
- Enrollment
- 469
- Students per teacher
- 12.7:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 431
- Students per teacher
- 12.7:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 410
- Students per teacher
- 13.7:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
Similar elementary schools in Acton
4 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Mccarthy-Towne School
Standard public school
431 students 12.7:1 students per teacher
Luther Conant School
Standard public school
410 students 13.7:1 students per teacher
C.T. Douglas Elementary School
Standard public school
408 students 14.6:1 students per teacher
Paul P Gates Elementary School
Standard public school
380 students 13.6:1 students per teacher
Nationwide elementary schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~395 students)
Frequently asked questions about Merriam School
How many students attend Merriam School?
Merriam School has 395 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Acton, MA. CCD year-over-year: 431 (2022-23) → 404 (2023-24), down 27.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Merriam School?
The student-teacher ratio at Merriam School is 12.3:1, which is 0% higher than the Massachusetts average of 12.3:1 and 22% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Merriam School?
The largest demographic group at Merriam School is White at 64.5% of enrollment, in Acton, MA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 54.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Merriam School?
Merriam School has a Resource Investment Index of 43/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Merriam School rank among elementary schools in Acton?
By Resource Investment Index, Merriam School ranks #1 of 5 elementary schools in Acton, MA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Acton on the city page.
What other schools are in Acton-Boxborough?
Besides Merriam School, Acton-Boxborough also operates Acton-Boxborough Regional High (1,622 students), Raymond J Grey Junior High (824 students), and Blanchard Memorial School (469 students). See the Acton-Boxborough district page for the complete list.