Collicot Elementary in Milton scored the highest ranking among local schools in the 2027 U.S. News Best Elementary Schools list, placing No. 95 out of 956 ranked Massachusetts elementary schools.

The K-5 school on Edge Hill Road earned an overall score of 90.16 out of 100. Seventy-three percent of Collicot's students scored at or above the proficient level in math, and 71% hit that mark in reading, according to U.S. News' Collicot profile. Both figures topped the Milton district averages of 65% in math and 64% in reading.

In Canton, Dean S. Luce Elementary earned the town's top spot at No. 122 statewide with an overall score of 87.33 out of 100. The school posted 68% math proficiency and 58% reading proficiency, both above the Canton district averages of 65% and 56%.

Dean S. Luce's math performance rating was "well above expectations" when accounting for socioeconomic factors, according to U.S. News. Collicot's math and reading performance were each rated "somewhat above expectations."

Canton Superintendent Derek Folan and Milton school officials have not commented publicly on the rankings.

How other local schools fared

Milton's other elementary schools also placed in the top half of the state list. Glover Elementary ranked No. 187 with an overall score of 80.42, and Cunningham School ranked No. 249 with a 74.03.

Canton's John F. Kennedy Elementary placed No. 293 with a 69.42 overall score. Its reading performance was rated "somewhat below expectations."

The rankings use state assessment data from the 2023-2024 school year. U.S. News weights four factors equally at 25% each: math proficiency, math performance, reading proficiency and reading performance. Half the formula measures raw test scores. The other half factors in socioeconomic demographics.

Nearly 47,000 elementary schools were ranked nationwide. U.S. News ranks only public schools because they participate in common statewide assessments that allow direct comparison.

Massachusetts top 10 elementary schools

For comparison, here are the top 10 public elementary schools statewide:

  1. Martin Luther King Jr. — Cambridge
  2. Chilmark Elementary — Chilmark
  3. John D Hardy — Wellesley
  4. Woodland — Weston
  5. Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School — Cambridge
  6. Country — Weston
  7. Maria L. Baldwin — Cambridge
  8. Eliot K-8 Innovation School — Boston
  9. Paul P. Gates Elementary School — Acton
  10. Joseph Estabrook — Lexington