James Otis

218 Marion Street
East Boston, MA 02128
(School attendance zone shown in map)
Rating
3/
10
Bottom 50%
James Otis serves 410 students in grades Prekindergarten-6.
James Otis placed in the bottom 50% of all schools in Massachusetts for overall test scores (math proficiency is bottom 50%, and reading proficiency is bottom 50%) for the 2020-21 school year.
The percentage of students achieving proficiency in math is 20-24% (which is lower than the Massachusetts state average of 37%) for the 2020-21 school year. The percentage of students achieving proficiency in reading/language arts is 35-39% (which is lower than the Massachusetts state average of 49%) for the 2020-21 school year.
The student:teacher ratio of 11:1 is lower than the Massachusetts state level of 12:1.
Minority enrollment is 80% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is higher than the Massachusetts state average of 43% (majority Hispanic).

Quick Stats (2023)

  • Grades: Prekindergarten-6
  • Enrollment: 410 students
  • Student:Teacher Ratio: 11:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 80%
  • Overall Testing Rank
    : Bottom 50% in MA
  • Math Proficiency
    : 20-24% (Btm 50%)
  • Reading Proficiency
    : 35-39% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), MA Dept. of Education

School Overview

James Otis's student population of 410 students has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
The teacher population of 37 teachers has grown by 37% over five school years.
Grades Offered
Grades Prekindergarten-6
(offers virtual instruction)
Total Students
410 students
This chart display total students of James Otis by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Gender %
This chart display gender of James Otis
Total Classroom Teachers
37 teachers
This chart display the total teachers of James Otis by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Students by Grade
This chart display the students of James Otis by grade.

School Rankings

James Otis is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 1,644 schools in Massachusetts (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2020-21 school year.
The diversity score of James Otis is 0.46, which is less than the diversity score at state average of 0.62. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
Definition of Terms 2020-2021 School Year Data
This School
State Level (MA)
Overall Testing Rank
#1179 out of 1644 schools
(Bottom 50%)
This chart display the overall school rank of James Otis, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
20-24%
37%
This chart display the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of James Otis and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of public schools in Massachusetts by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
35-39%
49%
This chart display the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of James Otis and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Massachusetts by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Student : Teacher Ratio
11:1
12:1
This chart display the student teacher ratio of James Otis and the public school average student teacher ratio of Massachusetts by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
American Indian
n/a
n/a
Asian
3%
7%
This chart display the percentage of Asian students in James Otis and the percentage of Asian public school students in Massachusetts by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Hispanic
71%
22%
This chart display the percentage of Hispanic students in James Otis and the percentage of Hispanic public school students in Massachusetts by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Black
4%
10%
This chart display the percentage of Black students in James Otis and the percentage of Black public school students in Massachusetts by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
White
20%
57%
This chart display the percentage of White students in James Otis and the percentage of White public school students in Massachusetts by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
Two or more races
2%
4%
This chart display the percentage of students of two or more races in James Otis and the percentage of public school students of two or more races in Massachusetts by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
All Ethnic Groups
This chart display the percentage breakdown of students of all ethnic groups in James Otis.
This chart display the percentage breakdown of public school students of all ethnic groups in MA.
Diversity Score
0.46
This chart display the diversity score of James Otis and the public school average diversity score of Massachusetts by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Participates in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP)
Yes
Eligible for Free Lunch
66%
36%
This chart display the percentage of students who is eligible for free lunch in James Otis and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for free lunch in Massachusetts by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Eligible for Reduced Lunch (13-14)
2%
5%
This chart display the percentage of students who is eligible for reduced lunch in James Otis and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for reduced lunch in Massachusetts by year, with the latest 2013-14 school year data.
School District Name
Source: 2020-2021 (latest school year available) National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), MA Dept. of Education

Frequently Asked Questions

What is James Otis's ranking?
James Otis is ranked #1179 out of 1,644 schools, which ranks it among the bottom 50% of public schools in Massachusetts.
What percent of students have achieved state testing proficiency in math and reading?
20-24% of students have achieved math proficiency (compared to the 37% MA state average), while 35-39% of students have achieved reading proficiency (compared to the 49% MA state average).
How many students attend James Otis?
410 students attend James Otis.
What is the racial composition of the student body?
71% of James Otis students are Hispanic, 20% of students are White, 4% of students are Black, 3% of students are Asian, and 2% of students are Two or more races.
What is the student:teacher ratio of James Otis?
James Otis has a student ration of 11:1, which is lower than the Massachusetts state average of 12:1.
What grades does James Otis offer ?
James Otis offers enrollment in grades Prekindergarten-6 (offers virtual instruction).
What school district is James Otis part of?
James Otis is part of Boston School District.

School Reviews

2   9/28/2020
There is little to no diversity in the faculty that teaches, para's lunch room staff are majority people of color, this clearly shows students every day that those in power/higher up positions are white. I find it strange that the school is majority non-white and Spanish speaking. This is a Red lined school that has no library, gym, computer lab and for many years no playground. Education, paid for by all of us, should be equal. To my knowledge there is NO full-time psychologist, adjustment counselor, OT, SLP, or any other specialist that are housed in the building. This school is a clear example of school to prison pipeline dictated by redlined funding, and lack of advocacy from parents whose children attend. We can and should do better for our children, it's frustrating that there is a clear pattern of black and brown students in underperforming schools. Rant over.
- Posted by Parent - Concerned Mom

Review James Otis. Reviews should be a few sentences in length. Please include any comments on:

  • Quality of academic programs, teachers, and facilities
  • Availability of music, art, sports and other extracurricular activities
Rate this school:

Recent Articles

A Story of Overcoming Common Reading Difficulties
A Story of Overcoming Common Reading Difficulties
Follow the story of Sarah, a fictional character who overcame common reading difficulties with the help of the three cueing system. This blog post explores the advantages and disadvantages of the three cueing system and provides strategies for implementing it effectively.
Voucher Program Update: Florida
Voucher Program Update: Florida
Many states now offer voucher programs. We look at the voucher program available in Florida.
Standardized Tests
Standardized Tests
Standardized tests have a long history in American K-12 education. We examine what standardized tests evaluate and more.

Quick Stats (2023)

  • Grades: Prekindergarten-6
  • Enrollment: 410 students
  • Student:Teacher Ratio: 11:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 80%
  • Overall Testing Rank
    : Bottom 50%
  • Math Proficiency
    : 20-24% (Btm 50%)
  • Reading Proficiency
    : 35-39% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), MA Dept. of Education

Related School Videos

Quick Links