Waltham School District

617 Lexington Street
Waltham, MA 02452
(District boundaries shown in map)
: 
4/
10
Bottom 50%

Top Rankings

Waltham School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Massachusetts for:

Category
Attribute
Diversity
Most diverse schools (Top 1%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
Student Attention
Lowest student-teacher ratio (Top 1%)
For the 2026-27 school year, there are 11 public schools serving 5,777 students in Waltham School District. This district's average testing ranking is 4/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public schools in Massachusetts.
Public Schools in Waltham School District have an average math proficiency score of 38% (versus the Massachusetts public school average of 43%), and reading proficiency score of 41% (versus the 45% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 66% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the Massachusetts public school average of 49% (majority Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (MA)
# Schools
11 Schools
1,823 Schools
# Students
5,777 Students
915,717 Students
# Teachers
566 Teachers
77,162 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
10:1
10:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

Waltham School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 391 school districts in Massachusetts (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 81% has decreased from 82% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (MA)
#251 out of 395 school districts
(Bottom 50%)

Showing 2013–2023. View full 14-year historical data

38%
42%

Showing 2013–2023. View full 14-year historical data

40%
44%

Showing 2012–2022. View full 13-year historical data

32%
44%
81%
89.2%

Showing 2014–2023. View full 13-year historical data

(2022-23)
25.3%
22.8%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.64
0.66

Showing 2014–2023. View full 36-year historical data

% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
4%
8%

Showing 2014–2023. View full 36-year historical data

% Hispanic
49%
26%

Showing 2014–2023. View full 36-year historical data

% Black
9%
10%

Showing 2014–2023. View full 36-year historical data

% White
34%
51%

Showing 2014–2023. View full 36-year historical data

% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
4%
5%

Showing 2014–2023. View full 15-year historical data

All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $34,796 is higher than the state median of $25,203. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $49,689 is higher than the state median of $27,530. The school district spending/student has grown by 20% over four school years.
This School District
This State (MA)
Total Revenue
$201 MM
$23,079 MM

Showing 2014–2023. View full 34-year historical data

Spending
$287 MM
$25,209 MM

Showing 2014–2023. View full 34-year historical data

Revenue / Student
$34,796
$25,203

Showing 2014–2023. View full 34-year historical data

Spending / Student
$49,689
$27,530

Showing 2014–2023. View full 34-year historical data

Best Waltham School District Public Schools (2026-27)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Douglas Macarthur Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 54%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
494 Lincoln Street
Waltham, MA 02451
(781) 314-5721
Gr: K-5 | 475 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 43%
Rank: #22.
James Fitzgerald Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
138 Beal Road
Waltham, MA 02453
(781) 314-5685
Gr: K-5 | 350 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 49%
Rank: #33.
Waltham Sr High School
(Math: 40% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
554 Lexington Street
Waltham, MA 02452
(781) 614-2702
Gr: 9-12 | 1,791 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 68%
Rank: #44.
John F Kennedy Middle School
(Math: 45% | Reading: 48%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
655 Lexington St
Waltham, MA 02452
(781) 314-5563
Gr: 6-8 | 635 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 55%
Rank: #55.
William F. Stanley Elementary School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
250 South Street
Waltham, MA 02453
(781) 314-5620
Gr: PK-5 | 381 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 74%
Rank: #66.
Thomas R Plympton Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
20 Farnsworth Street
Waltham, MA 02451
(781) 314-5760
Gr: K-5 | 357 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 61%
Rank: #77.
John W. Mcdevitt Middle School
(Math: 32% | Reading: 37%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
75 Church Street
Waltham, MA 02453
(781) 314-5595
Gr: 6-8 | 618 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 77%
Rank: #88.
Dual Language School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
617 Lexington St
Waltham, MA 02452
(781) 314-5402
Gr: K-5 | 222 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 81%
Rank: #99.
Northeast Elementary School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
70 Putney Lane
Waltham, MA 02452
(781) 314-5740
Gr: PK-5 | 527 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 65%
Rank: #1010.
Henry Whittemore Elementary School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 15-19%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
30 Parmenter Road
Waltham, MA 02453
(781) 314-5785
Gr: K-5 | 372 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 89%
Rank: n/an/a
Waltham Valor High School
Alternative School
617 Lexington Street
Waltham, MA 02452
(781) 314-5402
Gr: 9-12 | 49 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 98%

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools belong to Waltham School District?
Waltham School District manages 11 public schools serving 5,777 students.
What is the rank of Waltham School District?
Waltham School District is ranked #258 out of 391 school districts in Massachusetts (bottom 50%) based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data for the 2022-2023 school year. This district ranks in the top 20% of Massachusetts school districts for: Most diverse schools (Top 1%), Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%) and Lowest student-teacher ratio (Top 1%)
What is the racial composition of students in Waltham School District?
49% of Waltham School District students are Hispanic, 34% of students are White, 9% of students are Black, 4% of students are Asian, and 4% of students are Two or more races.
What is the student/teacher ratio of Waltham School District?
Waltham School District has a student/teacher ratio of 10:1, which is lower than the Massachusetts state average of 12:1.
What is Waltham School District's spending/student ratio?
The school district's spending/student of $49,689 is higher than the state median of $27,530. The school district spending/student has grown by 20% over four school years.

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Quick Facts (26-27)

  • District size: 11 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 5,777 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 10:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 66%
  • : 81% (Btm 50% in MA)
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 38% (Btm 50%)
  • : 40% (Btm 50%)
  • : 32% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), MA Dept. of Education

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