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 9 public elementary schools serving 3,937 students in Waltham School District. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 4/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public elementary schools in Massachusetts.
Public Elementary Schools in Waltham School District have an average math proficiency score of 38% (versus the Massachusetts public elementary school average of 42%), and reading proficiency score of 39% (versus the 42% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 65% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the Massachusetts public elementary school average of 50% (majority Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (MA)
# Schools
11 Schools
1,352 Schools
# Students
5,777 Students
604,477 Students
# Teachers
566 Teachers
51,060 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.
Overall District Rank
#251 out of 395 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Showing 2013–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
38%
42%
Showing 2013–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
40%
44%
Showing 2012–2022. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
32%
44%
Graduation Rate
81%
89.2%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
Chronically Absent Students
(2022-23)25.3%
22.8%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.64
0.66
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
4%
7%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% Hispanic
49%
27%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% Black
9%
11%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% White
34%
50%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
4%
5%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 15-year historical data available below ↓
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.
Total Revenue
$201 MM
$23,079 MM
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Spending
$287 MM
$25,209 MM
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Revenue / Student
$34,796
$25,203
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Spending / Student
$49,689
$27,530
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Best Waltham School District Public Elementary Schools (2026-27)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Douglas Macarthur Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 54%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
494 Lincoln Street
Waltham, MA 02451
(781) 314-5721
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:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
138 Beal Road
Waltham, MA 02453
(781) 314-5685
Waltham, MA 02453
(781) 314-5685
Gr: K-5 | 350 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 49%
Rank: #33.
John F Kennedy Middle School
(Math: 45% | Reading: 48%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
655 Lexington St
Waltham, MA 02452
(781) 314-5563
Waltham, MA 02452
(781) 314-5563
Gr: 6-8 | 635 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 55%
Rank: #44.
William F. Stanley Elementary School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
250 South Street
Waltham, MA 02453
(781) 314-5620
Waltham, MA 02453
(781) 314-5620
Gr: PK-5 | 381 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 74%
Rank: #55.
Thomas R Plympton Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
20 Farnsworth Street
Waltham, MA 02451
(781) 314-5760
Waltham, MA 02451
(781) 314-5760
Gr: K-5 | 357 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 61%
Rank: #66.
John W. Mcdevitt Middle School
(Math: 32% | Reading: 37%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
75 Church Street
Waltham, MA 02453
(781) 314-5595
Waltham, MA 02453
(781) 314-5595
Gr: 6-8 | 618 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 77%
Rank: #77.
Dual Language School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
617 Lexington St
Waltham, MA 02452
(781) 314-5402
Waltham, MA 02452
(781) 314-5402
Gr: K-5 | 222 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 81%
Rank: #88.
Northeast Elementary School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
70 Putney Lane
Waltham, MA 02452
(781) 314-5740
Waltham, MA 02452
(781) 314-5740
Gr: PK-5 | 527 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 65%
Rank: #99.
Henry Whittemore Elementary School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 15-19%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
30 Parmenter Road
Waltham, MA 02453
(781) 314-5785
Waltham, MA 02453
(781) 314-5785
Gr: K-5 | 372 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 89%
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