Best Schools in Melrose, Massachusetts
10 schools · 8 Elementary · 1 Middle · 1 High
Choosing a school in Melrose?
Use this page to compare every school in Melrose by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Melrose High
High · Melrose. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Winthrop
Elementary · Melrose. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Roosevelt
Elementary · Melrose. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Melrose for 2026 are Melrose High (8.5/10), Winthrop (8.0/10), and Roosevelt (7.5/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 9 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
10
8 public · 2 private
Avg Score
6.7
out of 10
Median Home
$796,100
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Schools
10
8 public · 2 private
Avg Score
6.7
out of 10
Median Home
$796,100
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Top-Rated Schools in Melrose
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (9 of 10). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Melrose High | 8.5 / 10 |
| 2 | Winthrop | 8.0 / 10 |
| 3 | Roosevelt | 7.5 / 10 |
| 4 | Horace Mann | 7.3 / 10 |
| 5 | Herbert Clark Hoover | 7.1 / 10 |
| 6 | Lincoln | 6.1 / 10 |
| 7 | Melrose Middle | 6.1 / 10 |
| 8 | St Mary's School | 5.4 / 10 |
| 9 | Melrose Montessori School | 5.2 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 6.7/10
- Median household income
- $126,854
- Median home value
- $796,100
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 62%
- Avg commute
- 36 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 68%
50% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Melrose compares
Massachusetts rank
#96 of 238
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+0.4
above Massachusetts avg (6.3)
Median household income
$127k
112% of Massachusetts median
Schools in this city
10
About Schools in Melrose, Massachusetts
Melrose runs a compact public school system with 8 ranked schools serving students from kindergarten through high school. The district averages 7.0 out of 10 across all ranked schools — a solid baseline that holds up against comparable Massachusetts communities. Half the schools clear the 7.0 mark, meaning parents have a realistic shot at a high-performing placement regardless of which side of the city they live on.
Performance at the top of the system is genuinely strong. Melrose High leads at 8.4 out of 10, making it the standout for families focused on the secondary years. The elementary pipeline feeds into that high school from a position of strength: Winthrop scores 8.2, the second-highest in the entire city, and both Roosevelt (7.5) and Horace Mann (7.4) sit comfortably above average. That means four of Melrose's ranked schools — spanning elementary and high school — score 7 or better. The drop-off is gradual rather than steep; Herbert Clark Hoover comes in at 6.6, which trails the pack but still sits within range of the city average.
The story here is consistency. In many cities, a high-scoring top school masks a weaker middle tier. Melrose avoids that problem. With 50% of its schools at 7 or above and no dramatic outliers in either direction, the distribution is tight. Elementary families have four schools worth serious consideration before even factoring in geography or program fit.
Practically, parents moving to Melrose can focus their search on assignment zone first — the gap between the city's best and worst-ranked school is less than two full points. Families who want maximum academic ceiling should prioritize proximity to Winthrop at the elementary level and plan around Melrose High for grades 9–12. Those landing in the Hoover zone should know the school scores below the city average but remains within striking distance of its peers. Melrose is a city where school quality does not require a lottery or a perfectly timed move — the floor is high enough that most families will find a workable option close to home.
Elementary Schools
8 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 401 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.0 | ||
| 2 | 403 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.5 | ||
| 3 | 266 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.3 | ||
| 4 | 283 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.1 | ||
| 5 | 412 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.1 | ||
| 6 | 258 students · Pre-K–Kindergarten | 5.7 | ||
| Private Schools 2 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | St Mary's School
Private
166 students · Pre-K–8th | 5.4 | ||
| 2 | Melrose Montessori School
Private
35 students · Pre-K–5th | 5.2 | ||
Middle Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 910 students · 6th–8th | 6.1 |
High Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 959 students · 9th–12th | 8.5 |
Schools in Melrose
Melrose, Massachusetts · 10 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code
Median Income
$126,854
Median Home Value
$796,100
Median Rent
$1,933/mo
Population
29,488
College Educated
62%
Homeownership
68%
Avg Commute
36 min
Poverty Rate
3.7%
Community Profile
Melrose has a median household income of $126,854. It is a well-educated community where 62% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $796,100, with a median rent of $1,933/month. The local poverty rate of 3.7% is relatively low. The average commute in the area is 36 minutes, which is above the national average. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Massachusetts
- Elementary
- 8
- Middle
- 1
- High
- 1
Resources
School District
Nearby Cities
Other Major Cities in Massachusetts
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Melrose, Massachusetts
How many schools are in Melrose, Massachusetts?
Melrose has 10 schools, including 8 public and 2 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Melrose, Massachusetts?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Melrose is 6.7 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Melrose, Massachusetts?
The top-ranked school in Melrose on MySchoolScout is Melrose High with a composite score of 8.5/10.
What is the best elementary school in Melrose, Massachusetts?
The top-ranked elementary school in Melrose on MySchoolScout is Winthrop with a composite score of 8.0/10.
What is the best middle school in Melrose, Massachusetts?
The top-ranked middle school in Melrose on MySchoolScout is Melrose Middle with a composite score of 6.1/10.
What is the best high school in Melrose, Massachusetts?
The top-ranked high school in Melrose on MySchoolScout is Melrose High with a composite score of 8.5/10.
How many school districts serve Melrose, Massachusetts?
Melrose is served by 1 school district: Melrose.
What is the education level in Melrose, Massachusetts?
According to Census data, 62% of adults in Melrose have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Melrose, Massachusetts?
The median household income in Melrose is approximately $126,854 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Melrose, Massachusetts?
Yes, Melrose has 2 private schools alongside 8 public schools. The top-rated private school is St Mary's School with a score of 5.4/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Melrose, Massachusetts?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Melrose is 13.5:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Melrose, Massachusetts?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Mass. Dept. of Elementary & Secondary Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.