Best Schools in Waltham, Massachusetts
14 schools · 8 Elementary · 2 Middle · 3 High · 1 Other
Choosing a school in Waltham?
Use this page to compare every school in Waltham 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.
John F Kennedy Middle
Middle · Waltham. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Douglas Macarthur Elementary School
Elementary · Waltham. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Chapel Hill Chauncy Hall School
High. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Waltham for 2026 are John F Kennedy Middle (8.7/10), Douglas Macarthur Elementary School (7.9/10), and Chapel Hill Chauncy Hall School (7.8/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 14 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
14
10 public · 4 private
Avg Score
6.7
out of 10
Median Home
$718,467
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Schools
14
10 public · 4 private
Avg Score
6.7
out of 10
Median Home
$718,467
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Top-Rated Schools in Waltham
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (14 of 14). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | John F Kennedy Middle | 8.7 / 10 |
| 2 | Douglas Macarthur Elementary School | 7.9 / 10 |
| 3 | Chapel Hill Chauncy Hall School | 7.8 / 10 |
| 4 | Henry Whittemore Elementary School | 7.1 / 10 |
| 5 | Our Ladys Academy | 6.9 / 10 |
| 6 | Milestones Day School | 6.9 / 10 |
| 7 | Gann Academy-the New Jewish High School | 6.6 / 10 |
| 8 | Waltham Public Schools Dual Language Program | 6.5 / 10 |
| 9 | John W. Mcdevitt Middle School | 6.2 / 10 |
| 10 | James Fitzgerald Elementary School | 6.0 / 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
- $115,480
- Median home value
- $718,467
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 56%
- Avg commute
- 25 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 51%
29% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Waltham compares
Massachusetts rank
#101 of 238
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+0.4
above Massachusetts avg (6.3)
Median household income
$115k
102% of Massachusetts median
Schools in this city
14
About Schools in Waltham, Massachusetts
Waltham's public school system spans 10 ranked schools covering the full K–12 range, with a city-wide average score of 6.4 out of 10. That average places most schools in the middle tier of Massachusetts public education — functional, but with meaningful variation between the top performers and the rest of the field.
The standout is John F. Kennedy Middle School, which scores 8.6 out of 10 and leads the city by a wide margin. Kennedy is one of only two Waltham schools to clear the 7-point threshold — just 20% of ranked schools reach that bar. For families with middle-school-age children, Kennedy represents a significantly stronger academic environment than the city average suggests.
At the elementary level, results spread across a wider range. Douglas MacArthur Elementary leads that tier at 7.9 out of 10 and is the city's second-strongest school overall. James Fitzgerald Elementary (6.6) and Henry Whittemore Elementary (6.3) sit closer to the city average — solid options, but without the same performance ceiling as MacArthur. Parents with young children should treat elementary assignment as an active decision, not a default. Waltham Senior High scores 6.5 out of 10, roughly in line with the city average. That's a meaningful signal for high school parents: the academic momentum Kennedy Middle builds doesn't carry forward into an equivalently strong high school. Families prioritizing college preparation may want to weigh supplemental programs alongside the public high school path.
The practical takeaway: Waltham's public schools are a split landscape. Two schools genuinely outperform — Kennedy Middle and MacArthur Elementary — while the remaining eight cluster near or below the 6.4 average. Where you live matters less than which specific schools your children are assigned to. Confirm building assignments early, understand the district's transfer and choice policies, and benchmark individual school scores against Massachusetts state performance data before committing to a neighborhood.
Elementary Schools
8 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 475 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.9 | ||
| 2 | 386 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.1 | ||
| 3 | 218 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.5 | ||
| 4 | 354 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.0 | ||
| 5 | 376 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.0 | ||
| 6 | 500 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.0 | ||
| 7 | 352 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.0 | ||
| Private Schools 1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Our Ladys Academy
Private
295 students · Pre-K–8th | 6.9 | ||
Middle Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 628 students · 6th–8th | 8.7 |
| 2 | 604 students · 6th–8th | 6.2 |
High Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,816 students · 9th–12th | 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 | Chapel Hill Chauncy Hall School
Private
178 students · 9th–12th | 7.8 | ||
| 2 | 321 students · 9th–12th | 6.6 | ||
Other Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Milestones Day School
Private
80 students · 4th–12th | 6.9 |
Schools in Waltham
Waltham, Massachusetts · 14 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 3 ZIP codes
Median Income
$115,480
Median Home Value
$718,467
Median Rent
$2,308/mo
Population
64,640
College Educated
56%
Homeownership
51%
Avg Commute
25 min
Poverty Rate
8.6%
Community Profile
Waltham has a median household income of $115,480. It is a well-educated community where 56% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $718,467, with a median rent of $2,308/month. The local poverty rate of 8.6% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 25 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Massachusetts
- Elementary
- 8
- Middle
- 2
- High
- 3
- Other
- 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 Waltham, Massachusetts
How many schools are in Waltham, Massachusetts?
Waltham has 14 schools, including 10 public and 4 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Waltham, Massachusetts?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Waltham 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 Waltham, Massachusetts?
The top-ranked school in Waltham on MySchoolScout is John F Kennedy Middle with a composite score of 8.7/10.
What is the best elementary school in Waltham, Massachusetts?
The top-ranked elementary school in Waltham on MySchoolScout is Douglas Macarthur Elementary School with a composite score of 7.9/10.
What is the best middle school in Waltham, Massachusetts?
The top-ranked middle school in Waltham on MySchoolScout is John F Kennedy Middle with a composite score of 8.7/10.
What is the best high school in Waltham, Massachusetts?
The top-ranked high school in Waltham on MySchoolScout is Chapel Hill Chauncy Hall School with a composite score of 7.8/10.
How many school districts serve Waltham, Massachusetts?
Waltham is served by 1 school district: Waltham.
What is the education level in Waltham, Massachusetts?
According to Census data, 56% of adults in Waltham have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Waltham, Massachusetts?
The median household income in Waltham is approximately $115,480 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Waltham, Massachusetts?
Yes, Waltham has 4 private schools alongside 10 public schools. The top-rated private school is Chapel Hill Chauncy Hall School with a score of 7.8/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Waltham, Massachusetts?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Waltham is 9.1:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Waltham, 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.