Arlington School District
School District · Arlington, Massachusetts
Avg Rating
8.6
out of 10
Schools
11
7 elem, 2 mid, 1 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$20,961
Student-Teacher Ratio
12.2:1
Avg Rating
8.6
out of 10
Schools
11
7 elem, 2 mid, 1 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$20,961
Student-Teacher Ratio
12.2:1
Evaluating Arlington?
A district shares budget, policy, and attendance zones across its schools — use this page to judge Arlington as a whole, then compare how its individual schools differ.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Ottoson Middle
Arlington · Middle. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Peirce
Arlington · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
John a Bishop
Arlington · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
How this district compares
Massachusetts rank
#11 of 236
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
+2.3
above Massachusetts avg
Per-pupil spending
$20,961
$410 vs Massachusetts median
District size
5,997 students
Much larger than Massachusetts median
The short answer
Arlington ranks #11 of 236 Massachusetts districts by overall school rating. Arlington's schools with real test data average 8.8/10 across 10 schools. Its top-rated schools are Ottoson Middle (9.3/10), Peirce (9.3/10), and John a Bishop (9.2/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Top-Rated Schools in Arlington
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (10 of 11). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ottoson Middle | 9.3 / 10 |
| 2 | Peirce | 9.3 / 10 |
| 3 | John a Bishop | 9.2 / 10 |
| 4 | Cyrus E Dallin | 9.0 / 10 |
| 5 | Arlington High | 8.9 / 10 |
| 6 | Hardy | 8.9 / 10 |
| 7 | Gibbs School | 8.8 / 10 |
| 8 | M Norcross Stratton | 8.5 / 10 |
| 9 | Brackett | 8.2 / 10 |
| 10 | Thompson | 8.0 / 10 |
See all 11 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Arlington
Arlington is a Arlington, Massachusetts school district serving 11 schools. The district educates 5,997 students with a student-teacher ratio of 12.2:1. The district invests $20,961 per student annually.
With an average rating of 8.6/10, Arlington is among the strongest-performing districts in the state.
The highest-rated school in the district is Ottoson Middle, which has a composite score of 9.3/10.
In standardized testing, Arlington students show an average math proficiency of 68.5% and ELA proficiency of 72.5%.
The district includes 7 elementary schools , 2 middle schools , and 1 high school.
District Map
Schools in Arlington, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Arlington with test data.
Schools in Arlington
11 schools Elementary Schools 7
Middle Schools 2
High Schools 1
Other Schools 1
District Details
- State
- Massachusetts
- City
- Arlington
- Total Enrollment
- 5,997
- Teachers (FTE)
- 491
- Child Poverty Rate
- 0.0%
- Data Year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Arlington?
Arlington has 11 schools in total — 7 elementary, 2 middle, and 1 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Arlington?
The average composite rating for Arlington is 8.6/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the per-pupil spending in Arlington?
Arlington spends $20,961 per student per year.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Arlington?
The average student-teacher ratio in Arlington is 12.2:1.
What is the top-rated school in Arlington?
Ottoson Middle is the highest-rated school in Arlington with a composite score of 9.3/10.
What are the test scores in Arlington?
Across schools in Arlington with test data, the average math proficiency is 68.5% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 72.5%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Arlington compare to other districts in Massachusetts?
Arlington has an average school rating of 8.6/10 across 11 schools. Families can compare this to other districts in Massachusetts by visiting individual district pages. Factors like school size, available programs, and community demographics also play a role in choosing the right fit.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools?
MySchoolScout ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and learning environment — plus college readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context without being factored into the score. Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.
District Averages
- Overall Rating
- 8.6/10
- Math Proficiency
- 68.5%
- ELA Proficiency
- 72.5%
Resources
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 rateOther School Districts in MA
Compare Arlington with neighboring districts in the state.
- Boston (109)
- Springfield (66)
- Worcester (45)
- Lowell (27)
- Lynn (27)
- Lawrence (26)
- Brockton (24)
- New Bedford (24)
- Newton (22)
- Quincy (19)
- Fall River (18)
- Cambridge (17)
- Haverhill (16)
- Chicopee (15)
- Framingham (14)
- Pittsfield (14)
- Brookline (13)
- Leominster (13)
- Plymouth (13)
- Taunton (13)
- Wachusett (13)
- Attleboro (12)
- Westfield (12)
- Chelsea (11)
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.
Related reading
- Best Public Schools in Virginia 2026: Top Districts in NOVA, Richmond & Beyondbest schools
- Best Elementary Schools in America: 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Best Public Schools in Massachusetts 2026: Top Districts Statewidebest schools
- Best School Districts to Move To in 2026: A Data-Driven Guidebest schools
- Student-Teacher Ratio by State: Complete 2026 Rankingsdata insights
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