Waltham School District
School District · Waltham, Massachusetts
Avg Rating
7.0
out of 10
Schools
10
7 elem, 2 mid, 1 high
Enrollment
5,709
Student-Teacher Ratio
10.3:1
Avg Rating
7.0
out of 10
Schools
10
7 elem, 2 mid, 1 high
Enrollment
5,709
Student-Teacher Ratio
10.3:1
How this district compares
Massachusetts rank
#87 of 236
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
+0.7
above Massachusetts avg
Per-pupil spending
$27,267
+$5,896 vs Massachusetts median
District size
5,709 students
Much larger than Massachusetts median
The short answer
Waltham ranks #87 of 236 Massachusetts districts by overall school rating. Waltham's schools with real test data average 7.0/10 across 10 schools. Its top-rated schools are Douglas Macarthur Elementary School (8.7/10), John F Kennedy Middle (8.5/10), and Waltham Public Schools Dual Language Program (8.3/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Top-Rated Schools in Waltham
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (10 of 10). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Douglas Macarthur Elementary School | 8.7 / 10 |
| 2 | John F Kennedy Middle | 8.5 / 10 |
| 3 | Waltham Public Schools Dual Language Program | 8.3 / 10 |
| 4 | James Fitzgerald Elementary School | 7.6 / 10 |
| 5 | Northeast Elementary School | 6.9 / 10 |
| 6 | Henry Whittemore Elementary School | 6.5 / 10 |
| 7 | William F. Stanley Elementary School | 6.3 / 10 |
| 8 | John W. Mcdevitt Middle School | 6.0 / 10 |
| 9 | Thomas R Plympton Elementary School | 6.0 / 10 |
| 10 | Waltham SR High | 5.5 / 10 |
See all 10 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Waltham
Waltham is a Waltham, Massachusetts school district serving 10 schools.The district educates 5,709 students with a student-teacher ratio of 10.3:1. District-level spending was $27,267 per student in fiscal year 2023 (NCES F-33).
With an average rating of 7.0/10, Waltham is among the strongest-performing districts in the state.
The highest-rated school in the district is Douglas Macarthur Elementary School, which has a composite score of 8.7/10.
In standardized testing, Waltham students show an average math proficiency of 41.7% and ELA proficiency of 45.6%.
The district includes 7 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 1 high school.
District Map
Schools in Waltham, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Waltham with test data.
Schools in Waltham
10 schoolsElementary Schools7
Middle Schools2
High Schools1
District Details
- State
- Massachusetts
- City
- Waltham
- Total Enrollment
- 5,709
- Teachers (FTE)
- 552
- District spending per student
- $27,267NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- Child poverty rate
- 12.2%Census SAIPE · 2024
- District directory year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Waltham?
Waltham has 10 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 Waltham?
The average composite rating for Waltham is 7.0/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the district spending per student in Waltham?
Waltham's district-level spending was $27,267 per student in fiscal year 2023, according to NCES F-33. This is district context, not an individual-school expense.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Waltham?
The average student-teacher ratio in Waltham is 10.3:1.
What is the top-rated school in Waltham?
Douglas Macarthur Elementary School is the highest-rated school in Waltham with a composite score of 8.7/10.
What are the test scores in Waltham?
Across schools in Waltham with test data, the average math proficiency is 41.7% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 45.6%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Waltham compare to other districts in Massachusetts?
Waltham has an average school rating of 7.0/10 across 10 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
- 7.0/10
- Math Proficiency
- 41.7%
- ELA Proficiency
- 45.6%
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 Waltham 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)
- Arlington (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.
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