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Excellent

#82 of 1,793 schools in MA

Top 5% in state

Bigelow Middle

Middle School · Newton

42 Vernon St, Newton, MA 02458

Enrollment

414

Student-Teacher

10.3:1

Score

9.1

Grades

6th – 8th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Massachusetts schools

#82 of 1,793

In Newton

#1 of 3

public schools

In district

#5 of 22

Newton

School environment

9.5 / 10

Excellent

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Bigelow Middle

9.1/10

Middle School in Newton · grades 6th – 8th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Underwood

9.1/10

0.2 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Perkins School for the Blind

8.8/10

0.6 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Bigelow Middle

Bigelow Middle is a public middle school in Newton, MA, part of Newton. Bigelow Middle serves approximately 414 students, and covers grades 6th-8th, and has a 10.3:1 student-teacher ratio. Bigelow Middle has a current MySchoolScout rating of 9.1 out of 10 and ranks #82 of 1,793 schools in MA.

Structured state assessment records for Bigelow Middle show 67% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 71% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

What's said publicly about Bigelow Middle

Sources: School's website

Synthesized from public, attributable sources. Updated May 2026.

Bigelow Middle School is led by Principal Dr. Daniel Green 1 . The school operates within the Newton Public Schools district and utilizes a 'Portrait of a Learner' framework that emphasizes adaptability, communication, critical thinking, empathy, and a learner's mindset 1 . The district communicates regularly through the NPS District News newsletter, which is distributed every other week 1 . Governance is provided by the Newton School Committee, which consists of nine voting members elected from the city's eight wards, along with the Mayor serving as an ex-officio member 1 . The Newton Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) Council serves as an umbrella organization for the 22 PTOs in Newton, aiming to support parents in seeking high-quality education 1 . The Newton Schools Foundation supports the district by funding classroom innovations, teacher professional development, and equity programs 1 . Additionally, Newton Community Education offers enrichment opportunities and classes 1 . The district is currently engaged in facilities renovation and renewal, with four projects recently completed and four others in design or construction 1 . A Facilities and Enrollment Planning Study is also underway to guide future building projects and update the Long Range Facilities Plan 1 .
Sources (1)
  1. bigelow.newton.k12.ma.us
Generated by AI from public sources. Every claim is grounded in a cited source. Report inaccuracy
How it comparesOn par with district
  • This school 9.1 · Excellent
  • District avg 9.0
  • MA avg 6.4

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress8.9Excellent40%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data17
Annual Change-0.22 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendStable
Academics9.1Excellent35%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency65.5% (2025 MCAS)
Reading/ELA Proficiency71.2% (2025 MCAS)
Math vs. State Avg+23.3 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+28.4 pts
Overall Proficiency68% (2025 MCAS, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)56% (model expectation from 2025 MCAS)
vs. Expected+12.8 pts
Adjusted Percentile86th
Resources & Environment9.5Excellent25%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio10.3:1
Per-Pupil Spending$27,226
Chronic Absenteeism13.5%

Bigelow Middle — Students at Bigelow Middle score 68% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 56%).

How we calculate scores →

Test Scores MA MCAS (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 66.7% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
42.1% (multi-year state average, 2018-2025)
ELA Proficiency 70.6% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
45.5% (multi-year state average, 2018-2025)

Based on 96 test records from MA state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
80%
ELA
91%
2010
Math
77%
ELA
90%
2011
Math
83%
ELA
90%
2012
Math
79%
ELA
86%
2013
Math
76%
ELA
90%
2014
Math
80%
ELA
89%
2015
Math
80%
ELA
88%
2016
Math
72%
ELA
66%
2017
Math
68%
ELA
62%
2018
Math
68.8%
ELA
63.6%
2019
Math
72%
ELA
70.6%
2020*
Math
57%
ELA
65%
2021*
Math
57%
ELA
64.8%
2022
Math
62.2%
ELA
64%
2023
Math
64.3%
ELA
69.3%
2024
Math
57.5%
ELA
67.8%
2025
Math
65.5%
ELA
71.3%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 8.9/10.

How Bigelow Middle Compares

See how Bigelow Middle performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
9.1/10
96th percentile in MA
Academic
9.1/10
Excellent
Growth
8.9/10
Excellent
Environment
9.5/10
Excellent

Funding & Resources

Teaching Staff
10:1 student-teacher ratio
40 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
13.5%

Location

42 Vernon St, Newton, MA 02458

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Bigelow Middle may also want to explore other middle schools in the area. Winship Elementary School (rated 9.2/10, 1.4 miles away, in nearby Brighton), with a very similar rating. Another option is Underwood (rated 9.1/10, 0.2 miles away, in nearby Newton Corner), with a very similar rating. Additionally, John Ward (rated 9.0/10, 0.9 miles away, in nearby Newton Centre), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Newton, see our Newton schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.5 mi
School Distance Rating
Underwood Newton Corner 0.2 mi 9.1
PERKINS SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND Watertown 0.6 mi 8.8
MT ALVERNIA HIGH SCHOOL Newton 0.8 mi 7.1
John Ward Newton Centre 0.9 mi 9.0
NEWTON COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL Newton 0.8 mi 7.7
Lincoln-Eliot Newton 0.8 mi 8.8
CLEARWAY SCHOOL Newton 0.8 mi 5.8
DEARBORN ACADEMY Newton 0.9 mi 6.6
MOUNT ALVERNIA ACADEMY Chestnut Hill 1.1 mi 5.8
Cabot Newtonville 0.9 mi 6.4
Hosmer Watertown 1.2 mi 9.0
Lyon K-8 School Brighton 1.0 mi 4.1
Lyon High School Brighton 1.1 mi 5.8
Watertown High Watertown 1.3 mi 6.9
Watertown Middle Watertown 1.4 mi 8.4
Edison K-8 School Brighton 1.2 mi 5.4
James Russell Lowell Watertown 1.6 mi 8.9
B C CAMPUS SCHOOL Chestnut Hill 1.5 mi
Winship Elementary School Brighton 1.4 mi 9.2
ST STEPHEN'S ARMENIAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Watertown 1.5 mi 5.3

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 02458 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$151,782

Median Home Value

$1,116,600

Median Rent

$2,313/mo

Population

13,308

College Educated

76.1%

Homeownership

62.3%

Avg Commute

28 min

Poverty Rate

5.6%

Median Age

40.1

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Andover West Middle Andover, MA 9.2
North Reading Middle North Reading, MA 9.2
Putnam Avenue Upper School Cambridge, MA 9.2
Wood Hill Middle School Andover, MA 9.2
High Rock School Needham, MA 8.9
Gibbs School Arlington, MA 8.8

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Bigelow Middle

What grades does Bigelow Middle serve?

Bigelow Middle serves students in grades 6th through 8th.

How many students attend Bigelow Middle?

Bigelow Middle has an enrollment of approximately 414 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Bigelow Middle?

The student-teacher ratio at Bigelow Middle is 10.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Bigelow Middle rank in MA?

Bigelow Middle ranks #82 of 1,793 schools in MA.

What is Bigelow Middle's MySchoolScout rating?

Bigelow Middle has a current MySchoolScout rating of 9.1 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Bigelow Middle?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Bigelow Middle has 67% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 71% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Bigelow Middle a charter school?

No, Bigelow Middle is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Bigelow Middle a Title I school?

No, Bigelow Middle is not currently a Title I school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
71 Very Walkable
Transit Score
46 Some Transit
Bike Score
44 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
6th – 8th
Enrollment
414
Student-Teacher Ratio
10.3:1
Teachers (FTE)
40
Type
regular
Setting
Small City
County
Middlesex County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
13.5%

District

Newton
District Enrollment
11,752
Schools in District
22
Per-Pupil Spending
$27,226
District Rank
#5 of 22

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.

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