E W Thurston Middle

E W Thurston Middle serves 661 students in grades 6 through 8 in Westwood, Massachusetts. It earns a composite score of 9.0 out of 10 — rated Exceptional — placing it 59th among 1,791 public schools statewide and outperforming 97% of Massachusetts schools. That puts Thurston in rare company: fewer than 60 schools in the entire state score higher.

The academic score of 8.8 reflects strong baseline achievement, but the growth score of 9.4 tells the sharper story. Students here advance faster than their peers across the state, a signal that instruction consistently moves kids forward regardless of where they start. Among middle schools specifically, Thurston ranks 9th out of 305 in Massachusetts — a result that holds up whether measured by raw achievement or year-over-year progress.

A student-teacher ratio of 11.6 to 1 keeps class sizes tight, giving teachers real visibility into individual progress throughout the three-year span. Thurston is a regular public school — no application or lottery required — making that level of performance accessible to Westwood families by default. For parents comparing middle school options in the area, the numbers make a clear case: Thurston lands at the top of a strong local field and competes with the best schools the state has to offer.