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Average

#960 of 1,791 schools in MA

Highlands

Elementary School · Braintree

144 Wildwood Avenue, Braintree, MA 02184

Enrollment

350

Student-Teacher

13.5:1

Score

6.1

Grades

Kindergarten – 4th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Braintree

#7 of 10

public schools

Massachusetts elementary schools

#545 of 1,022

In district

#7 of 10

Braintree

Equity

8.2 / 10

Very strong

About Highlands

Highlands is an elementary school located in the suburban area of Braintree, Massachusetts. Serving students from kindergarten through fourth grade, Highlands has a total enrollment of 350 students and maintains a student-teacher ratio of 13.5:1 with 26 full-time equivalent teachers on staff. The school's MySchoolScout Rating is 6.5 out of 10, placing it at the 68th percentile among Massachusetts schools.

In terms of academic performance, Highlands shows strengths in science, where 71% of students are proficient or above, and ELA/Reading, with 66% proficiency or higher. Math scores come in a bit lower at 58%, indicating areas for improvement but still showing solid results overall. The school's focus on personalized attention through its low student-teacher ratio helps support each child’s learning journey.

Highlands is situated in a large suburban area of Braintree, providing students with a comfortable and safe environment to learn and grow.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress6.3Above Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data7
Annual Change-1.62 pts/yr
Data Period2018–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics7.7Very Good30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency54%
Reading/ELA Proficiency56%
Math vs. State Avg+11.9 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+13.4 pts
Overall Proficiency55%
Expected (poverty-adj.)54%
vs. Expected+0.7 pts
Adjusted Percentile65th
College ReadinessNot Available

Data not available for this school

Resources & Environment3.4Fair20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio13.5:1
Per-Pupil Spending$17,755

Highlands — Students at Highlands score 55% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 54%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

0.1%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores MA MCAS (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 60.1%
School
State
43.2%
ELA Proficiency 65.9%
School
State
46.3%

Based on 52 test records from MA state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

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

2018
Math
68.3%
ELA
76.7%
2019
Math
67.5%
ELA
75.5%
2021*
Math
47.3%
ELA
70.3%
2022
Math
53.5%
ELA
56.3%
2023
Math
56%
ELA
60%
2024
Math
70%
ELA
58%
2025
Math
68.5%
ELA
57.5%

* 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: 6.3/10.

How Highlands Compares

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

Overall Score
6.1/10
47th percentile in MA
Academic
7.7/10
7.7/10
Growth
6.3/10
Above average
Environment
3.4/10
Below average

Location

144 Wildwood Avenue, Braintree, MA 02184

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Highlands may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Mary E Flaherty School (rated 7.5/10, 3.1 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Liberty (rated 7.4/10, 0.9 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Hollis (rated 7.3/10, 2.6 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Braintree, see our Braintree schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 2.5 mi
School Distance Rating
CATS ACADEMY Braintree 0.6 mi 7.4
South Middle School Braintree 0.6 mi 7.6
Liberty Braintree 0.9 mi 7.4
LIGHTHOUSE BAPTIST CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Holbrook 1.3 mi
Holbrook Middle High School Holbrook 2.0 mi 4.0
John F Kennedy Holbrook 2.0 mi 5.1
Braintree High Braintree 2.0 mi 6.2
THAYER ACADEMY Braintree 2.1 mi 6.8
J F Kennedy Elementary Randolph 1.7 mi 6.1
Monatiquot Kindergarten Center Braintree 2.3 mi 5.8
Elizabeth G Lyons Elementary Randolph 1.8 mi 3.7
Hollis Braintree 2.6 mi 7.3
Archie T Morrison Braintree 2.6 mi 6.1
Randolph High Randolph 2.3 mi 5.5
STEP AHEAD KINDERGARTEN Braintree 3.0 mi
Martin E Young Elementary Randolph 2.6 mi 4.0
Mary E Flaherty School Braintree 3.1 mi 7.5
East Middle School Braintree 3.1 mi 5.7
FIRST BAPTIST CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Weymouth 2.5 mi 5.3
Thomas V Nash Weymouth 2.5 mi 5.7

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 02184 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$125,305

Median Home Value

$623,200

Median Rent

$1,925/mo

Population

38,762

College Educated

47.1%

Homeownership

77.1%

Avg Commute

32.7 min

Poverty Rate

5.2%

Median Age

41.3

Community Profile

The community surrounding Highlands has a median household income of $125,305. It is a well-educated community where 47% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $623,200, with a median rent of $1,925/month. The local poverty rate of 5.2% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 33 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Abraham Lincoln Lowell, MA 6.1
Archie T Morrison Braintree, MA 6.1
Arthur D Healey Somerville, MA 6.1
Charles A Bernazzani Elementary Quincy, MA 6.1
Dolbeare Wakefield, MA 6.1
Henry P Clough Mendon, MA 6.1

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Highlands

What grades does Highlands serve?

Highlands serves students in grades Kindergarten through 4th.

How many students attend Highlands?

Highlands has an enrollment of approximately 350 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Highlands?

The student-teacher ratio at Highlands is 13.5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Highlands rank in MA?

Highlands is ranked #960 out of 1,791 schools in MA.

What is Highlands's MySchoolScout rating?

Highlands has a composite rating of 6.1 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Highlands?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Highlands has 60.1% math proficiency and 65.9% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Highlands a charter school?

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

Is Highlands a Title I school?

No, Highlands is not currently a Title I school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

City Safety
Elevated (1,407/100K)

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Braintree). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Kindergarten – 4th
Enrollment
350
Student-Teacher Ratio
13.5:1
Teachers (FTE)
26
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Norfolk County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

Braintree
District Enrollment
5,237
Schools in District
10
Per-Pupil Spending
$19,658
District Rank
#7 of 10

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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