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Excellent

#74 of 1,791 schools in MA

Top 4% in state

John F Kennedy

Elementary School · Somerville

5 Cherry Street, Somerville, MA 02144

Enrollment

448

Student-Teacher

12.4:1

Score

8.9

Grades

Pre-K – 8th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Somerville

#1 of 10

public schools

Massachusetts elementary schools

#46 of 1,022

In district

#1 of 10

Somerville

Academic performance

9.4 / 10

Exceptional

About John F Kennedy

John F Kennedy is a public elementary school in Somerville, MA, part of the Somerville. The school serves approximately 448 students in grades Pre-K – 8th with a student-teacher ratio of 12.4:1. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.9/10, placing it in the 95.9th percentile among MA schools — an above average rating overall.

Students demonstrate 63% proficiency in math, 20 points above the state average and 69% in reading/language arts, 23 points above the state average. The school scores particularly well in school environment (9.1/10). Located in a neighborhood with a median household income of $140,591, where 75% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

The school is situated in a large suburban setting.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress8.6Excellent50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data7
Annual Change-0.44 pts/yr
Data Period2018–2025
TrendStable
Academics9.4Exceptional30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency63%
Reading/ELA Proficiency69%
Math vs. State Avg+20.9 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+26.4 pts
Overall Proficiency66%
Expected (poverty-adj.)39%
vs. Expected+27.1 pts
Adjusted Percentile91th
College ReadinessNot Available

Data not available for this school

Resources & Environment9.1Exceptional20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio12.4:1
Per-Pupil Spending$27,320

John F Kennedy — Students at John F Kennedy score 66% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 39%).

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 62.6%
School
State
42.4%
ELA Proficiency 68.8%
School
State
45.5%

Based on 108 test records from MA state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

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

2018
Math
66.3%
ELA
72.7%
2019
Math
68.6%
ELA
70.3%
2021*
Math
49.7%
ELA
63.7%
2022
Math
62.9%
ELA
68.7%
2023
Math
63.8%
ELA
70.7%
2024
Math
63.3%
ELA
67.5%
2025
Math
64.3%
ELA
68.7%

* 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: 8.6/10.

How John F Kennedy Compares

See how John F Kennedy performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
8.9/10
96th percentile in MA
Academic
9.4/10
9.4/10
Growth
8.6/10
Above average
Environment
9.1/10
Above average

Location

5 Cherry Street, Somerville, MA 02144

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering John F Kennedy may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Maria L. Baldwin (rated 9.9/10, 0.5 miles away, in nearby Cambridge), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Graham and Parks (rated 9.4/10, 0.6 miles away, in nearby Cambridge), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School (rated 8.7/10, 0.8 miles away, in nearby Cambridge), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Somerville, see our Somerville schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.2 mi
School Distance Rating
Maria L. Baldwin Cambridge 0.5 mi 9.9
ST THERESA SCHOOL Somerville 0.4 mi 6.3
Benjamin G Brown Somerville 0.6 mi 6.7
Graham and Parks Cambridge 0.6 mi 9.4
Peabody Cambridge 0.7 mi 7.0
Rindge Avenue Upper School Cambridge 0.7 mi 9.3
WILD ROSE MONTESSORI SCHOOL Cambridge 0.7 mi
CAMBRIDGE FRIENDS SCHOOL Cambridge 0.8 mi 7.4
Cambridge Rindge and Latin Cambridge 1.1 mi 9.0
Curtis-Tufts Medford 1.0 mi
ST PETER SCHOOL Cambridge 0.9 mi 6.6
Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School Cambridge 0.8 mi 8.7
Winter Hill Community Somerville 0.9 mi 5.0
Missituk Elementary School Medford 1.1 mi 7.7
SAINT PAUL'S CHOIR SCHOOL Cambridge 1.3 mi 7.8
Albert F. Argenziano School at Lincoln Park Somerville 1.1 mi 6.7
Somerville High Somerville 1.0 mi 7.9
Next Wave Junior High Somerville 1.0 mi
Full Circle High School Somerville 1.0 mi 6.0
THE CAMBRIDGE MATIGNON SCHOOL Cambridge 1.2 mi 5.3

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 02144 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$140,591

Median Home Value

$987,000

Median Rent

$2,654/mo

Population

25,009

College Educated

75.2%

Homeownership

38%

Avg Commute

31.6 min

Poverty Rate

11.3%

Median Age

32

Community Profile

The community surrounding John F Kennedy has a median household income of $140,591. It is a well-educated community where 75% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $987,000, with a median rent of $2,654/month. The area has a poverty rate of 11.3%. The average commute for residents is 32 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
Bates Elementary School Roslindale, MA 8.9
E Ethel Little School North Reading, MA 8.9
John A Bishop Arlington, MA 8.9
Plymouth River Hingham, MA 8.9
Amigos School Cambridge, MA 9.0
Bancroft Elementary Andover, MA 8.8

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about John F Kennedy

What grades does John F Kennedy serve?

John F Kennedy serves students in grades Pre-K through 8th.

How many students attend John F Kennedy?

John F Kennedy has an enrollment of approximately 448 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at John F Kennedy?

The student-teacher ratio at John F Kennedy is 12.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does John F Kennedy rank in MA?

John F Kennedy is ranked #74 out of 1,791 schools in MA.

What is John F Kennedy's MySchoolScout rating?

John F Kennedy has a composite rating of 8.9 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 John F Kennedy?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, John F Kennedy has 62.6% math proficiency and 68.8% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is John F Kennedy a charter school?

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

Is John F Kennedy a Title I school?

No, John F Kennedy is not currently a Title I school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
94 Walker's Paradise
Transit Score
82 Excellent Transit
Bike Score
96 Biker’s Paradise
City Safety
High (1,923/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

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

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 8th
Enrollment
448
Student-Teacher Ratio
12.4:1
Teachers (FTE)
36
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Middlesex County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

Somerville
District Enrollment
4,927
Schools in District
11
Per-Pupil Spending
$29,645
District Rank
#1 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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