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Excellent

#167 of 1,793 schools in MA

Top 9% in state

John F Kennedy Middle

Middle School · Waltham

655 Lexington St, Waltham, MA 02452

Enrollment

628

Student-Teacher

10.5:1

Score

8.7

Grades

6th – 8th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Massachusetts schools

#167 of 1,793

In Waltham

#1 of 10

public schools

In district

#1 of 10

Waltham

School environment

9.2 / 10

Excellent

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John F Kennedy Middle

8.7/10

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

Waltham SR High

5.7/10

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

Chapel Hill Chauncy Hall School

7.8/10

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

About John F Kennedy Middle

John F Kennedy Middle is a public middle school in Waltham, MA, part of Waltham. John F Kennedy Middle serves approximately 628 students, and covers grades 6th-8th, and has a 10.5:1 student-teacher ratio. John F Kennedy Middle has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.7 out of 10 and ranks #167 of 1,793 schools in MA.

Structured state assessment records for John F Kennedy Middle show 46% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 54% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares1.3 pts above district
  • This school 8.7 · Excellent
  • District avg 7.4
  • 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-0.21 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendStable
Academics8.1Excellent35%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency46.2% (2025 MCAS)
Reading/ELA Proficiency54.5% (2025 MCAS)
Math vs. State Avg+4 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+11.6 pts
Overall Proficiency50% (2025 MCAS, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)39% (model expectation from 2025 MCAS)
vs. Expected+11.1 pts
Adjusted Percentile71th
Resources & Environment9.2Excellent25%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio10.5:1
Per-Pupil Spending$27,267
Chronic Absenteeism17.4%

John F Kennedy Middle — Students at John F Kennedy Middle score 50% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 39%).

How we calculate scores →

Test Scores MA MCAS (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 45.5% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
41.0% (multi-year state average, 2019-2025)
ELA Proficiency 53.9% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
44.7% (multi-year state average, 2019-2025)

Based on 88 test records from MA state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

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

2009
Math
54%
ELA
76%
2010
Math
50%
ELA
76%
2011
Math
50%
ELA
70%
2012
Math
47%
ELA
71%
2013
Math
45%
ELA
74%
2014
Math
42%
ELA
71%
2015
Math
56%
ELA
77%
2016
Math
45%
ELA
54%
2017
Math
49%
ELA
50%
2018
Math
46%
ELA
52%
2019
Math
46.4%
ELA
52.4%
2020*
Math
40%
ELA
50%
2021*
Math
40.2%
ELA
49.8%
2022
Math
46.6%
ELA
48.4%
2023
Math
45%
ELA
45%
2024
Math
43.8%
ELA
44%
2025
Math
46.3%
ELA
54.5%

* 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: 8.9/10.

How John F Kennedy Middle Compares

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

Overall Score
8.7/10
91th percentile in MA
Academic
8.1/10
Excellent
Growth
8.9/10
Excellent
Environment
9.2/10
Excellent

Funding & Resources

Teaching Staff
11:1 student-teacher ratio
60 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
17.4%

Location

655 Lexington St, Waltham, MA 02452

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering John F Kennedy Middle may also want to explore other middle schools in the area. Jonas Clarke Middle (rated 9.3/10, 2.3 miles away, in nearby Lexington), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, John W. McDevitt Middle School (rated 6.2/10, 1.3 miles away), a more accessible option. For more schools in Waltham, see our Waltham schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 2.7 mi
School Distance Rating
Waltham Sr High Waltham 0.2 mi 5.7
CHAPEL HILL CHAUNCY HALL SCHOOL Waltham 0.7 mi 7.8
Northeast Elementary School Waltham 0.6 mi 6.0
OUR LADYS ACADEMY Waltham 0.8 mi 6.9
GANN ACADEMY-THE NEW JEWISH HIGH SCHOOL Waltham 0.8 mi 6.6
Thomas R Plympton Elementary School Waltham 1.1 mi 5.0
John W. McDevitt Middle School Waltham 1.3 mi 6.2
Douglas MacArthur Elementary School Waltham 1.0 mi 7.9
MILESTONES DAY SCHOOL Waltham 1.1 mi 6.9
COTTING SCHOOL Lexington 1.6 mi 7.1
LEXINGTON MONTESSORI SCHOOL Lexington 1.7 mi 7.8
James Fitzgerald Elementary School Waltham 1.6 mi 6.0
Waltham Public Schools Dual Language Program Waltham 2.1 mi 6.5
Bowman Lexington 2.0 mi 9.5
COMMUNITY THERAPEUTIC DAY SCHOOL Lexington 1.9 mi 5.0
Henry Whittemore Elementary School Waltham 2.2 mi 7.1
Jonas Clarke Middle Lexington 2.3 mi 9.3
William F. Stanley Elementary School Waltham 2.3 mi 6.0
JEWISH COMMUNITY DAY SCHOOL, INC DBA JCDS BOSTONS Watertown 2.3 mi 6.2
Franklin West Newton 2.7 mi 7.4

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 02452 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$112,902

Median Home Value

$779,900

Median Rent

$2,325/mo

Population

16,173

College Educated

54.3%

Homeownership

51.1%

Avg Commute

26.1 min

Poverty Rate

9.4%

Median Age

32.4

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Marshall Simonds Middle Burlington, MA 8.7
Hingham Middle School Hingham, MA 8.6
Miles River Middle Hamilton, MA 8.6
Oak Hill Middle Newton Centre, MA 8.6
P Brent Trottier Southborough, MA 8.6
Thomas Blake Middle Medfield, MA 8.6

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about John F Kennedy Middle

What grades does John F Kennedy Middle serve?

John F Kennedy Middle serves students in grades 6th through 8th.

How many students attend John F Kennedy Middle?

John F Kennedy Middle has an enrollment of approximately 628 students.

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

The student-teacher ratio at John F Kennedy Middle is 10.5:1. 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 Middle rank in MA?

John F Kennedy Middle ranks #167 of 1,793 schools in MA.

What is John F Kennedy Middle's MySchoolScout rating?

John F Kennedy Middle has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.7 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 John F Kennedy Middle?

Based on loaded state assessment records, John F Kennedy Middle has 46% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 54% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is John F Kennedy Middle a charter school?

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

Is John F Kennedy Middle a Title I school?

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

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
40 Car-Dependent
Transit Score
21 Minimal Transit
Bike Score
26 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
6th – 8th
Enrollment
628
Student-Teacher Ratio
10.5:1
Teachers (FTE)
60
Type
regular
Setting
Small City
County
Middlesex County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
17.4%

How we rate schools

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