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Excellent

#24 of 1,793 schools in MA

Top 1% in state

John M Tobin

Elementary School · Cambridge

359 Broadway, Cambridge, MA 02139

Enrollment

326

Student-Teacher

10.2:1

Score

9.5

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Massachusetts schools

#24 of 1,793

In Cambridge

#5 of 20

public schools

In district

#5 of 17

Cambridge

School environment

9.9 / 10

Excellent

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John M Tobin

9.5/10

Elementary School in Cambridge · grades Pre-K – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Martin Luther King Jr.

9.8/10

Cambridge, MA. Compare side by side with John M Tobin before ruling this option in or out.

Morse

9.2/10

Cambridge, MA. Compare side by side with John M Tobin before ruling this option in or out.

About John M Tobin

John M Tobin is a public elementary school in Cambridge, MA, part of Cambridge. John M Tobin serves approximately 326 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 10.2:1 student-teacher ratio. John M Tobin has a current MySchoolScout rating of 9.5 out of 10 and ranks #24 of 1,793 schools in MA.

Structured state assessment records for John M Tobin show 67% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 73% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares0.9 pts above district
  • This school 9.5 · Excellent
  • District avg 8.6
  • MA avg 6.3

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress9.3Excellent50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data17
Annual Change+0.14 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendStable
Academics9.6Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency75.7% (2025 MCAS)
Reading/ELA Proficiency68.7% (2025 MCAS)
Math vs. State Avg+33.6 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+26.1 pts
Overall Proficiency72% (2025 MCAS, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)43% (model expectation from 2025 MCAS)
vs. Expected+29.3 pts
Adjusted Percentile94th
Resources & Environment9.9Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio10.2:1
Per-Pupil Spending$40,666
Chronic Absenteeism12.3%

John M Tobin — Students at John M Tobin score 72% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 43%).

How we calculate scores →

Test Scores MA MCAS (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 67.1% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
43.0% (multi-year state average, 2018-2025)
ELA Proficiency 73.1% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
45.6% (multi-year state average, 2018-2025)

Based on 82 test records from MA state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↑ Improving

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

2009
Math
42%
ELA
47%
2010
Math
47%
ELA
52%
2011
Math
52%
ELA
47%
2012
Math
67%
ELA
72%
2013
Math
72%
ELA
67%
2014
Math
82%
ELA
77%
2015
Math
87%
ELA
82%
2016
Math
62%
ELA
67%
2017
Math
62%
ELA
82%
2018
Math
62.5%
ELA
81.3%
2019
Math
71%
ELA
81.5%
2020*
Math
62%
ELA
82%
2021*
Math
59.3%
ELA
80.3%
2022
Math
68.8%
ELA
62.3%
2023
Math
71%
ELA
78.7%
2024
Math
75.3%
ELA
74%
2025
Math
75.7%
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: 9.3/10.

How John M Tobin Compares

See how John M Tobin performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
9.5/10
99th percentile in MA
Academic
9.6/10
Excellent
Growth
9.3/10
Excellent
Environment
9.9/10
Excellent

Funding & Resources

Teaching Staff
10:1 student-teacher ratio
32 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
12.3%

Location

359 Broadway, Cambridge, MA 02139

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering John M Tobin may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Maria L. Baldwin (rated 9.9/10, 1.0 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Martin Luther King Jr. (rated 9.8/10, 0.6 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, Cambridgeport (rated 9.5/10, 0.3 miles away), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Cambridge, see our Cambridge schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.1 mi
School Distance Rating
Prospect Hill Academy Charter School Cambridge 0.3 mi 5.9
Cambridgeport Cambridge 0.3 mi 9.5
Cambridge Rindge and Latin Cambridge 0.5 mi 8.3
Fletcher/Maynard Academy Cambridge 0.5 mi 5.5
Amigos School Cambridge 0.6 mi 9.0
Albert F. Argenziano School at Lincoln Park Somerville 0.6 mi 6.6
Putnam Avenue Upper School Cambridge 0.5 mi 9.2
Martin Luther King Jr. Cambridge 0.6 mi 9.8
SAINT PAUL'S CHOIR SCHOOL Cambridge 0.6 mi 7.8
King Open Cambridge 0.6 mi 7.3
Cambridge Street Upper School Cambridge 0.6 mi 7.8
MALIK ACADEMY/ AL BUSTAN PRESCHOOL Cambridge 0.9 mi
ST THERESA SCHOOL Somerville 1.1 mi 6.3
Maria L. Baldwin Cambridge 1.0 mi 9.9
Kennedy-Longfellow Cambridge 0.9 mi 7.4
Vassal Lane Upper School Cambridge 0.9 mi 6.9
Somerville High Somerville 1.1 mi 7.3
Next Wave Junior High Somerville 1.1 mi
Full Circle High School Somerville 1.1 mi 4.2
Morse Cambridge 1.1 mi 9.2

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 02139 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$124,648

Median Home Value

$1,066,200

Median Rent

$2,613/mo

Population

39,609

College Educated

77.6%

Homeownership

32%

Avg Commute

24.7 min

Poverty Rate

13.2%

Median Age

29.9

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Bowman Lexington, MA 9.5
Cambridgeport Cambridge, MA 9.5
Crocker Farm Elementary Amherst, MA 9.5
Happy Hollow School Wayland, MA 9.5
Henry C Sanborn Elementary Andover, MA 9.5
Memorial Spaulding Newton Centre, MA 9.5

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about John M Tobin

What grades does John M Tobin serve?

John M Tobin serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.

How many students attend John M Tobin?

John M Tobin has an enrollment of approximately 326 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at John M Tobin?

The student-teacher ratio at John M Tobin is 10.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does John M Tobin rank in MA?

John M Tobin ranks #24 of 1,793 schools in MA.

What is John M Tobin's MySchoolScout rating?

John M Tobin has a current MySchoolScout rating of 9.5 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 M Tobin?

Based on loaded state assessment records, John M Tobin has 67% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 73% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is John M Tobin a charter school?

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

Is John M Tobin a Title I school?

No, John M Tobin is not currently a Title I school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
94 Walker's Paradise
Transit Score
80 Excellent Transit
Bike Score
100 Biker’s Paradise

Powered by Walk Score

Compare This School

How does John M Tobin stack up?

Martin Luther King Jr.
9.8
Morse
9.2
Amigos School
9.0
Compare Selected →

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
326
Student-Teacher Ratio
10.2:1
Teachers (FTE)
32
Type
regular
Setting
Midsize City
County
Middlesex County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
12.3%

District

Cambridge
District Enrollment
6,915
Schools in District
17
Per-Pupil Spending
$40,666
District Rank
#5 of 17

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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