Excellent
#24 of 1,793 schools in MA
Top 1% in state
John M Tobin
Elementary School · Cambridge · Cambridge, MA
A Cambridge elementary school where students score 29 points above what's typical for similar communities.
359 Broadway, Cambridge, MA 02139
- Math 76% vs MA 42% (2025)
- Reading 69% vs MA 41% (2025)
- 10.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at John M Tobin score 72% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 43%).
2025 MCAS proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. MA average.
Trend
↑ ImprovingProficiency has improved 7 points since 2022, reaching 72% in 2025, across a 17-year record (2009–2025).
Show all 17 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 67% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 73% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 82 test records from MA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
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.
See how we rateThe neighborhood
Where John M Tobin sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries. Open the Boston map →
Getting around & local context
- Walk 94Walker's Paradise
- Transit 80Excellent Transit
- Bike 100Biker’s Paradise
- City Safety: High3,093/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Cambridge), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$124,648
Median home value
$1,066,200
Median rent
$2,613/mo
College educated
77.6%
Homeownership
32%
Poverty rate
13.2%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 02139; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CambridgeportEnrollment path unverified | 9.5 | PK–5 | 0.3 mi | 285 | Compare → |
| Prospect Hill Academy Charter SchoolCharter · enrollment unverified | 5.9 | PK–12 | 0.3 mi | 917 | Compare → |
| Fletcher/maynard AcademyEnrollment path unverified | 5.5 | PK–5 | 0.5 mi | 251 | Compare → |
| Albert F. Argenziano School at Lincoln ParkEnrollment path unverified | 6.6 | PK–8 | 0.6 mi | 564 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.
Cambridge
- Schools in district
- 17
- Rank in district
- #5 of 17
- District spending per student
- $40,666NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 11.2%Census SAIPE · 2024
John M Tobin is listed in Cambridge; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About John M Tobin
John M Tobin is a public elementary school in Cambridge, MA, part of Cambridge, serving approximately 326 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 10.2:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 9.5 out of 10 and ranks #24 of 1,793 schools in MA. State assessment records show 67% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 73% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
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.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- 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%
- Phone
- (617) 349-6600
- Area population (ZIP 02139)
- 39,609
- Area average commute
- 24.7 min
- Area median age
- 29.9
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 MCAS · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 MCAS · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- State assessments · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 02139; this does not measure the attendance area.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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