Excellent
#69 of 1,791 schools in MA
Top 4% in state
John Ward
Elementary School · Newton
10 Dolphin Rd, Newton Centre, MA 02459
Enrollment
212
Student-Teacher
10.1:1
Score
8.9
Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
212
Student-Teacher
10.1:1
Score
8.9
Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Newton Centre
#5 of 7
public schools
Massachusetts elementary schools
#43 of 1,022
In district
#7 of 22
Newton
Equity
9.9 / 10
Exceptional
About John Ward
John Ward is a public elementary school in Newton Centre, MA, part of the Newton. The school serves approximately 212 students in grades Kindergarten – 5th with a student-teacher ratio of 10.1:1. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.9/10, placing it in the 96.2th percentile among MA schools — an above average rating overall.
Students demonstrate 80% proficiency in math, 37 points above the state average and 78% in reading/language arts, 32 points above the state average. The school scores particularly well in school environment (9.2/10). Located in a neighborhood with a median household income of $214,941, where 84% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
The school is situated in a small city setting.
What's said publicly about John Ward
Synthesized from public, attributable sources. Updated May 2026.
Sources (1)
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
Data not available for this school
View breakdown
John Ward — Students at John Ward score 80% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 56%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
0%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores MA MCAS (2024-25)
Based on 60 test records from MA state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
→ StableAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* 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: 8.2/10.
How John Ward Compares
See how John Ward performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has declined from 87% (2019) to 82% (2022). Reading/ELA proficiency has remained stable from 77% (2019) to 77% (2022).
Location
10 Dolphin Rd, Newton Centre, MA 02459
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering John Ward may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Mason-Rice (rated 9.1/10, 1.2 miles away), with a very similar rating. Another option is Underwood (rated 8.4/10, 1.0 miles away, in nearby Newton Corner), with a comparable rating. Additionally, THE CHESTNUT HILLSCHOOL (rated 8.4/10, 1.1 miles away, in nearby Chestnut Hill), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Newton Centre, see our Newton Centre schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 1.3 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| MOUNT ALVERNIA ACADEMY Chestnut Hill | 0.3 mi | 5.8 |
| MT ALVERNIA HIGH SCHOOL Newton | 0.5 mi | 7.1 |
| B C CAMPUS SCHOOL Chestnut Hill | 0.7 mi | — |
| Bigelow Middle Newton | 0.9 mi | 8.8 |
| NEWTON COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL Newton | 0.7 mi | 7.7 |
| Underwood Newton Corner | 1.0 mi | 8.4 |
| THE CHESTNUT HILLSCHOOL Chestnut Hill | 1.1 mi | 8.4 |
| Edison K-8 School Brighton | 1.0 mi | 7.4 |
| Lyon K-8 School Brighton | 1.2 mi | 5.2 |
| Bowen Newton Centre | 1.4 mi | 7.6 |
| WELLAN MONTESSORI SCHOOL Newton | 1.2 mi | 8.1 |
| Cabot Newtonville | 1.2 mi | 6.6 |
| PERKINS SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND Watertown | 1.5 mi | 8.8 |
| Lyon High School Brighton | 1.2 mi | 7.6 |
| Mason-Rice Newton Centre | 1.2 mi | 9.1 |
| BRIMMER & MAY SCHOOL Chestnut Hill | 1.3 mi | 7.6 |
| CLEARWAY SCHOOL Newton | 1.4 mi | 5.8 |
| DEARBORN ACADEMY Newton | 1.4 mi | 6.6 |
| Lincoln-Eliot Newton | 1.5 mi | 8.4 |
| YESHIVA OHR YISRAEL HIGH SCHOOL FOR BOYS Chestnut Hill | 1.3 mi | 6.2 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 02459 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$214,941
Median Home Value
$1,336,200
Median Rent
$2,308/mo
Population
18,604
College Educated
84.3%
Homeownership
83.3%
Avg Commute
28.3 min
Poverty Rate
3.4%
Median Age
45.9
Community Profile
The community surrounding John Ward has a median household income of $214,941. It is a well-educated community where 84% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $1,336,200, with a median rent of $2,308/month. The local poverty rate of 3.4% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 28 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 |
| Williams Pittsfield, MA | 8.9 |
| Farmington River Elementary Otis, MA | 9.0 |
| MEADOWBROOK SCHOOL OF WESTON Weston, MA | 9.0 |
| Cambridgeport Cambridge, MA | 9.1 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about John Ward
What grades does John Ward serve?
John Ward serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.
How many students attend John Ward?
John Ward has an enrollment of approximately 212 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at John Ward?
The student-teacher ratio at John Ward is 10.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does John Ward rank in MA?
John Ward is ranked #69 out of 1,791 schools in MA.
What is John Ward's MySchoolScout rating?
John Ward 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 Ward?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, John Ward has 79.9% math proficiency and 77.5% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is John Ward a charter school?
No, John Ward is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is John Ward a Title I school?
No, John Ward is not currently a Title I school.
Neighborhood Context
Powered by 
FBI UCR. County-level only.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 5th
- Enrollment
- 212
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 10.1:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 21
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small City
- County
- Middlesex County
- Phone
- (617) 559-6450
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
Newton- District Enrollment
- 11,752
- Schools in District
- 22
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $27,226
- District Rank
- #7 of 22
Other Schools in This District
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 methodologyRelated reading
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