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Excellent

#45 of 1,791 schools in MA

Top 3% in state

Mason-rice

Elementary School · Newton

149 Pleasant Street, Newton Centre, MA 02459

Enrollment

334

Student-Teacher

11.9:1

Score

9.1

Grades

Kindergarten – 5th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Newton Centre

#3 of 7

public schools

Massachusetts elementary schools

#32 of 1,022

In district

#4 of 22

Newton

Equity

9.9 / 10

Exceptional

About Mason-rice

Mason-Rice Elementary earns a 9.1 composite score — Exceptional — driven by a near-perfect 9.8 academic rating and an 8.6 growth score. That combination ranks it #45 out of 1,791 public schools in Massachusetts, outperforming 98% of schools statewide. For an elementary school, the standing is particularly striking: among Massachusetts's 1,022 public elementary schools, Mason-Rice places 32nd.

The school enrolls 334 students across kindergarten through fifth grade with a student-teacher ratio of 11.9:1. Mason-Rice operates as a regular public school in Newton Centre, where it places third among seven schools. That local rank puts it near the top of a concentrated, competitive set of options within the same neighborhood.

An academic score of 9.8 reflects consistent, high-level performance on state assessments. The 8.6 growth score signals that students are making real gains year over year — not just arriving ahead and coasting on prior advantages. For parents comparing elementary options in the Newton area, those two numbers confirm what the statewide rank already shows: Mason-Rice performs at the top end of a demanding state.

What's said publicly about Mason-rice

Sources: School's website

Synthesized from public, attributable sources. Updated April 2026. Reviewed for accuracy.

Mason-Rice School is part of the Newton Public Schools district in Newton, Massachusetts 1 . Jacob Bultema serves as the principal 1 . The school operates under a 'Portrait of a Learner' framework that emphasizes adaptability, communication, critical thinking, empathy, and a learner's mindset 1 . The district utilizes a bi-weekly newsletter, NPS District News, to share information and highlight work by teachers, staff, and students 1 . Governance is provided by the Newton School Committee, which consists of nine voting members elected from Newton's eight wards, with the Mayor serving as an ex-officio member 1 . The Newton Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) Council supports parents across the city's 22 PTOs 1 . The Newton Schools Foundation funds classroom approaches, professional development, and equity programs 1 . Newton Community education offers enrichment classes and learning opportunities 1 . The district engages in facilities renovation and renewal, with several projects completed or in progress, and is conducting a Facilities and Enrollment Planning Study 1 .
Sources (1)
  1. masonrice.newton.k12.ma.us
Generated by AI from public sources. Every claim is grounded in a cited source. Report inaccuracy

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-0.47 pts/yr
Data Period2018–2025
TrendStable
Academics9.8Exceptional30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency82%
Reading/ELA Proficiency77%
Math vs. State Avg+39.9 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+34.4 pts
Overall Proficiency80%
Expected (poverty-adj.)56%
vs. Expected+23.4 pts
Adjusted Percentile97th
College ReadinessNot Available

Data not available for this school

Resources & Environment9.2Exceptional20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio11.9:1
Per-Pupil Spending$26,734

Mason-rice — Students at Mason-rice score 80% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 56%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

0%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores MA MCAS (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 78.1%
School
State
43.0%
ELA Proficiency 79.8%
School
State
45.6%

Based on 60 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
79.7%
ELA
82.3%
2019
Math
77.5%
ELA
81%
2021*
Math
73.8%
ELA
87.3%
2022
Math
80.5%
ELA
75.3%
2023
Math
78%
ELA
79.7%
2024
Math
81.3%
ELA
74.7%
2025
Math
77%
ELA
76.7%

* 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 Mason-rice Compares

See how Mason-rice performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
9.1/10
98th percentile in MA
Academic
9.8/10
9.8/10
Growth
8.6/10
Above average
Environment
9.2/10
Above average

Location

149 Pleasant Street, Newton Centre, MA 02459

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Mason-rice may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. John Ward (rated 8.9/10, 1.2 miles away), with a very similar rating. Another option is Countryside (rated 8.5/10, 1.4 miles away, in nearby Newton Highlands), with a comparable rating. Additionally, Lincoln-Eliot (rated 8.4/10, 1.9 miles away, in nearby Newton), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Newton Centre, see our Newton Centre schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.9 mi
School Distance Rating
WELLAN MONTESSORI SCHOOL Newton 0.3 mi 8.1
NEWTON COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL Newton 1.0 mi 7.7
Newton North High Newtonville 1.0 mi 8.9
MT ALVERNIA HIGH SCHOOL Newton 1.0 mi 7.1
Bowen Newton Centre 1.0 mi 7.6
Cabot Newtonville 1.1 mi 6.6
Zervas Waban 1.0 mi 7.5
Countryside Newton Highlands 1.4 mi 8.5
John Ward Newton Centre 1.2 mi 8.9
Newton South High Newton Centre 1.4 mi 9.3
DEARBORN ACADEMY Newton 1.6 mi 6.6
CLEARWAY SCHOOL Newton 1.6 mi 5.8
Oak Hill Middle Newton Centre 1.6 mi 8.6
Charles E Brown Middle Newton Centre 1.7 mi 9.2
Newton Early Childhood Program Newton 1.7 mi 7.4
MOUNT ALVERNIA ACADEMY Chestnut Hill 1.4 mi 5.8
Lincoln-Eliot Newton 1.9 mi 8.4
Underwood Newton Corner 1.8 mi 8.4
Bigelow Middle Newton 1.7 mi 8.8
F A Day Middle Newtonville 1.9 mi 8.9

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 Mason-rice 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
Bradley Elementary School East Boston, MA 9.1
Bridge Lexington, MA 9.1
Cambridgeport Cambridge, MA 9.1
Field Elementary School Weston, MA 9.1
Woodland Weston, MA 9.1
Amigos School Cambridge, MA 9.0

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Mason-rice

What grades does Mason-rice serve?

Mason-rice serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.

How many students attend Mason-rice?

Mason-rice has an enrollment of approximately 334 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Mason-rice?

The student-teacher ratio at Mason-rice is 11.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Mason-rice rank in MA?

Mason-rice is ranked #45 out of 1,791 schools in MA.

What is Mason-rice's MySchoolScout rating?

Mason-rice has a composite rating of 9.1 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 Mason-rice?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Mason-rice has 78.1% math proficiency and 79.8% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Mason-rice a charter school?

No, Mason-rice is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Mason-rice a Title I school?

No, Mason-rice is not currently a Title I school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
69 Somewhat Walkable
Transit Score
49 Some Transit
Bike Score
54 Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR. County-level only.

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
334
Student-Teacher Ratio
11.9:1
Teachers (FTE)
28
Type
regular
Setting
Small City
County
Middlesex County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

Newton
District Enrollment
11,752
Schools in District
22
Per-Pupil Spending
$27,226
District Rank
#4 of 22

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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