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Excellent

#3 of 388 private schools in MA

Top 1% of private schools

Perkins School for the Blind

School

175 N BEACON ST, Watertown, MA 02472

Private

Enrollment

171

Student-Teacher

1.4:1

Score

8.8

Grades

Pre-K – 12th

Data vintage2021-22

How this school compares

Massachusetts private schools

#3 of 388

In Watertown

#1 of 4

public schools

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Perkins School for the Blind

8.8/10

School in Watertown · grades Pre-K – 12th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Bigelow Middle

9.1/10

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

Hosmer

9.0/10

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

About Perkins School for the Blind

Perkins School for the Blind is a private school in Watertown, MA. Perkins School for the Blind serves approximately 171 students, and covers grades Pre-K-12th, and has a 1.4:1 student-teacher ratio. Perkins School for the Blind has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.8 out of 10 and ranks #3 of 388 private schools in MA.

What's said publicly about Perkins School for the Blind

Sources: Wikipedia

Synthesized from public, attributable sources. Updated May 2026.

Perkins School for the Blind, also known simply as Perkins, is located in Watertown, Massachusetts. Established in 1829, it is recognized as the oldest school for the blind in the United States. The institution was historically referred to as the Perkins Institution for the Blind.
Sources (1)
  1. en.wikipedia.org
Generated by AI from public sources. Every claim is grounded in a cited source. Report inaccuracy
How it compares2.5 pts above MA schools
  • This school 8.8 · Excellent
  • MA avg 6.3

What Parents Should Know

At 171 students, Perkins School for the Blind is on the smaller side. That usually buys more individual attention and teachers who know every kid by name, with the trade-off of fewer electives and extracurriculars than a larger school can staff. Ask what activities it actually offers.

At 1.4:1 students to teachers, Perkins School for the Blind sits well below the national average. Smaller classes like that usually mean more one-on-one time between students and teachers.

Perkins School for the Blind is private, so it runs independently of the local district and sets its own curriculum. That freedom cuts both ways depending on what you want for your child. If you're considering it, start with the practical questions: tuition, financial aid, and how admissions work.

Compare to Public Schools

Beta

How Perkins School for the Blind compares to 5 public schools serving similar grades in Watertown, MA

Student-Teacher Ratio
1.4:1
This School
vs
10.1:1
Public Avg
Avg School Size
171
This School
vs
543
Public Avg
Avg School Scout Rating
8.8
This School
vs
8.4
Public Avg

Student Demographics

White 63.7% vs 0%
Hispanic 17.5% vs 0%
Asian 9.4% vs 0%
Black 5.3% vs 0%
Perkins School for the Blind Watertown Public Avg

Nearby Other Schools

School Rating
Perkins School for the Blind (this school) 8.8
Hosmer 9.0
Watertown High 6.9
Watertown Middle 8.4
James Russell Lowell 8.9
Cunniff 8.9

Demographics sourced from NCES Private School Survey (PSS) and Common Core of Data (CCD). Comparisons are based on enrollment-weighted averages.

Score Breakdown

Preliminary

What This Rating Measures

This rating reflects classroom size, instructional time, student diversity, community resources, and school characteristics. Private schools are ranked against other private schools in MA.

Classroom Attention
? Student-teacher ratio calibrated against other private schools. Lower ratios mean more individual attention. (30% of overall score)
A 9.3 / 10
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio 1.4:1
Instructional Commitment
? Total annual instructional hours based on school day length and days per year. (15% of overall score)
A+ 9.6 / 10
View breakdown
School Day Length 7.8 hours
Annual Instructional Hours 1,599
Diversity & Inclusion
? Racial and ethnic diversity of the student body using Simpson's diversity index. (20% of overall score)
A- 7.9 / 10
View breakdown
Diversity Index 55%
Community Context

Data Unavailable

School Profile
? Enrollment size and grade span breadth — indicators of program depth and peer community. (15% of overall score)
A- 8.0 / 10
View breakdown
Enrollment 171
View data sources

Score basis: Private school model

Data coverage: 80% of scoring components had data

Components scored: 4 of 5

Ranking pool: Private schools in MA

Test Scores

Test score data not yet available for this school.

Student Demographics NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

White 63.7%
Hispanic 17.5%
Asian 9.4%
Black 5.3%
Two or More 3.5%
Native American 0.6%

Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)

Location

175 N BEACON ST, Watertown, MA 02472

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Perkins School for the Blind may also want to explore other schools in the area. Bigelow Middle (rated 9.1/10, 0.6 miles away, in nearby Newton), with a very similar rating. Another option is Underwood (rated 9.1/10, 0.6 miles away, in nearby Newton Corner), with a very similar rating. Additionally, Hosmer (rated 9.0/10, 0.6 miles away), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Watertown, see our Watertown schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.6 mi
School Distance Rating
Bigelow Middle Newton 0.6 mi 9.1
Hosmer Watertown 0.6 mi 9.0
Underwood Newton Corner 0.6 mi 9.1
James Russell Lowell Watertown 1.1 mi 8.9
Lyon High School Brighton 1.0 mi 5.8
Lyon K-8 School Brighton 1.0 mi 4.1
ST STEPHEN'S ARMENIAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Watertown 1.0 mi 5.3
Lincoln-Eliot Newton 1.0 mi 8.8
Watertown Middle Watertown 1.1 mi 8.4
Watertown High Watertown 1.1 mi 6.9
John Ward Newton Centre 1.5 mi 9.0
MT ALVERNIA HIGH SCHOOL Newton 1.4 mi 7.1
CLEARWAY SCHOOL Newton 1.2 mi 5.8
Edison K-8 School Brighton 1.4 mi 5.4
NEWTON COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL Newton 1.4 mi 7.7
DEARBORN ACADEMY Newton 1.2 mi 6.6
MOUNT ALVERNIA ACADEMY Chestnut Hill 1.6 mi 5.8
ATRIUM SCHOOL Watertown 1.3 mi 6.7
Winthrop L Chenery Middle Belmont 1.7 mi 7.2
WALDORF HIGH SCHOOL OF MASSACHUSETTS BAY Belmont 1.6 mi 5.5

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 02472 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$123,383

Median Home Value

$737,600

Median Rent

$2,356/mo

Population

35,317

College Educated

67.1%

Homeownership

48.8%

Avg Commute

26.2 min

Poverty Rate

6.1%

Median Age

38.8

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
THE LEARNING CENTER FOR THE DEAF Framingham, MA 8.8
HOPEFUL JOURNEYS EDUCATIONAL CENTER Beverly, MA 8.2
THE BEMENT SCHOOL Deerfield, MA 8.2
DOCTOR FRANKLIN PERKINS SCHOOL Lancaster, MA 8.1
HILLSIDE SCHOOL Marlborough, MA 8.0
MELMARK NEW ENGLAND Andover, MA 7.9

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Perkins School for the Blind

What grades does Perkins School for the Blind serve?

Perkins School for the Blind serves students in grades Pre-K through 12th.

How many students attend Perkins School for the Blind?

Perkins School for the Blind has an enrollment of approximately 171 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Perkins School for the Blind?

The student-teacher ratio at Perkins School for the Blind is 1.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.

How does Perkins School for the Blind rank in MA?

Perkins School for the Blind ranks #3 of 388 private schools in MA.

What is Perkins School for the Blind's MySchoolScout rating?

Perkins School for the Blind has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.8 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

Is Perkins School for the Blind a private school?

Yes, Perkins School for the Blind is a private coeducational school with a Nonsectarian affiliation. Private schools are not required to participate in state standardized testing, so academic performance data may be limited compared to public schools.

Is Perkins School for the Blind a religious school?

No, Perkins School for the Blind is a nonsectarian (non-religious) private school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
79 Very Walkable
Transit Score
52 Good Transit
Bike Score
71 Very Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Grades
Pre-K – 12th
Enrollment
171
Gender Split
60% M / 40% F
Student-Teacher Ratio
1.4:1
Teachers (FTE)
122
Type
private
Coed Status
coed
Affiliation
Nonsectarian
School Day
7.8 hours
Days Per Year
205 days
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Middlesex County

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