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Public middle school · Cambridge · Cambridge, Massachusetts

Putnam Avenue Upper School

Putnam Avenue Upper School rates 9.2, right at the middle of Cambridge's middle schools, whose rated median is 8.8.

Middle schools, 1 to 10This campus against public middle schools around it that are rated on verified state test data.
9.2this school

9.2 on a one-to-ten scale; the Cambridge median is 8.8.

#60 of 1,793 schools in Massachusetts · Cambridge: 4 middle schools rated, median 8.8

The brief

A Cambridge middle school where students score 58 points above what's typical for similar communities.

It ranks 60 of 1,793 schools in Massachusetts and 7 of 17 in Cambridge.

Putnam Avenue Upper School is listed in Cambridge, and a district label does not verify attendance for an address: confirm the zoned campus with the district before you commit to a street.

Math51%9 points above the Massachusetts average of 42%Grades 6–8 · 266 students tested · 2026 MCAS
Reading64%22 points above the Massachusetts average of 42%Grades 6–8 · 267 students tested · 2026 MCAS
Proficiency has improved 9 points since 2023, reaching 58% in 2026, across a 9-year record (2018–2026).2026 MCAS; 77 test records from MA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

What the rating is made of, each out of 10

Student Progress
9.9
40% of the rating
Academics
8.6
35% of the rating
Resources & Environment
8.8
25% of the rating
About this school's data1 correction under review · rating: low confidence · 6 sources, 2019–2026

Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, an estimate, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named here.

Attendance data is under correction. This existing Resources & Environment score and overall rating may still reflect an unverified attendance input.

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 40% (multi-year average, 2012-2026) · reading/ELA 54% (multi-year average, 2012-2026).

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 · 2026 MCAS · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: 2026 MCAS. A newer release may be available.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Reading/ELA proficiency
State department of education · 2026 MCAS · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: 2026 MCAS. A newer release may be available.
  • 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, 2012-2026; directory SY 2023–24

About our dataHow we calculate scores

The neighborhood

Where it sits, and what the area looks like.
Putnam Avenue Upper School and the 20 nearest middle schools, each pin colored by its score.Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries. Verify the enrollment path with the district.

Open the Boston school map to see school quality against home prices across the metro.

The area

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%

U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 02139; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Getting around

Walk Score
95
Walker's Paradise
Transit Score
78
Excellent Transit
Bike Score
99
Biker's Paradise
City reported crime
3,037/100K
Reported Part-1 offenses (violent + property + arson) per 100,000 residents, from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting program for Cambridge. This is a city-level reported-crime measure, not a school safety rating.

Walk, transit and bike scores byWalk Score

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2025 · city context (Cambridge), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details

Source period: 2025. Freshness not available.

Compare nearby

Grade-compatible schools using the same rating model.
Public-school ratings. Grade-compatible schools within 5 miles, best rated first.
  1. Rindge Avenue Upper School1.9 mi
    9.5Compare →
  2. Putnam Avenue Upper Schoolthis school
    9.2
  3. Cambridge Street Upper School1.2 mi
    8.4Compare →
  4. John J. Mcglynn Middle School3.0 mi
    7.5Compare →
  5. Vassal Lane Upper School1.3 mi
    7.5Compare →
  6. Prospect Hill Academy Charter School0.6 mi · charter
    6.5Compare →
  7. Horace Mann School for the Deaf Hard of Hearing1.6 mi
    5.7Compare →
  8. Match Charter Public School1.1 mi · charter
    5.2Compare →
  9. Next Wave Junior High1.6 mi
    not ratedCompare →
Eight grade-compatible schools using the same rating model sit within 5 miles, and one rates higher than Putnam Avenue Upper School among the rated peers.Public-school ratings. Straight-line distance from this campus. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries; verify the enrollment path with the district.

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.

Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.

The record

What is on file, and where each number came from.

The public record

What's said publicly about Putnam Avenue Upper School

Sources:School's website

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

Putnam Avenue Upper School (PAUS) is a public school in Massachusetts that hosts various student activities and events. The school calendar includes an 8th Grade Courthouse Trip, a Spring Concert, and an 8th Grade Civics Showcase 1. Students participate in academic assessments such as Reading and Math iReady End of Year tests in June 1. Athletic opportunities include an Upper School Track & Field Meet and rowing, which was offered to upper school students in the fall 1. The school also features performing arts programs, including a musical production of Roald Dahl's Matilda Jr. in January 1. Additionally, seventh-grade scholars have auditioned for the MMEA Eastern Junior District Band, with one student, Rosalind Cheung, earning the Principal Second Flute seat 1. The school community engages in events such as a Back to School Block Party for the 2025-2026 school year and a Back to School Night & Community Cookout in 2023-24 1. A 'Story of Self' day is also hosted by the school 1. Universal free school meals are noted as permanent in Massachusetts 1.
Sources (1)
  1. putnamavenue.cpsd.us
Generated by AI from public sources. Every claim is grounded in a cited source.Report inaccuracy

Questions families ask

What grades does Putnam Avenue Upper School serve?

Putnam Avenue Upper School serves students in grades 6th through 8th.

How many students attend Putnam Avenue Upper School?

Putnam Avenue Upper School has an enrollment of approximately 270 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Putnam Avenue Upper School?

The student-teacher ratio at Putnam Avenue Upper School is 7.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Putnam Avenue Upper School rank in MA?

Putnam Avenue Upper School ranks #60 of 1,793 schools in MA.

What is Putnam Avenue Upper School's MySchoolScout rating?

Putnam Avenue Upper School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 9.2 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 Putnam Avenue Upper School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Putnam Avenue Upper School has 40% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2012-2026) and 54% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2012-2026).

Is Putnam Avenue Upper School a charter school?

No, Putnam Avenue Upper School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Putnam Avenue Upper School a Title I school?

No, Putnam Avenue Upper School is not currently a Title I school.

School facts

Grades
6th – 8th
Enrollment
270
Student-teacher ratio
7.7:1
Teachers (FTE)
35
Type
Regular
Title I
No
Setting
Midsize City
County
Middlesex County
Phone
(617) 349-7780
Rank in district
#7 of 17
Schools in district
17
District spending per student
$40,666
NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
11.2%
Census SAIPE · 2024
Area population (ZIP 02139)
39,609
Area average commute
24.7 min
Area median age
29.9

NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24).

Sources and official links

Keep exploring

Related reading

Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Mass. Dept. of Elementary & Secondary Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.