Excellent
#65 of 1,793 schools in MA
Top 4% in state
Putnam Avenue Upper School
Middle School · Cambridge · Cambridge, MA
A Cambridge middle school where students score 14 points above what's typical for similar communities.
100 Putnam Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139
- Math 52% vs MA 41% (2025)
- Reading 62% vs MA 43% (2025)
- 7.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Putnam Avenue Upper School score 57% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 43%).
2025 MCAS proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. MA average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 14-year record (2012–2025), then recovered 15 points since 2022, reaching 57% in 2025.
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 39% (multi-year average, 2012-2025) · reading/ELA 53% (multi-year average, 2012-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 90 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 Putnam Avenue Upper School 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 95Walker's Paradise
- Transit 78Excellent Transit
- Bike 99Biker’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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Paul's Choir SchoolPrivate · tuition | 7.8private | 3–8 | 0.3 mi | 38 | Compare → |
| Prospect Hill Academy Charter SchoolCharter · enrollment unverified | 5.9 | PK–12 | 0.6 mi | 917 | Compare → |
| Match Charter Public SchoolCharter · enrollment unverified | 5.1 | PK–12 | 1.1 mi | 1,185 | Compare → |
| Buckingham Browne & Nichols SchoolPrivate · tuition | 4.9private | PK–12 | 1.2 mi | 1,407 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Cambridge
- Schools in district
- 17
- Rank in district
- #9 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
Putnam Avenue Upper School is listed in Cambridge; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Putnam Avenue Upper School
Putnam Avenue Upper School is a public middle school in Cambridge, MA, part of Cambridge, serving approximately 270 students in grades 6th-8th with a 7.7:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 9.2 out of 10 and ranks #65 of 1,793 schools in MA. State assessment records show 39% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2012-2025) and 53% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2012-2025).
What's said publicly about Putnam Avenue Upper School
Synthesized from public, attributable sources. Updated May 2026.Reviewed for accuracy.
Sources (1)
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Putnam Avenue Upper School
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 #65 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 39% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2012-2025) and 53% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2012-2025).
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 factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- 6th – 8th
- Enrollment
- 270
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 7.7:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 35
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Midsize City
- County
- Middlesex County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 26.3%
- Phone
- (617) 349-7780
- 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, 2012-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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