Very Good
#74 of 388 private schools in MA
Top 19% of private schools
Shady Hill School
Elementary School
178 COOLIDGE HL, Cambridge, MA 02138
Enrollment
502
Student-Teacher
7.1:1
Score
7.4
Grades
Pre-K – 8th
Enrollment
502
Student-Teacher
7.1:1
Score
7.4
Grades
Pre-K – 8th
Data vintage
2021-22
Data vintage2021-22
How this school compares
Massachusetts private schools
#74 of 388
In Cambridge
#4 of 7
public schools
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Shady Hill School
Elementary School in Cambridge · grades Pre-K – 8th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.
Buckingham Browne & Nichols School
0.1 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
German International School Boston
0.8 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
About Shady Hill School
Shady Hill School is a private elementary school in Cambridge, MA. Shady Hill School serves approximately 502 students, and covers grades Pre-K-8th, and has a 7.1:1 student-teacher ratio. Shady Hill School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.4 out of 10 and ranks #74 of 388 private schools in MA.
- This school 7.4 · Very Good
- MA avg 6.3
What Parents Should Know
At 7.1:1 students to teachers, Shady Hill School sits well below the national average. Smaller classes like that usually mean more one-on-one time between students and teachers.
Shady Hill School 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
BetaHow Shady Hill School compares to 19 public schools serving similar grades in Cambridge, MA
Student Demographics
Nearby Elementary Schools
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| Shady Hill School (this school) | 7.4 |
| Haggerty | 9.4 |
| Graham and Parks | 9.6 |
| Maria L. Baldwin | 9.9 |
| Putnam Avenue Upper School | 9.2 |
| Martin Luther King Jr. | 9.8 |
| Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School | 9.1 |
| Rindge Avenue Upper School | 9.4 |
| Peabody | 7.1 |
| Amigos School | 9.0 |
| Morse | 9.2 |
| John M Tobin | 9.5 |
| Prospect Hill Academy Charter School | 5.9 |
| Cambridgeport | 9.5 |
| Fletcher/Maynard Academy | 5.5 |
| King Open | 7.3 |
| Cambridge Street Upper School | 7.8 |
| Kennedy-Longfellow | 7.4 |
| Vassal Lane Upper School | 6.9 |
| Community Charter School of Cambridge | 7.6 |
Demographics sourced from NCES Private School Survey (PSS) and Common Core of Data (CCD). Comparisons are based on enrollment-weighted averages.
Score Breakdown
PreliminaryWhat 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.
Data Unavailable
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)
Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)
Location
178 COOLIDGE HL, Cambridge, MA 02138
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Shady Hill School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Maria L. Baldwin (rated 9.9/10, 1.3 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Graham and Parks (rated 9.6/10, 1.1 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Haggerty (rated 9.4/10, 0.9 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Cambridge, see our Cambridge schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 1.5 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| BUCKINGHAM BROWNE & NICHOLS SCHOOL Cambridge | 0.1 mi | 4.9 |
| GERMAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL BOSTON Boston | 0.8 mi | 7.4 |
| Gardner Pilot Academy Allston | 0.8 mi | 8.1 |
| ST PETER SCHOOL Cambridge | 0.8 mi | 6.6 |
| ATRIUM SCHOOL Watertown | 0.8 mi | 6.7 |
| Haggerty Cambridge | 0.9 mi | 9.4 |
| CAMBRIDGE FRIENDS SCHOOL Cambridge | 1.2 mi | 7.4 |
| Graham and Parks Cambridge | 1.1 mi | 9.6 |
| Horace Mann School for the Deaf Hard of Hearing Allston | 1.3 mi | 5.4 |
| ST JOSEPH PREPARATORY HIGH SCHOOL Boston | 1.4 mi | 6.7 |
| ST JOSEPH PREPARATORY HIGH SCHOOL Brighton | 1.4 mi | 7.8 |
| ST STEPHEN'S ARMENIAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Watertown | 1.1 mi | 5.3 |
| Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School Cambridge | 1.5 mi | 9.1 |
| KENNEDY DAY SCHOOL Brighton | 1.5 mi | 7.9 |
| SAINT PAUL'S CHOIR SCHOOL Cambridge | 1.2 mi | 7.8 |
| Peabody Cambridge | 1.5 mi | 7.1 |
| Rindge Avenue Upper School Cambridge | 1.5 mi | 9.4 |
| Boston Green Academy Horace Mann Charter School Brighton | 1.5 mi | 5.1 |
| Maria L. Baldwin Cambridge | 1.3 mi | 9.9 |
| ST COLUMBKILLE PARTNERSHIP SCHOOL Brighton | 1.5 mi | 6.3 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 02138 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$122,040
Median Home Value
$1,088,700
Median Rent
$2,799/mo
Population
38,077
College Educated
85.6%
Homeownership
40.9%
Avg Commute
24.3 min
Poverty Rate
12.6%
Median Age
28.7
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| Assawompset Elementary School Lakeville, MA | 7.4 |
| Bartlett Community Partnership Lowell, MA | 7.4 |
| East Street Elementary School Ludlow, MA | 7.4 |
| Franklin West Newton, MA | 7.4 |
| Hajjar Elementary Billerica, MA | 7.4 |
| Harry Lee Cole Boxford, MA | 7.4 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Shady Hill School
What grades does Shady Hill School serve?
Shady Hill School serves students in grades Pre-K through 8th.
How many students attend Shady Hill School?
Shady Hill School has an enrollment of approximately 502 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Shady Hill School?
The student-teacher ratio at Shady Hill School is 7.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.
How does Shady Hill School rank in MA?
Shady Hill School ranks #74 of 388 private schools in MA.
What is Shady Hill School's MySchoolScout rating?
Shady Hill School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.4 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
Is Shady Hill School a private school?
Yes, Shady Hill School 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 Shady Hill School a religious school?
No, Shady Hill School is a nonsectarian (non-religious) private school.
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Neighborhood Context
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Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 8th
- Enrollment
- 502
- Gender Split
- 49% M / 51% F
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 7.1:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 71
- Type
- private
- Coed Status
- coed
- Affiliation
- Nonsectarian
- School Day
- 7.2 hours
- Days Per Year
- 171 days
- Setting
- Midsize City
- County
- Middlesex County
- Phone
- (617) 520-5221
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