Average
#1355 of 1,793 schools in MA
Thomas R Plympton Elementary School
Elementary School · Waltham · Waltham, MA
A Waltham elementary school where students score 7 points below what's typical for similar communities.
20 Farnsworth Street, Waltham, MA 02451
- Math 33% vs MA 42% (2025)
- Reading 32% vs MA 41% (2025)
- 10.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Thomas R Plympton Elementary School score 33% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 39%).
2025 MCAS proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. MA average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 22 points across the 17-year record (2009–2025) and has held near 33% recently.
Show all 17 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 42% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 42% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 76 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 Thomas R Plympton Elementary 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 74Very Walkable
- Transit 40Some Transit
- Bike 47Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: Elevated962/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Waltham), 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
$119,509
Median home value
$709,200
Median rent
$2,537/mo
College educated
54.7%
Homeownership
58.6%
Poverty rate
7.5%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 02451; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milestones Day SchoolPrivate · tuition | 6.9private | 4–12 | 1.1 mi | 80 | Compare → |
| Waltham Public Schools Dual Language ProgramEnrollment path unverified | 6.5 | K–5 | 1.1 mi | 218 | Compare → |
| William F. Stanley Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 6.0 | PK–5 | 1.1 mi | 376 | Compare → |
| Henry Whittemore Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 7.1 | K–5 | 1.4 mi | 386 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Waltham
- Schools in district
- 10
- Rank in district
- #10 of 10
- District spending per student
- $27,267NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 12.2%Census SAIPE · 2024
Thomas R Plympton Elementary School is listed in Waltham; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Thomas R Plympton Elementary School
Thomas R Plympton Elementary School is a public elementary school in Waltham, MA, part of Waltham, serving approximately 352 students in grades Kindergarten-5th with a 10.4:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 5.0 out of 10 and ranks #1,355 of 1,793 schools in MA. State assessment records show 42% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 42% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Thomas R Plympton Elementary School
What grades does Thomas R Plympton Elementary School serve?
Thomas R Plympton Elementary School serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.
How many students attend Thomas R Plympton Elementary School?
Thomas R Plympton Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 352 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Thomas R Plympton Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Thomas R Plympton Elementary School is 10.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Thomas R Plympton Elementary School rank in MA?
Thomas R Plympton Elementary School ranks #1,355 of 1,793 schools in MA.
What is Thomas R Plympton Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?
Thomas R Plympton Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.0 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 Thomas R Plympton Elementary School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Thomas R Plympton Elementary School has 42% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 42% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Thomas R Plympton Elementary School a charter school?
No, Thomas R Plympton Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Thomas R Plympton Elementary School a Title I school?
No, Thomas R Plympton Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 5th
- Enrollment
- 352
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 10.4:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 34
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small City
- County
- Middlesex County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 18.5%
- Phone
- (781) 314-5765
- Area population (ZIP 02451)
- 18,153
- Area average commute
- 25.3 min
- Area median age
- 39.4
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 02451; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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