Average
#648 of 1,793 schools in MA
Top 36% in state
Vassal Lane Upper School
Middle School · Cambridge · Cambridge, MA
A Cambridge middle school serving grades 6th – 8th.
158 Spring Street, Cambridge, MA 02141
- Math 45% proficient (2022)
- Reading 43% proficient (2022)
- 6:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Vassal Lane Upper School score 44% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 43%).
2022 EdFacts proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. MA average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 17 points since 2019, to 44% in 2022, across a 11-year record (2012–2022).
Show all 11 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 58% (multi-year average, 2012-2022) · reading/ELA 61% (multi-year average, 2012-2022)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 22 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 Vassal Lane 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 94Walker's Paradise
- Transit 76Excellent 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
$120,542
Median home value
$892,600
Median rent
$2,752/mo
College educated
74.5%
Homeownership
27.3%
Poverty rate
14%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 02141; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cambridge Street Upper SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 7.8 | 6–8 | 0.3 mi | 304 | Compare → |
| Prospect Hill Academy Charter SchoolCharter · enrollment unverified | 5.9 | PK–12 | 0.7 mi | 917 | Compare → |
| Next Wave Junior HighEnrollment path unverified | Not rated | 7–8 | 1.3 mi | 13 | Compare → |
| Putnam Avenue Upper SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 9.2 | 6–8 | 1.3 mi | 270 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.
Cambridge
- Schools in district
- 17
- Rank in district
- #16 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
Vassal Lane Upper School is listed in Cambridge; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Vassal Lane Upper School
Vassal Lane Upper School is a public middle school in Cambridge, MA, part of Cambridge, serving approximately 258 students in grades 6th-8th with a 6:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 6.9 out of 10 and ranks #648 of 1,793 schools in MA. State assessment records show 58% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2012-2022) and 61% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2012-2022).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Vassal Lane Upper School
What grades does Vassal Lane Upper School serve?
Vassal Lane Upper School serves students in grades 6th through 8th.
How many students attend Vassal Lane Upper School?
Vassal Lane Upper School has an enrollment of approximately 258 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Vassal Lane Upper School?
The student-teacher ratio at Vassal Lane Upper School is 6:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Vassal Lane Upper School rank in MA?
Vassal Lane Upper School ranks #648 of 1,793 schools in MA.
What is Vassal Lane Upper School's MySchoolScout rating?
Vassal Lane Upper School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.9 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 Vassal Lane Upper School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Vassal Lane Upper School has 58% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2012-2022) and 61% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2012-2022).
Is Vassal Lane Upper School a charter school?
No, Vassal Lane Upper School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Vassal Lane Upper School a Title I school?
No, Vassal Lane Upper School is not currently a Title I school.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- 6th – 8th
- Enrollment
- 258
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 6:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 43
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Midsize City
- County
- Middlesex County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 19.4%
- Phone
- (617) 349-6550
- Area population (ZIP 02141)
- 14,677
- Area average commute
- 28.5 min
- Area median age
- 30.9
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 · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
- Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
- 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 · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
- Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
- 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)
- NCES EdFacts · 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 02141; this does not measure the attendance area.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2012-2022; directory SY 2023–24
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