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Excellent

#315 of 1,793 schools in MA

Top 18% in state

Walter S Parker Middle

Middle School · Reading

45 Temple Street, Reading, MA 01867

Enrollment

451

Student-Teacher

12.2:1

Score

8.1

Grades

6th – 8th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Massachusetts schools

#315 of 1,793

In Reading

#7 of 9

public schools

In district

#7 of 9

Reading

Equity

8.8 / 10

Excellent

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Walter S Parker Middle

8.1/10

Middle School in Reading · grades 6th – 8th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Alice M Barrows

8.3/10

0.4 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Joshua Eaton

8.6/10

0.6 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Walter S Parker Middle

Walter S Parker Middle is a public middle school in Reading, MA, part of Reading. Walter S Parker Middle serves approximately 451 students, and covers grades 6th-8th, and has a 12.2:1 student-teacher ratio. Walter S Parker Middle has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.1 out of 10 and ranks #315 of 1,793 schools in MA.

Structured state assessment records for Walter S Parker Middle show 58% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 66% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it comparesOn par with district
  • This school 8.1 · Excellent
  • District avg 8.1
  • MA avg 6.4

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress8.3Excellent40%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data17
Annual Change-0.61 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendStable
Academics8.3Excellent35%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency59% (2025 MCAS)
Reading/ELA Proficiency65% (2025 MCAS)
Math vs. State Avg+16.8 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+22.1 pts
Overall Proficiency62% (2025 MCAS, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)59% (model expectation from 2025 MCAS)
vs. Expected+3.5 pts
Adjusted Percentile74th
Resources & Environment7.4Very Good25%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio12.2:1
Per-Pupil Spending$20,138
Chronic Absenteeism12.9%

Walter S Parker Middle — Students at Walter S Parker Middle score 62% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 59%).

How we calculate scores →

Test Scores MA MCAS (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 57.7% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
42.1% (multi-year state average, 2018-2025)
ELA Proficiency 65.9% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
45.5% (multi-year state average, 2018-2025)

Based on 96 test records from MA state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
77%
ELA
90%
2010
Math
77%
ELA
90%
2011
Math
74%
ELA
87%
2012
Math
67%
ELA
88%
2013
Math
71%
ELA
87%
2014
Math
76%
ELA
88%
2015
Math
75%
ELA
89%
2016
Math
62%
ELA
65%
2017
Math
62%
ELA
67%
2018
Math
61.4%
ELA
66%
2019
Math
59.8%
ELA
65%
2020*
Math
42%
ELA
59%
2021*
Math
41.8%
ELA
59.2%
2022
Math
52.2%
ELA
58.4%
2023
Math
44%
ELA
53.8%
2024
Math
63.5%
ELA
60.3%
2025
Math
59%
ELA
65%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 8.3/10.

How Walter S Parker Middle Compares

See how Walter S Parker Middle performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
8.1/10
83th percentile in MA
Academic
8.3/10
Excellent
Growth
8.3/10
Excellent
Environment
7.4/10
Very Good

Funding & Resources

Teaching Staff
12:1 student-teacher ratio
37 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
12.9%

Location

45 Temple Street, Reading, MA 01867

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Walter S Parker Middle may also want to explore other middle schools in the area. Arthur W Coolidge Middle (rated 8.2/10, 1.1 miles away), with a very similar rating. Another option is Stoneham Central Middle School (rated 5.5/10, 2.8 miles away, in nearby Stoneham), a more accessible option. Additionally, John F Kennedy Middle School (rated 5.3/10, 2.6 miles away, in nearby Woburn), a more accessible option. For more schools in Reading, see our Reading schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 3.2 mi
School Distance Rating
Alice M Barrows Reading 0.4 mi 8.3
Joshua Eaton Reading 0.6 mi 8.6
AUSTIN PREPARATORY SCHOOL Reading 0.7 mi 3.7
READING MONTESSORI SCHOOL Reading 0.7 mi
Reading Memorial High Reading 0.9 mi 8.2
RISE PreSchool Reading 0.9 mi 5.2
Birch Meadow Reading 1.0 mi 7.8
Arthur W Coolidge Middle Reading 1.1 mi 8.2
Wood End Elementary School Reading 2.1 mi 8.5
Robin Hood Stoneham 2.1 mi 5.2
J Warren Killam Reading 1.8 mi 8.6
Walton Wakefield 1.9 mi 8.2
Stoneham Central Middle School Stoneham 2.8 mi 5.5
John F Kennedy Middle School Woburn 2.6 mi 5.3
ST JOSEPH SCHOOL Wakefield 2.4 mi 4.7
Goodyear Elementary School Woburn 3.0 mi 3.2
ST PATRICK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Stoneham 2.9 mi 4.2
Early Childhood Center at the Doyle School Wakefield 2.7 mi 5.0
Malcolm White Woburn 3.0 mi 5.2
E Ethel Little School North Reading 3.2 mi 9.1

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 01867 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$163,407

Median Home Value

$741,100

Median Rent

$1,722/mo

Population

25,474

College Educated

65%

Homeownership

83%

Avg Commute

30.6 min

Poverty Rate

2.7%

Median Age

44.1

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Duxbury Middle Duxbury, MA 8.1
Norwell Middle School Norwell, MA 8.1
Winthrop Middle School Winthrop, MA 8.1
Arthur W Coolidge Middle Reading, MA 8.2
Blanchard Middle Westford, MA 8.2
Gates Middle School Scituate, MA 8.2

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Walter S Parker Middle

What grades does Walter S Parker Middle serve?

Walter S Parker Middle serves students in grades 6th through 8th.

How many students attend Walter S Parker Middle?

Walter S Parker Middle has an enrollment of approximately 451 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Walter S Parker Middle?

The student-teacher ratio at Walter S Parker Middle is 12.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Walter S Parker Middle rank in MA?

Walter S Parker Middle ranks #315 of 1,793 schools in MA.

What is Walter S Parker Middle's MySchoolScout rating?

Walter S Parker Middle has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.1 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 Walter S Parker Middle?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Walter S Parker Middle has 58% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 66% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Walter S Parker Middle a charter school?

No, Walter S Parker Middle is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Walter S Parker Middle a Title I school?

No, Walter S Parker Middle is not currently a Title I school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
37 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
38 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
6th – 8th
Enrollment
451
Student-Teacher Ratio
12.2:1
Teachers (FTE)
37
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Middlesex County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
12.9%

District

Reading
District Enrollment
3,850
Schools in District
9
Per-Pupil Spending
$20,138
District Rank
#7 of 9

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A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.

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