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Very Good

#528 of 1,791 schools in MA

Top 29% in state

Watertown High

High School · Watertown

27 Westminster Ave., Watertown, MA 02472

Enrollment

760

Student-Teacher

11.2:1

Score

7.2

Grades

9th – 12th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Watertown

#5 of 5

public schools

Massachusetts high schools

#112 of 366

In district

#5 of 5

Watertown

School environment

9.4 / 10

Exceptional

About Watertown High

Watertown High serves 760 students in grades 9-12 in this well-established Massachusetts community. With a student-teacher ratio of 11.2:1 and 68 full-time equivalent teachers, the school provides a more personalized learning environment than many larger high schools. The school demonstrates solid academic performance, earning a 7.1 out of 10 rating from MySchoolScout and ranking 376th out of 1,796 Massachusetts high schools, placing it in the 79th percentile statewide.

Students show steady achievement with 57% proficient or above in English Language Arts and 52% proficient or above in mathematics across all grade levels tested. Watertown High draws students from a highly educated community where 66% of residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher. The surrounding neighborhood reflects stability and educational values, with a median household income of $117,584 and a low poverty rate of 6.4%.

Families in the area typically invest significantly in their community, as evidenced by the median home value of $722,000. Located at 27 Westminster Avenue, Watertown High sits in a large suburban setting that combines the advantages of proximity to Boston with the character of a close-knit community of 35,300 residents in the 02472 area.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress6.7Above Average25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data6
Annual Change-1.42 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics8.0Excellent25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency52%
Reading/ELA Proficiency57%
Math vs. State Avg+6.1 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+5 pts
Overall Proficiency55%
Expected (poverty-adj.)48%
vs. Expected+6.2 pts
Adjusted Percentile70th
College Readiness5.5Average30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
AP Participation18.8%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment9.4Exceptional20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio11.2:1
Per-Pupil Spending$27,743

Watertown High — Students at Watertown High score 54% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 48%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

0.1%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores MA MCAS (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 58.8%
School
State
52.0%
ELA Proficiency 60.3%
School
State
59.6%

Based on 22 test records from MA state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

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

2019
Math
63.5%
ELA
62.5%
2021*
Math
61%
ELA
68%
2022
Math
52%
ELA
58%
2023
Math
63%
ELA
61%
2024
Math
54%
ELA
53%
2025
Math
59%
ELA
52%

* 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: 6.7/10.

How Watertown High Compares

See how Watertown High performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
7.2/10
71th percentile in MA
Academic
8.0/10
8.0/10
Growth
6.7/10
Above average
Environment
9.4/10
Above average

Location

27 Westminster Ave., Watertown, MA 02472

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Watertown High may also want to explore other high schools in the area. NEWTON COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL (rated 7.7/10, 1.8 miles away, in nearby Newton), which scores slightly higher. Another option is CLEARWAY SCHOOL (rated 5.8/10, 1.1 miles away, in nearby Newton), a more accessible option. Additionally, ARLINGTON SCHOOL (rated 5.7/10, 1.7 miles away, in nearby Belmont), a more accessible option. For more schools in Watertown, see our Watertown schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.8 mi
School Distance Rating
Watertown Middle Watertown 0.1 mi 8.4
Cunniff Watertown 0.5 mi 8.4
James Russell Lowell Watertown 0.6 mi 8.7
Lincoln-Eliot Newton 0.8 mi 8.4
WALDORF HIGH SCHOOL OF MASSACHUSETTS BAY Belmont 0.8 mi 5.5
Daniel Butler Belmont 1.1 mi 7.6
CLEARWAY SCHOOL Newton 1.1 mi 5.8
JEWISH COMMUNITY DAY SCHOOL, INC DBA JCDS BOSTONS Watertown 0.9 mi 6.2
DEARBORN ACADEMY Newton 1.1 mi 6.6
Underwood Newton Corner 1.2 mi 8.4
James Fitzgerald Elementary School Waltham 1.1 mi 6.5
PERKINS SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND Watertown 1.1 mi 8.8
Horace Mann Newtonville 1.1 mi 7.2
Bigelow Middle Newton 1.3 mi 8.8
Cabot Newtonville 1.6 mi 6.6
F A Day Middle Newtonville 1.4 mi 8.9
Hosmer Watertown 1.3 mi 8.3
ARLINGTON SCHOOL Belmont 1.7 mi 5.7
NEWTON COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL Newton 1.8 mi 7.7
BELMONT DAY SCHOOL Belmont 1.8 mi 7.5

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 02472 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$123,383

Median Home Value

$737,600

Median Rent

$2,356/mo

Population

35,317

College Educated

67.1%

Homeownership

48.8%

Avg Commute

26.2 min

Poverty Rate

6.1%

Median Age

38.8

Community Profile

The community surrounding Watertown High has a median household income of $123,383. It is a well-educated community where 67% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $737,600, with a median rent of $2,356/month. The local poverty rate of 6.1% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 26 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
BELMONT HILL SCHOOL Belmont, MA 7.2
Dartmouth High Dartmouth, MA 7.2
Old Rochester Regional High Mattapoisett, MA 7.2
Wakefield Memorial High Wakefield, MA 7.2
Marblehead High Marblehead, MA 7.3
Newburyport High Newburyport, MA 7.3

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Watertown High

What grades does Watertown High serve?

Watertown High serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend Watertown High?

Watertown High has an enrollment of approximately 760 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Watertown High?

The student-teacher ratio at Watertown High is 11.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Watertown High rank in MA?

Watertown High is ranked #528 out of 1,791 schools in MA.

What is Watertown High's MySchoolScout rating?

Watertown High has a composite rating of 7.2 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Watertown High?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Watertown High has 58.8% math proficiency and 60.3% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Watertown High a charter school?

No, Watertown High is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Watertown High a Title I school?

No, Watertown High is not currently a Title I school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
87 Very Walkable
Transit Score
47 Some Transit
Bike Score
71 Very Bikeable
City Safety
High (2,018/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Watertown). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
760
Student-Teacher Ratio
11.2:1
Teachers (FTE)
68
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Middlesex County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

Watertown
District Enrollment
2,717
Schools in District
5
Per-Pupil Spending
$28,148
District Rank
#5 of 5

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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