Best Middle Schools in Fall River, MA

The city of Fall River, Massachusetts is home to 3 middle schools that serve students in grades 6-8: Morton Middle, Matthew J Kuss Middle, and Talbot Innovation School. While the schools face challenges in academic performance compared to state averages, one school, Talbot Innovation, stands out as a potential bright spot in the district.

Talbot Innovation School ranks the highest among the 3 schools, placing 419 out of 484 Massachusetts middle schools in 2024-2025. It consistently outperforms the Fall River district and state averages in MCAS Next Generation English Language Arts and Mathematics assessments. Additionally, Talbot Innovation has the lowest student-teacher ratio at 9.9, suggesting a more favorable learning environment. While Morton Middle ranks lower than Talbot, it still outperforms the Fall River district averages in several MCAS subject areas, and its 8th-grade MCAS scores are the highest among the 3 schools.

However, all 3 middle schools in Fall River perform significantly below the Massachusetts state averages in MCAS Next Generation assessments, with proficiency rates ranging from 5% to 26% across different subject areas and grade levels. The schools' performance is also generally lower than the Fall River district averages, indicating a need for targeted interventions and support to improve student outcomes across the district. Factors such as funding and resource allocation, as reflected in the varying student-teacher ratios, may play a role in the schools' performance and should be further examined to ensure equitable educational opportunities for all students in Fall River.