Lyndon K-8 School

Lyndon K-8 School in West Roxbury, MA, is a public school serving 512 students from Pre-Kindergarten through 8th grade within the Boston Public School district, and it has shown a remarkable turnaround over the past decade, climbing from a 1-star rating to a consistent 3-star rating. This school stands out as a high-performing gem within its district, with overall proficiency rates in English Language Arts (47%) and Math (44%) that are dramatically higher than the Boston district averages (29% and 28%, respectively). However, it's important to note that nearby schools in neighboring districts, like Memorial Spaulding in Newton and Edith C Baker in Brookline, achieve even higher proficiency rates (around 71-74%), highlighting the disparities that can exist between communities.

One of the most interesting findings is that Lyndon K-8 functions like two different schools. The elementary grades (K-5) are a powerhouse, with 3rd-grade ELA proficiency at 60% and 5th-grade Math at 61%, consistently outperforming the district. Yet, there is a sharp decline in the middle school grades, with 8th-grade proficiency dropping to just 14.8% in ELA and 10.3% in Math—scores that fall below the Boston district average. This "middle school cliff" is a critical challenge the school must address. The school also excels with specific student groups, ranking in the 93rd percentile statewide for Hispanic students, but it struggles with students from low socio-economic backgrounds, ranking only in the 30th percentile.

Lyndon K-8 benefits from significant resources, with per-student spending of $23,965 and a favorable student-teacher ratio of 12.1, which is higher than nearby Memorial Spaulding ($21,634) but comparable to Edith C Baker ($25,103). This suggests the school has the funding to make a difference, but the uneven performance—especially in upper grades and for low-SES students—indicates that resources may not be allocated as effectively as they could be. For parents, Lyndon K-8 offers a strong elementary experience within Boston, but it's worth investigating how the school plans to extend its success to the middle school years and ensure all students thrive.