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Galvin Middle School

Public Grades 5-8
101st
SchoolDigger Rank ?
of 478 Massachusetts Middle Schools
Better than 79% of Massachusetts middle schools
Summary

Galvin Middle School is a grades 5–8 school in Wakefield, a suburb roughly 10 miles north of Boston, serving 1,056 students — larger than most nearby middle schools and one of the few in the area that includes 5th grade. It ranked 101st of 478 Massachusetts middle schools in 2025-26, placing it in the 79th percentile with 4 stars, while its district ranks 53rd of 351 districts statewide.

In 2025-26, Galvin's proficiency rates were above the state in every core subject: ELA 55.71%, math 51.42%, science 57.99%, and 8th-grade civics 47.23%. ELA and science are relative strengths — science nearly matches Walter S Parker Middle and beats Melrose Middle — while math is the clearest soft spot, running about 3 points below the district and below top nearby schools such as McCall Middle, Arthur W Coolidge Middle, and Lynnfield Middle School. Civics dropped from 54.17% to 47.23% in a single year and now trails most nearby peers, including Stoneham Central Middle School and Melrose. Against Melrose, Galvin is close in ELA and math, ahead in science, but well behind in civics.

Over the long term, Galvin has improved considerably, climbing from the 55th percentile in 2018-19 into the high 70s and low 80s. Its student-teacher ratio improved to 10.9 in 2024-25, better than several neighbors, and per-pupil spending sits mid-to-high among nearby schools. Effectiveness for students with disabilities is a standout strength, but the low-income subgroup ranking fell to the 57th percentile in 2025-26 from the 77th–80th range, making it a notable watch item.

1,056
Students ?
10.9
Student/teacher ratio ?
$19,997
Per pupil spending ?
15.3%
Directly certified for free meals (2024-25) ?
All students in Massachusetts receive free school meals.
 525 Main Street
       Wakefield, MA  01880

(781) 246-6410

District: Wakefield


Students who attend Galvin Middle School usually attend:

High:    Wakefield Memorial High

Feeder schools for Galvin Middle School:

Elementary:    Dolbeare
    Greenwood
    Walton
    Woodville School
Racial breakdown:

White:
76.6%
Hispanic:
10.7%
Asian:
4.5%
more
 See top rated Massachusetts middle schools

 Compare Galvin Middle School to nearby middle schools!
At a glance
▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 63rd percentile in 2016 → 79th in 2026
Strengths
✓Test scores above the Massachusetts average (54% vs 41% meeting standards)
✓Ranks in the top 21% of Massachusetts middle schools
✓Ranking is trending up — up 16 percentile points since 2016
Worth a look
!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing
Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?
This school54%
District avg54%
Massachusetts avg41%
101st of 478
Massachusetts public middle schools ?
Top 21%▲ up 16 pts since 2016
From top 37% (2016) to top 21% (2026)
See the entire ranking list of Massachusetts Middle Schools →
★★★★★
SchoolDigger rating ?
53rd of 351Wakefield among Massachusetts districts
Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)
Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankMassachusetts percentileRating
202675.8101 of 47878.9%★★★★☆
202578.394 of 48480.6%★★★★☆
202480.190 of 49381.7%★★★★☆
202377.8105 of 50179.0%★★★★☆
202275.8107 of 49778.5%★★★★☆
202162.4168 of 50166.5%★★★☆☆
201954.3223 of 49855.2%★★★☆☆
201861.1175 of 48463.8%★★★☆☆
201753.0228 of 48753.2%★★★☆☆
201663.4179 of 48262.9%★★★☆☆
201553.3208 of 44152.8%★★★☆☆
201470.6142 of 45568.8%★★★☆☆
201372.1137 of 45569.9%★★★★☆
201272.1127 of 45572.1%★★★★☆
201174.4113 of 44974.8%★★★★☆
201076.599 of 43477.2%★★★★☆
200965.3148 of 40963.8%★★★☆☆
200862.9155 of 40761.9%★★★☆☆
200768.3127 of 39968.2%★★★☆☆
200667.9127 of 39968.2%★★★☆☆
200566.3117 of 35667.1%★★★☆☆
200469.4111 of 34467.7%★★★☆☆
200359.3141 of 33958.4%★★★☆☆

African American

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankMassachusetts percentileRating
202660.969 of 21567.9%★★★☆☆
201978.427 of 19586.2%★★★★☆

Asian

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankMassachusetts percentileRating
202562.062 of 12751.2%★★★☆☆
202454.469 of 12042.5%★★☆☆☆
202348.577 of 13442.5%★★☆☆☆
201863.055 of 11953.8%★★★☆☆

Disabled

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankMassachusetts percentileRating
202273.664 of 44585.6%★★★★☆
202163.993 of 43178.4%★★★★☆
201952.8143 of 42466.3%★★★☆☆
201838.4221 of 41747.0%★★☆☆☆

Female

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankMassachusetts percentileRating
202668.6128 of 46872.6%★★★★☆
202577.994 of 47380.1%★★★★☆
202476.1105 of 48178.2%★★★★☆
202375.9109 of 48977.7%★★★★☆
202271.0126 of 49474.5%★★★★☆
202161.8164 of 48366.0%★★★☆☆
201960.1190 of 47860.3%★★★☆☆
201867.6152 of 46367.2%★★★☆☆

Hispanic

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankMassachusetts percentileRating
202663.0102 of 38373.4%★★★★☆
202570.779 of 37679.0%★★★★☆
202470.582 of 37878.3%★★★★☆
202373.863 of 36482.7%★★★★☆
202276.262 of 36883.2%★★★★☆
202173.360 of 33582.1%★★★★☆
201966.884 of 32273.9%★★★★☆
201879.246 of 30985.1%★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankMassachusetts percentileRating
202649.1198 of 46157.0%★★★☆☆
202570.992 of 46480.2%★★★★☆
202468.1108 of 46977.0%★★★★☆
202355.4191 of 48160.3%★★★☆☆
202265.7122 of 48975.1%★★★★☆
202141.6261 of 46243.5%★★☆☆☆
201945.1252 of 45244.2%★★☆☆☆
201851.5211 of 43851.8%★★★☆☆

Male

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankMassachusetts percentileRating
202680.386 of 47081.7%★★★★☆
202575.5102 of 47378.4%★★★★☆
202481.381 of 48383.2%★★★★☆
202377.498 of 48980.0%★★★★☆
202278.288 of 49782.3%★★★★☆
202161.1174 of 48564.1%★★★☆☆
201947.1250 of 47847.7%★★☆☆☆
201852.2208 of 46655.4%★★★☆☆

Multi-racial

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankMassachusetts percentileRating
202670.739 of 11265.2%★★★☆☆
202572.334 of 11670.7%★★★★☆
202468.535 of 9864.3%★★★☆☆
202160.232 of 9265.2%★★★☆☆

Special Education

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankMassachusetts percentileRating
202663.8101 of 43676.8%★★★★☆
202564.7108 of 43575.2%★★★★☆
202462.8113 of 44174.4%★★★★☆
202377.165 of 44485.4%★★★★☆
202261.9134 of 50373.4%★★★★☆
202138.8285 of 48941.7%★★☆☆☆
201933.2341 of 48429.5%★☆☆☆☆
201828.8366 of 46721.6%★☆☆☆☆

Tested In Person

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankMassachusetts percentileRating
202162.1168 of 49165.8%★★★☆☆

Tested Remotely

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankMassachusetts percentileRating
202170.181 of 33976.1%★★★★☆

White

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankMassachusetts percentileRating
202665.5115 of 39370.7%★★★★☆
202567.3109 of 38671.8%★★★★☆
202469.995 of 39275.8%★★★★☆
202367.5113 of 40372.0%★★★★☆
202264.6120 of 40470.3%★★★★☆
202147.9194 of 40151.6%★★★☆☆
201938.6250 of 39636.9%★★☆☆☆
201844.1214 of 39545.8%★★☆☆☆
How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)
Disabled (2022)86th percentile+7 vs school
Male (2026)82nd percentile+3 vs school
Special Education (2026)77th percentile~ school
Tested Remotely (2021)76th percentile+10 vs school
Hispanic (2026)73rd percentile-6 vs school
Female (2026)73rd percentile-6 vs school
White (2026)71st percentile-8 vs school
African American (2026)68th percentile-11 vs school
Tested In Person (2021)66th percentile~ school
Multi-racial (2026)65th percentile-14 vs school
Low Socio Economic Status (2026)57th percentile-22 vs school
Asian (2025)51st percentile-29 vs school
By subject vs Massachusetts (2025-2026) ?
Science58%+17 vs state
English Language Arts56%+16 vs state
Mathematics51%+10 vs state
Civics47%+7 vs state

1.5
2 ratings · 2 written reviews
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What people are saying
by a parent
Saturday, July 1, 2017

Open Quote The teachers and education are great. But the school has a real bullying problem. Close Quote


by a parent
Sunday, September 4, 2011

Open Quote maybe it has changed a great deal but I remember being a student there and it was a horrible place I'll never forget.
I resent it!!! Close Quote





Schools Near Galvin Middle School

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Frequently Asked Questions about Galvin Middle School

Students who attend Galvin Middle School usually go on to attend Wakefield Memorial High

Students at Galvin Middle School are 77% White, 11% Hispanic, 4% Asian, 4% Two or more races, 4% African American.

Galvin Middle School ranks 101st of 478 Massachusetts middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,056 students attended Galvin Middle School.

Rate Galvin Middle School!



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Latest Massachusetts data All new data »
2013–14 through 2025–26 immunization rates (updated)NewOct 20, 2026
2024–25 dropout rates & graduation ratesMar 5, 2026
2024–25 MCAS Next Generation test scoresSep 29, 2025
2023–24 school spending dataMay 8, 2025


SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.

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