James Fitzgerald Elementary School

Summary:

James Fitzgerald Elementary School is a public elementary school in Waltham, Massachusetts, serving 378 students from kindergarten to 5th grade. The school has a diverse student population, with 55.29% White, 31.75% Hispanic, 4.76% Asian, and 2.65% African American students.

Over the past 10 years, James Fitzgerald Elementary School has ranked between 241 and 711 out of around 900 Massachusetts elementary schools, with a current ranking of 405 and a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger. In the 2023-2024 school year, 42.51% of all students were proficient or better in MCAS Next Generation English Language Arts, compared to 35.61% for the Waltham district and 39.17% for Massachusetts. In mathematics, 47.9% of all students were proficient or better, compared to 36.21% for Waltham and 40.91% for the state. However, the school's performance varies across different student subgroups, and it struggles with its English Language Learner and Special Education student populations.

When compared to other nearby elementary schools, such as Lincoln-Eliot and Franklin in Newton, which rank in the top 25% of Massachusetts elementary schools, James Fitzgerald Elementary School generally performs better than the Waltham district average but lags behind these higher-performing schools. The school's declining ranking over the past decade and persistent performance gaps suggest that it may need to implement targeted strategies to improve student outcomes and ensure that all students are receiving the support they need to succeed.


Detail:

Public K-5

 138 Beal Road
       Waltham, MA  02453


(781) 314-5685

District: Waltham

SchoolDigger Rank:
405th of 916 Massachusetts Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $23,432 Help


Students who attend James Fitzgerald Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:    John W. McDevitt Middle School
High:    Waltham Senior High

Student/teacher ratio:  10.0 Help
Number of students:  378

Racial breakdown:

White:
55.3%
Hispanic:
31.7%
Two or more races:
5.6%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  32.3% Help


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 Compare James Fitzgerald Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details James Fitzgerald Elementary School ranks better than 55.8% of elementary schools in Massachusetts. It also ranks first among 7 ranked elementary schools in the Waltham School District! (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 56.71. (See more...)
Student Body
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Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (55.3%), Hispanic (31.7%), two or more races (5.6%). (See more...)
Teachers
Help
Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at James Fitzgerald Elementary School is 10, which is the 3rd best among 7 elementary schools in the Waltham School District. (See more...)
Help
Compare James Fitzgerald Elementary School employs 37.5 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at James Fitzgerald Elementary School is $23,432, which is the 3rd highest among 7 elementary schools in the Waltham School District.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

James Fitzgerald Elementary School:

SchoolDigger ranks James Fitzgerald Elementary School 405th of 916 Massachusetts public elementary schools. (See James Fitzgerald Elementary School in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


English Language Learner students:
Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


Waltham:

SchoolDigger ranks Waltham 253rd of 351 Massachusetts school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Your rating for James Fitzgerald Elementary School?

Rank History for James Fitzgerald Elementary School

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Compare

Rank History for all students at James Fitzgerald Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2003 56.16 431st 884 51.2%
2004 67.75 310th 882 64.9%
2005 53.37 438th 887 50.6%
2006 48.47 507th 911 44.3%
2007 59.50 411th 911 54.9%
2008 58.34 403rd 908 55.6%
2009 38.80 613th 909 32.6%
2010 48.66 540th 920 41.3%
2011 59.62 410th 924 55.6%
2012 57.76 441st 930 52.6%
2013 70.57 292nd 928 68.5%
2014 73.63 241st 926 74.0%
2015 60.82 376th 914 58.9%
2016 55.14 453rd 932 51.4%
2017 48.55 503rd 938 46.4%
2018 52.52 480th 934 48.6%
2019 63.44 343rd 942 63.6%
2021 51.64 466th 936 50.2%
2022 59.49 394th 932 57.7%
2023 47.39 494th 928 46.8%
2024 56.71 405th 916 55.8%
See the entire list of Massachusetts Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at James Fitzgerald Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 32.76 164th 244 32.8%
2019 57.73 63rd 258 75.6%
2021 35.44 162nd 240 32.5%
2022 24.83 248th 267 7.1%
2023 22.66 254th 264 3.8%
2024 41.18 151st 282 46.5%
See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Elementary Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at James Fitzgerald Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 32.00 675th 886 23.8%
2019 39.34 581st 896 35.2%
2021 31.78 644th 894 28.0%
2022 43.48 509th 905 43.8%
2023 42.92 361st 703 48.6%
2024 36.74 447th 731 38.9%
See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at James Fitzgerald Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 44.50 391st 685 42.9%
2019 37.81 467th 700 33.3%
2021 41.09 424th 705 39.9%
2022 45.62 415th 772 46.2%
2023 36.44 511th 757 32.5%
2024 53.76 315th 760 58.6%
See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at James Fitzgerald Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 63.95 344th 893 61.5%
2019 69.54 259th 902 71.3%
2021 45.71 503rd 898 44.0%
2022 48.42 487th 901 45.9%
2023 35.17 577th 887 34.9%
2024 58.63 375th 886 57.7%
See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at James Fitzgerald Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 30.15 477th 656 27.3%
2022 44.76 327th 672 51.3%
See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Elementary Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Male students at James Fitzgerald Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 37.10 592nd 898 34.1%
2019 53.32 436th 907 51.9%
2021 55.45 418th 904 53.8%
2022 67.71 289th 908 68.2%
2023 56.11 389th 896 56.6%
2024 52.03 432nd 891 51.5%
See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Tested In Person students at James Fitzgerald Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 54.98 438th 925 52.6%
See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Elementary Schools for Tested In Person Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at James Fitzgerald Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 57.80 123rd 379 67.5%
2019 58.06 134th 398 66.3%
2021 36.66 225th 379 40.6%
2022 42.72 203rd 401 49.4%
2023 46.37 197th 420 53.1%
2024 51.97 167th 446 62.6%
See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at James Fitzgerald Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 61.70 296th 772 61.7%
2019 72.97 176th 780 77.4%
2021 59.19 299th 765 60.9%
2022 67.92 221st 764 71.1%
2023 53.98 350th 762 54.1%
2024 57.98 311th 753 58.7%
See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Elementary Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

James Fitzgerald Elementary School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 






Data source: Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 1)
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100%

  

by a parent
Wednesday, February 15, 2017

Open Quote it feels very discriminatory with some school members Close Quote



Enrollment information for James Fitzgerald Elementary School

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 189 4 8 9 0 n/a n/a 0 210
1989 206 7 14 6 0 n/a n/a 0 233
1990 201 7 12 8 0 n/a n/a 0 228
1991 216 6 10 8 0 n/a n/a 0 240
1992 249 13 12 10 1 n/a n/a 0 285
1993 259 6 11 5 0 n/a n/a 0 281
1994 248 10 4 6 0 n/a n/a 0 268
1995 265 8 7 10 0 n/a n/a 0 290
1996 265 8 7 10 0 n/a n/a 0 290
1997 254 11 4 20 0 n/a n/a 0 289
1998 248 15 4 13 0 n/a n/a 0 280
1999 225 12 9 14 0 n/a n/a 0 260
2000 227 15 8 9 0 n/a n/a 0 259
2001 238 12 10 10 1 n/a n/a 0 271
2002 223 7 12 14 1 n/a n/a 0 257
2003 223 7 12 14 1 n/a n/a 0 257
2004 199 7 13 17 1 n/a n/a 0 237
2005 188 9 15 22 2 n/a n/a 0 236
2006 164 17 16 37 1 n/a n/a 11 246
2007 161 17 19 73 0 n/a n/a 12 282
2008 153 23 24 93 2 n/a n/a 8 303
2009 224 31 24 119 2 0 9 0 409
2010 245 33 25 102 2 0 12 0 419
2011 255 45 26 87 2 0 15 0 430
2012 275 57 27 96 1 0 13 0 469
2013 290 53 25 89 2 0 14 0 473
2014 285 50 34 107 1 0 14 0 491
2015 289 45 40 123 0 0 11 0 508
2016 287 46 39 144 0 1 19 0 536
2017 248 34 26 123 0 0 17 0 448
2018 238 29 22 132 0 0 17 0 438
2019 230 20 20 127 0 0 18 0 415
2020 226 20 17 120 0 0 19 0 402
2021 200 15 18 118 0 0 21 0 372
2022 202 7 25 123 0 0 24 0 381
2023 209 10 18 120 0 0 21 0 378

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at James Fitzgerald Elementary School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 210 n/a n/a n/a
1989 233 n/a n/a n/a
1990 228 n/a n/a n/a
1991 240 n/a n/a n/a
1992 285 n/a n/a n/a
1993 281 n/a 0.0 n/a
1994 268 n/a n/a n/a
1995 290 n/a 0.0 n/a
1996 290 n/a 0.0 n/a
1997 289 n/a 0.0 n/a
1998 280 n/a 0.0 n/a
1999 260 n/a 0.0 15.8
2000 259 n/a 0.0 10
2001 271 n/a 0.0 8.9
2002 257 n/a n/a 7.4
2003 257 n/a n/a 7.4
2004 237 18.7 12.7 5.1
2005 236 19.0 12.4 13.1
2006 246 19.3 12.7 18.3
2007 282 24.0 11.8 32.6
2008 303 25.4 11.9 33.2
2009 409 31.2 13.1 26.7
2010 419 31.6 13.2 24.1
2011 430 30.9 13.9 30
2012 469 31.8 14.7 32.8
2013 473 37.7 12.5 31.1
2014 491 42.9 11.4 33.2
2015 508 45.0 11.2 32.3
2016 536 45.0 11.9 n/a
2017 448 38.9 11.5 n/a
2018 438 37.1 11.7 n/a
2019 415 35.0 11.8 n/a
2020 402 35.3 11.3 n/a
2021 372 27.8 13.3 n/a
2022 381 35.3 10.7 n/a
2023 378 37.5 10.0 n/a

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio James Fitzgerald Elementary School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 210 n/a n/a n/a
1989 233 n/a n/a n/a
1990 228 n/a n/a n/a
1991 240 n/a n/a n/a
1992 285 n/a n/a n/a
1993 281 n/a 0.0 n/a
1994 268 n/a n/a n/a
1995 290 n/a 0.0 n/a
1996 290 n/a 0.0 n/a
1997 289 n/a 0.0 n/a
1998 280 n/a 0.0 n/a
1999 260 n/a 0.0 15.8
2000 259 n/a 0.0 10
2001 271 n/a 0.0 8.9
2002 257 n/a n/a 7.4
2003 257 n/a n/a 7.4
2004 237 18.7 12.7 5.1
2005 236 19.0 12.4 13.1
2006 246 19.3 12.7 18.3
2007 282 24.0 11.8 32.6
2008 303 25.4 11.9 33.2
2009 409 31.2 13.1 26.7
2010 419 31.6 13.2 24.1
2011 430 30.9 13.9 30
2012 469 31.8 14.7 32.8
2013 473 37.7 12.5 31.1
2014 491 42.9 11.4 33.2
2015 508 45.0 11.2 32.3
2016 536 45.0 11.9 n/a
2017 448 38.9 11.5 n/a
2018 438 37.1 11.7 n/a
2019 415 35.0 11.8 n/a
2020 402 35.3 11.3 n/a
2021 372 27.8 13.3 n/a
2022 381 35.3 10.7 n/a
2023 378 37.5 10.0 n/a

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for James Fitzgerald Elementary School

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $680 (3.2%) $20,257 (96.8%) $20,936
2020 $722 (3.4%) $20,490 (96.6%) $21,213
2021 $901 (3.8%) $22,531 (96.2%) $23,432

Data source: Massachusetts Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on James Fitzgerald Elementary School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 343rd of 942 Elementary schoolsRanks 494th of 928 Elementary schools
 16.8%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (James Fitzgerald Elementary School)5540.4
 14.6%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Waltham)4932.9
 16.1%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Massachusetts)5643.9
 12.1%
3rd Grade Mathematics (James Fitzgerald Elementary School)5734.6
 22.4%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Waltham)4628.8
 17.2%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Massachusetts)4941
 8%
4th Grade English Language Arts (James Fitzgerald Elementary School)5143.1
 7.9%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Waltham)4829.8
 18.2%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Massachusetts)5239.7
 12.3%
4th Grade Mathematics (James Fitzgerald Elementary School)6950.8
 18.2%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Waltham)5636.5
 19.5%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Massachusetts)4945
 4%
5th Grade English Language Arts (James Fitzgerald Elementary School)6734.7
 32.3%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Waltham)4840
 8%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Massachusetts)5243.8
 8.2%
5th Grade Mathematics (James Fitzgerald Elementary School)6252.8
 9.2%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Waltham)4339.9
 3.1%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Massachusetts)4940.9
 8.2%
5th Grade Science (James Fitzgerald Elementary School)4830.6
 17.4%
   5th Grade Science (Waltham)4231.7
 10.3%
   5th Grade Science (Massachusetts)4841.6
 6.4%
All Grades English Language Arts (James Fitzgerald Elementary School)5839.2
 18.9%
   All Grades English Language Arts (Waltham)5237
 15.1%
   All Grades English Language Arts (Massachusetts)5242.3
 9.7%
All Grades Mathematics (James Fitzgerald Elementary School)6347.1
 15.9%
   All Grades Mathematics (Waltham)4736.3
 10.7%
   All Grades Mathematics (Massachusetts)4940.6
 8.4%
All Grades Science (James Fitzgerald Elementary School)4830.6
 17.4%
   All Grades Science (Waltham)4331.1
 11.9%
   All Grades Science (Massachusetts)4741.2
 5.8%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students415378
 8.9%
African American2010
 50%
American Indian00
Asian2018
 10%
Hispanic127120
 5.5%
Pacific Islander00
White230209
 9.1%
Two or More Races1821
 16.7%


Schools Near James Fitzgerald Elementary School









Frequently Asked Questions about James Fitzgerald Elementary School

In the 2022-23 school year, 378 students attended James Fitzgerald Elementary School.

Students at James Fitzgerald Elementary School are 55% White, 32% Hispanic, 6% Two or more races, 5% Asian, 3% African American.

Students who attend James Fitzgerald Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : John W. McDevitt Middle School
High : Waltham Senior High

James Fitzgerald Elementary School ranks 405th of 916 Massachusetts elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.


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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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