Summary:
The 02452 zip code area of Waltham, Massachusetts is home to 3 schools serving students from elementary through high school, all part of the Waltham school district. Based on the available data, the standout school in this area appears to be John F. Kennedy Middle School, which has consistently outperformed the other schools on standardized tests and maintained a higher statewide ranking and rating. In contrast, Waltham Senior High School and Northeast Elementary School have struggled, with test scores well below state averages and lower overall performance ratings.
The data shows that John F. Kennedy Middle School has a statewide ranking between 142-168 out of over 500 Massachusetts middle schools and has maintained a 3-4 star rating from SchoolDigger, indicating above-average performance. In contrast, Northeast Elementary and Waltham Senior High have consistently ranked in the bottom third of their respective school types, with 1-2 star ratings. Waltham Senior High had a 80.8% four-year graduation rate and a 10.1% dropout rate for the 2023-2024 school year, which is concerning.
While the schools in the 02452 zip code area have similar per-student spending levels and student-teacher ratios, the performance gap between the middle school and the other schools is quite significant. This suggests that factors beyond just funding and staffing, such as curriculum, teaching quality, and school leadership, may be driving the differences in student outcomes. Addressing the root causes of these disparities could help improve educational opportunities for all students in the Waltham school district.
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