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Main Street Watertown MA 2Photo: IFCAR · Public domain
B−
Schools in Watertown · Watertown School District

Watertown’s public schools score below 55% of Massachusetts districts on tests and graduation

The grade covers the public school district serving Watertown, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Math proficiency in Watertown’s districts is 46%, above the Massachusetts average (41%). Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Massachusetts, not nationally.

#169of 283 Massachusetts townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Massachusetts state tests taken in spring 2022, when 98% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
47%
▲ 3 pts vs MA 44%
2021–22
Math proficiency
46%
▲ 5 pts vs MA 41%
2021–22
Graduate on time
85–89%
▼ 0–4 pts vs MA 89%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$28.2K
▲ 6% vs MA $26.5K
FY2024
Students per teacher
10.3
MA 11.9 · smaller classes
Schools in town
10
2,844 students on the public path
In brief

Watertown’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 280 Massachusetts towns with household incomes within a quarter of Watertown’s, its schools beat 35%, lower than their 45% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state on tests

Reading proficiency is 47% and math 46% in spring 2022, against 44% and 41% statewide; 85–89% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 89%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $28,247 per student, against $26,530 across Massachusetts (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Three elementary schools, then one middle and one high school

Which elementary school depends on the address; from grade 6 the district’s path is Watertown Middle, then Watertown High. Enrollment is up 13% since 2020–21. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Star Academy for the Gifted and Talented (private), Perkins School for the Blind (private), Jewish Community Day School, Inc DBA JCDS Bostons (private), St. Stephen's Armenian Elementary School (private) and Atrium School (private) are in town. Every school ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Watertown’s grade

B Test scoresC− Graduation

B−: better than 45% of Massachusetts school districts, #169 of 283 Massachusetts towns. Test scores are above the Massachusetts average; graduation is below it.

Massachusetts school districts we grade (394)Better than 45%
Lower resultsHigher results
Massachusetts towns with similar household incomes (280)Better than 35%
CBA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 1,261 test results and a graduating class of 172 could put Watertown anywhere from C to B. The tests are from spring 2022, when 98% of Watertown’s students in the tested grades sat them (1,258 in math, 1,264 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Watertown, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–53 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressC+ to B−
6–8Watertown MiddleWatertown School DistrictC+
9–12Watertown HighWatertown School DistrictA−

Watertown’s public schools are run by Watertown School District. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Watertown School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 5 schools · 2,844 students, up 13% since 2020–21 · 10.3 per teacher (MA 11.9)
$28,247MA $26,530 · FY2024
B−
Test scores · 2021–22

Above the state in reading

Reading47%
State average 43.7% · 1264 students tested
Math46%
State average 40.7% · 1258 students tested

Watertown vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Massachusetts towns that share Watertown’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
WatertownB−Watertown
NewtonANewton
BostonC−Boston
CambridgeBCambridge
BelmontA+Belmont
WalthamCWaltham

Every school in Watertown

10 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Massachusetts’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Watertownby address
Hosmer
Elementary · Grades PK–5
B−
758 students11:1Rate it →
James Russell Lowell
Elementary · Grades PK–5
B−
422 students10:1Rate it →
Cunniff
Elementary · Grades PK–5
C+
320 students8:1Rate it →
Watertown Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8
C+
583 students11:1Rate it →
Watertown High
High · Grades 9–12
A−
761 students11:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Star Academy for the Gifted and Talented
Grades PK–11
Private · Nonsectarian
317 students5:1Rate it →
Perkins School for the Blind
Grades K–12
Private · Special education
174 students3:1Rate it →
Jewish Community Day School, Inc DBA JCDS Bostons
Elementary · Grades K–8
Private · Religious
166 students6:1Rate it →
St. Stephen's Armenian Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5
Private · Religious
128 students10:1Rate it →
Atrium School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
Private · Nonsectarian
117 students6:1Rate it →

Questions about Watertown’s schools

Are Watertown’s schools good?

On Massachusetts’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Watertown children attend score below 55% of Massachusetts’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B− Schools grade, #169 of 283 Massachusetts towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 35%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Watertown in?

Watertown School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 2,844 students in 5 schools (2024–25).

Where do Watertown kids go to high school?

Watertown High, with 761 students; its own test results earn an A−.

What is Watertown’s graduation rate?

85–89% of the class of 2023 in Watertown School District graduated in four years, against 89% across Massachusetts.

How much does Watertown spend per student?

$28,247 in Watertown School District (FY2024), against $26,530 across Massachusetts. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Watertown?

Yes: Star Academy for the Gifted and Talented (nonsectarian, grades PK–11, 317 students), Perkins School for the Blind (special education, grades K–12, 174 students), Jewish Community Day School, Inc DBA JCDS Bostons (religious, grades K–8, 166 students), St. Stephen's Armenian Elementary School (religious, grades PK–5, 128 students) and Atrium School (nonsectarian, grades PK–8, 117 students).

Parents talk

What Watertown families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Watertown → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Massachusetts. Stars are from neighbors.