Somerville

The schools in Somerville, Massachusetts, serve a diverse student population across 11 schools, including 8 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools. The data reveals a mix of high-performing and struggling schools, with significant gaps in academic achievement across the district.

The top-performing schools in Somerville are John F. Kennedy Elementary and Benjamin G. Brown Elementary, which consistently score above the district and state averages on MCAS tests. These schools have earned 4-star ratings from SchoolDigger and are among the highest-ranked elementary schools in Massachusetts. In contrast, some schools, like Winter Hill Community and Next Wave Junior High, struggle with very low proficiency rates on standardized tests.

The data also reveals challenges at the district's alternative and specialized schools, such as Full Circle High School, which has a low 50% graduation rate and a high 28.6% dropout rate. While the district's investment in early childhood education at the Capuano Early Childhood Center is commendable, the wide range in per-student spending and academic outcomes across the district suggests that simply increasing funding may not be the sole solution to improving student performance.