King Open

Summary:

King Open is an elementary school in Cambridge, MA serving 371 students in grades PK-5. The school's academic performance, as measured by MCAS proficiency rates, is generally lower than the Cambridge district and Massachusetts state averages across all grades and subjects. For example, in 2023-2024, only 47.55% of King Open students were proficient or better in ELA, compared to 55.2% in the Cambridge district and 39.17% statewide.

King Open's statewide ranking among Massachusetts elementary schools has declined over the years, from 387 out of 938 schools in 2016-2017 to 420 out of 916 schools in 2023-2024. The school's performance is particularly low for 5th grade students, with only 31.82% proficient or better in both ELA and math. Interestingly, the nearby John M. Tobin and Amigos School, both in the Cambridge district, significantly outperform King Open on academic measures.

Despite having relatively high per-student spending of $35,256 in 2020-2021 and a low student-teacher ratio of 9.3 in 2022-2023, King Open's academic performance has not improved. The school's performance for specific student subgroups, such as African American, Hispanic, and low socioeconomic status students, is particularly concerning, with these groups ranking in the bottom quarter of schools statewide. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic appears to have had a lasting impact on student learning at King Open, as proficiency rates have not fully recovered in the years following.


Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

 850 Cambridge Street
       Cambridge, MA  02139


(617) 349-6540

District: Cambridge

SchoolDigger Rank:
420th of 916 Massachusetts Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $35,256 Help


Student/teacher ratio:  9.3 Help
Number of students:  371

Racial breakdown:

White:
36.7%
African American:
22.6%
Two or more races:
14.0%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  47.5% Help


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Performance Trends
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Compare Details King Open ranks better than 54.1% of elementary schools in Massachusetts. It also ranks 10th among 12 ranked elementary schools in the Cambridge School District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 54.58. (See more...)
Student Body
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Compare Details Student population at King Open is diverse. Racial makeup is: White (36.7%), African American (22.6%), two or more races (14%). (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at King Open is 9.3, which is the 5th best among 12 elementary schools in the Cambridge School District. (See more...)
Help
Compare King Open employs 39.5 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at King Open is $35,256, which is the 5th highest among 12 elementary schools in the Cambridge School District.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

King Open:

SchoolDigger ranks King Open 420th of 916 Massachusetts public elementary schools. (See King Open in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
African American students:
White students:


Cambridge:

SchoolDigger ranks Cambridge 101st of 351 Massachusetts school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

Read all reviews and ratings detail for King Open.

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Rank History for King Open

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Compare

Rank History for all students at King Open

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2003 39.02 594th 884 32.8%
2004 11.74 788th 882 10.7%
2005 20.31 733rd 887 17.4%
2006 32.49 666th 911 26.9%
2007 42.80 587th 911 35.6%
2008 34.99 643rd 908 29.2%
2009 42.39 571st 909 37.2%
2010 34.34 652nd 920 29.1%
2011 31.87 680th 924 26.4%
2012 50.66 521st 930 44.0%
2013 42.14 585th 928 37.0%
2014 49.59 527th 926 43.1%
2015 41.74 581st 914 36.4%
2016 65.67 317th 932 66.0%
2017 59.63 387th 938 58.7%
2018 50.84 494th 934 47.1%
2019 47.37 524th 942 44.4%
2021 46.17 514th 936 45.1%
2022 39.99 560th 932 39.9%
2023 43.67 529th 928 43.0%
2024 54.58 420th 916 54.1%
See the entire list of Massachusetts Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Special Education students at King Open

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 26.97 730th 886 17.6%
2019 27.88 723rd 896 19.3%
2021 34.73 602nd 894 32.7%
2022 19.49 798th 905 11.8%
2023 24.22 565th 703 19.6%
2024 47.13 325th 731 55.5%
See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at King Open

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 27.46 567th 685 17.2%
2019 17.44 648th 700 7.4%
2021 39.51 436th 705 38.2%
2022 14.44 736th 772 4.7%
2023 33.26 555th 757 26.7%
2024 34.35 538th 760 29.2%
See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at King Open

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 49.45 475th 893 46.8%
2019 48.49 500th 902 44.6%
2021 47.62 482nd 898 46.3%
2022 51.04 458th 901 49.2%
2023 47.86 478th 887 46.1%
2024 56.60 390th 886 56.0%
See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at King Open

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 37.53 401st 656 38.9%
2019 58.02 218th 665 67.2%
2021 32.31 431st 632 31.8%
2022 39.77 367th 672 45.4%
See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Elementary Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Male students at King Open

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 51.92 451st 898 49.8%
2019 48.08 490th 907 46.0%
2021 43.50 510th 904 43.6%
2022 28.36 666th 908 26.7%
2023 40.53 550th 896 38.6%
2024 53.39 418th 891 53.1%
See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Tested In Person students at King Open

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 47.84 496th 925 46.4%
See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Elementary Schools for Tested In Person Students!

Rank History for Tested Remotely students at King Open

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 59.41 128th 399 67.9%
See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Elementary Schools for Tested Remotely Students!

Rank History for African American students at King Open

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 32.45 116th 166 30.1%
2022 21.91 153rd 173 11.6%
2023 21.92 148th 167 11.4%
2024 41.03 101st 167 39.5%
See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Elementary Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at King Open

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 30.75 303rd 398 23.9%
See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at King Open

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 55.42 373rd 772 51.7%
2019 63.53 277th 780 64.5%
2021 51.69 367th 765 52.0%
2022 57.90 320th 764 58.1%
2023 51.15 382nd 762 49.9%
2024 62.08 276th 753 63.3%
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.

King Open 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: 2)
0%

25%

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25%

50%

  

by a parent
Friday, March 1, 2019

Open Quote My daughter has spent two years in the Portuguese immersion program, Ola. The program is a mix of families who have a connection to speaking Portuguese and those who simply wish to give their child the gift of speaking a second language. Thus far I can say it is a wonderful program which our family feels lucky to be a part of. The King Open school as a whole fosters and teaches inclusion and kindness—and we can see our daughter growing in leaps and bounds not only academically but also socially. Close Quote


by a teacher
Monday, August 8, 2016

Open Quote I was a paraprofessional in an Autism Spectrum Disorder classroom. The classrooms use Applied Behavioral Analysis, regardless of the intelligence level of the child. This method involves sitting even kindergartners down with an adult, for almost the entire day, and forcing them to answer the same questions over and over again. Statistics are taken. Obviously, the repetition and lack of interaction result in profound boredom, and the children act out as a result. They are then often restrained and always sequestered into a padded room where they can scream for hours. In some reasons, the rooms are situated by the hall where horrified general ed kids parade by. Chit chat with children, which is how all research since the 1950's shows children learn, is discouraged. We are encouraged to use as few words as possible when interacting with the children. Reading books is reduced to repeating questions until the child gets them right. A program that is 50% Applied Behavioral Analysis may be appropriate for 50% of the time for very low functioning children, but it certainly isn't the right fit for most of them. The lead teachers in the ASD classrooms have a degree in Applied Behavioral Analysis, and almost no training in special education. When they aren't doing ABA, their teaching methods are basically the same as how they were probably taught. They initiate a lot of activities that have been shown in the past 10 or 20 years to not be the most effective educational strategies. It's all very therapeutic.

During inclusion activities, I found the general ed teachers to be incredibly racist. The differentiation of consequences based on race astounded me. Further, the general ed teachers knew nothing about adapting academic assignments to the language status and intellectual level of the child. This situation renders it nearly impossible for children, both above and below average, to reach their capacity.

Further, the general ed teachers have no idea what to do with the kids who have autism. They are almost entirely ignored.

The administration was incredibly unsupportive about my concerns. At one point, the principal told me that if I wanted a union rep at a meeting, then that meant "you don't trust, and that's a problem." So he was basically telling me that I can't have my legally authorized representative in the meeting. Close Quote


by a parent
Thursday, March 17, 2016

Open Quote This is the worst school ever. They do not know how to deal with kids. I have watched one day how rude one staff member deals with children. I think there is a problem with this school teaching philosophy. I wish if have not sent my kids to this school. My advice to you do not send your children to this school Close Quote


by a parent
Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Open Quote King Open is a school with dedicated and engaged teachers, and this review is in no way meant to take away from the effort that they put in.

That said, the school has a principal, Darrell Williams, who cannot anticipate problems or address them, does not listen to the concerns of parents, and who has in improbably low bar for educational and behavioral standards.

Concretely, Principal Williams has failed to address ongoing disciplinary overreaches on the part of his staff (not the teachers, but other staff) that include a child being put into a locker by an adult as punishment, children being physically forced to run, do pushups and situps as punishment, and a systemic approach to collective punishment that results in children who are behaving well being punished regardless because of the behavior of their peers.

In addition, he has overseen a catastrophic failure in the portuguese immersion program, and a catastrophic failure in the management of the current 5th grade in a period of only two years. The former required a complete reset for the program, and the latter resulted in six children transferring out of a class where his limited and ill-conceived efforts to support the class entirely failed.

During his tenure the academic performance of King Open, already not terribly good, has gone down, and the parent community that supports the school has watched in dismay as the institution that so many people worked to build has failed their children.

If you can possibly avoid it, do not send your kids to this school while Principal Williams is the head master. Close Quote



Enrollment information for King Open

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1994 145 91 25 16 1 n/a n/a 0 278
1995 158 102 35 21 1 n/a n/a 0 317
1996 158 102 35 21 1 n/a n/a 0 317
1997 163 100 54 26 1 n/a n/a 0 344
1998 167 105 49 28 1 n/a n/a 0 350
1999 162 103 43 25 2 n/a n/a 0 335
2000 165 100 38 26 2 n/a n/a 0 331
2001 160 97 46 17 2 n/a n/a 0 322
2002 185 86 42 22 4 n/a n/a 0 339
2003 185 86 42 22 4 n/a n/a 0 339
2004 297 166 41 60 6 n/a n/a 0 570
2005 262 152 44 57 5 n/a n/a 0 520
2006 236 135 44 56 4 n/a n/a 12 487
2007 248 129 35 55 4 n/a n/a 15 486
2008 256 138 33 68 4 n/a n/a 14 513
2009 248 141 38 63 3 1 23 0 517
2010 250 122 36 62 3 1 24 0 498
2011 236 124 42 59 3 1 28 0 493
2012 240 114 40 55 5 1 30 0 485
2013 179 70 20 44 3 1 28 0 345
2014 163 63 27 51 1 0 29 0 334
2015 161 54 25 46 2 0 28 0 316
2016 158 54 34 44 1 0 29 0 320
2017 149 59 29 54 1 0 33 0 325
2018 146 65 35 52 2 0 29 0 329
2019 157 70 43 50 2 0 37 0 359
2020 171 72 54 41 1 0 44 0 383
2021 153 69 45 41 1 1 48 0 358
2022 132 82 46 52 0 0 43 0 355
2023 136 84 49 50 0 0 52 0 371

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 King Open

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1994 278 n/a n/a n/a
1995 317 n/a 0.0 n/a
1996 317 n/a 0.0 n/a
1997 344 n/a 0.0 n/a
1998 350 n/a 0.0 n/a
1999 335 n/a 0.0 0
2000 331 n/a 0.0 25.1
2001 322 n/a 0.0 21.4
2002 339 n/a n/a 20.9
2003 339 n/a n/a 20.9
2004 570 53.6 10.6 36.5
2005 520 48.0 10.8 49.4
2006 487 45.0 10.8 47.2
2007 486 44.0 11.0 41.8
2008 513 37.8 13.6 48.5
2009 517 34.4 15.0 44.1
2010 498 44.2 11.2 45.4
2011 493 41.7 11.8 41.2
2012 485 44.8 10.8 44.5
2013 345 32.6 10.5 48.7
2014 334 32.6 10.2 44
2015 316 31.0 10.1 47.5
2016 320 33.0 9.6 n/a
2017 325 35.5 9.1 n/a
2018 329 34.8 9.4 n/a
2019 359 35.0 10.2 n/a
2020 383 35.8 10.6 n/a
2021 358 41.5 8.6 n/a
2022 355 42.0 8.4 n/a
2023 371 39.5 9.3 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 King Open

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1994 278 n/a n/a n/a
1995 317 n/a 0.0 n/a
1996 317 n/a 0.0 n/a
1997 344 n/a 0.0 n/a
1998 350 n/a 0.0 n/a
1999 335 n/a 0.0 0
2000 331 n/a 0.0 25.1
2001 322 n/a 0.0 21.4
2002 339 n/a n/a 20.9
2003 339 n/a n/a 20.9
2004 570 53.6 10.6 36.5
2005 520 48.0 10.8 49.4
2006 487 45.0 10.8 47.2
2007 486 44.0 11.0 41.8
2008 513 37.8 13.6 48.5
2009 517 34.4 15.0 44.1
2010 498 44.2 11.2 45.4
2011 493 41.7 11.8 41.2
2012 485 44.8 10.8 44.5
2013 345 32.6 10.5 48.7
2014 334 32.6 10.2 44
2015 316 31.0 10.1 47.5
2016 320 33.0 9.6 n/a
2017 325 35.5 9.1 n/a
2018 329 34.8 9.4 n/a
2019 359 35.0 10.2 n/a
2020 383 35.8 10.6 n/a
2021 358 41.5 8.6 n/a
2022 355 42.0 8.4 n/a
2023 371 39.5 9.3 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 King Open

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $413 (1.4%) $28,598 (98.6%) $29,010
2020 $552 (1.9%) $28,803 (98.1%) $29,354
2021 $789 (2.2%) $34,467 (97.8%) $35,256

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

Impact of COVID-19 on King Open

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 524th of 942 Elementary schoolsRanks 529th of 928 Elementary schools
 1.4%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (King Open)6439.1
 24.9%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Cambridge)6863.8
 4.2%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Massachusetts)5643.9
 12.1%
3rd Grade Mathematics (King Open)5037
 13%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Cambridge)5758.2
 1.2%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Massachusetts)4941
 8%
4th Grade English Language Arts (King Open)4737.8
 9.2%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Cambridge)6056.9
 3.1%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Massachusetts)5239.7
 12.3%
4th Grade Mathematics (King Open)3931.1
 7.9%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Cambridge)5961.9
 2.9%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Massachusetts)4945
 4%
5th Grade English Language Arts (King Open)5532.6
 22.4%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Cambridge)6463
 1%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Massachusetts)5243.8
 8.2%
5th Grade Mathematics (King Open)4152.2
 11.2%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Cambridge)5157.3
 6.3%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Massachusetts)4940.9
 8.2%
5th Grade Science (King Open)5143.5
 7.5%
   5th Grade Science (Cambridge)5357.1
 4.1%
   5th Grade Science (Massachusetts)4841.6
 6.4%
All Grades English Language Arts (King Open)5636.5
 19.5%
   All Grades English Language Arts (Cambridge)6058.6
 1.4%
   All Grades English Language Arts (Massachusetts)5242.3
 9.7%
All Grades Mathematics (King Open)4340.2
 2.8%
   All Grades Mathematics (Cambridge)5353.4
 0.3%
   All Grades Mathematics (Massachusetts)4940.6
 8.4%
All Grades Science (King Open)5143.5
 7.5%
   All Grades Science (Cambridge)4950.8
 1.8%
   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 Students359371
 3.3%
African American7084
 20%
American Indian20
 100%
Asian4349
 14%
Hispanic5050
Pacific Islander00
White157136
 13.4%
Two or More Races3752
 40.5%


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Frequently Asked Questions about King Open

King Open ranks 420th of 916 Massachusetts elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Students at King Open are 37% White, 23% African American, 14% Two or more races, 13% Hispanic, 13% Asian.

In the 2022-23 school year, 371 students attended King Open.


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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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