The top reported proficiency rate is 81% in Science. The lowest is 69% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Cyrus E Dallin
Cyrus E Dallin is a public elementary school in Arlington, Massachusetts, serving kindergarten through fifth grade. It is one of seven elementary schools in the Arlington district, a system that also includes a grade 6 school, a grades 7-8 middle school, and a high school. Dallin operates as a regular neighborhood school, drawing its students from the surrounding residential area. The school is named after the well-known sculptor whose work appears across the town and beyond, and the Cyrus E. Dallin Art Museum in Arlington preserves his legacy.
On Massachusetts’ NextGen MCAS assessments, the school posts strong results. A solid majority of students score at the proficient level or above in both math and English language arts, and an even larger share does so in science. Over the past several years, these proficiency rates have moved within a moderate range, with no consistent climb or decline. Compared with other schools in Middlesex County, Dallin’s overall performance across tested subjects places it in the top quarter, a position that reflects the academic strength of the school and the district. Because Dallin is an elementary school, there are no graduation rate or chronic absenteeism data to review here.
The student body is moderately sized for a kindergarten through grade 5 school. Racially and ethnically, enrollment is predominantly White, with a meaningful Asian population and smaller shares of Hispanic and multiracial students. Information on the share of students eligible for free or reduced-price meals and the share with special education plans or English learner status is not published for this school. A family interested in those supports may want to ask the school or district directly. The school has a high participation rate on state assessments, at nearly all students tested.
Arlington itself is a dense, walkable suburb just northwest of Boston, with a history that traces back to a farming and mill town before the railway turned it into a commuter hub. Today its neighborhoods include Arlington Center, East Arlington, and Arlington Heights. The Minuteman Bikeway runs through the center of town and connects by bike to Lexington, Bedford, and the Alewife Red Line station in Cambridge. Multiple MBTA bus routes serve the town. Civic anchors include the Robbins Library and its historic children’s room, the Regent Theatre, and parkland such as Menotomy Rocks Park and Spy Pond. The town’s commercial activity is concentrated along Massachusetts Avenue, with retail and restaurants.
Housing in Arlington is expensive. Home values, as reflected in the area’s typical list prices and per-square-foot costs, are high by both state and national standards, and rents are steep. The county housing market shows a median listing price in the range of many suburbs near Boston. The town has seen rising household incomes over recent decades, and demand for housing remains strong. For families considering a move to the area, the cost of buying or renting is a central factor. The district recently undertook no major changes that surfaced in public reporting.
Cyrus E Dallin fits families who want an elementary school in a high-performing, well-regarded suburban district with solid academic results and a neighborhood feel. The school’s test scores are a clear strength. The lack of published data on economic and special-population measures is a gap a prospective parent may want to explore with the school. The broader Arlington context offers walkability, transit access, and parks, all in close reach of Boston.
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