The top reported proficiency rate is 44% in English language arts. The lowest is 34% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Ferryway
Ferryway is a regular public school in Malden, Massachusetts, serving kindergarten through eighth grade. Because it does not serve high school grades, there is no graduation rate available. The school was rebuilt in the late 1990s as part of a citywide replacement of elementary facilities, and its building is distributed within Malden’s neighborhood fabric rather than set on a large campus.
On the state’s NextGen MCAS assessments, Ferryway’s overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades falls below the midpoint when compared with other schools serving similar grade bands in Middlesex County. In English language arts, just under half of students scored at the proficient level or above. In math, roughly a third of students reached that bar. Science results for grades five and eight, as well as social studies results for eighth grade, showed proficiency rates close to the school’s math figure. Participation on test day was very high across all subjects, indicating near-universal student engagement with the assessments.
Looking at the school’s results over the years that are available, a pattern appears. In English language arts, proficiency was in the upper half a decade ago and has since declined, though the most recent year’s figure represents a modest rebound from the lowest point. In math, the proficiency rate was higher several years ago, dipped noticeably in the wake of the pandemic, and has been slowly recovering but has not yet returned to its earlier level. A parent may want to ask the school about the specific supports in place for math instruction and how the school is working to accelerate progress for students who are not yet meeting the benchmark.
Ferryway enrolls a diverse student body. The largest racial or ethnic group is Hispanic, representing a substantial share of students. White, Asian, and Black students each make up notable portions, with a smaller number of students identifying as two or more races. The school sits in Malden, a densely populated city just north of Boston that the 2020 census counted as having a very high proportion of foreign-born residents, among the highest in the state. Chinese, Vietnamese, and Indian communities are sizable. The city is served by two MBTA Orange Line subway stops, Malden Center and Oak Grove, plus commuter rail and bus connections, making it a transit-accessible place. The Northern Strand Trail, a multi-use path with public art, runs through the city.
Data on the share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch was not available from the source used for this profile. Information on students with disabilities and English learners was also missing from the same source. These are important context points for understanding the school’s resource needs and the range of student backgrounds it serves, and a family may wish to ask the school directly about these figures. Discipline data, course access, staffing ratios, and attendance rates were not included in the available records, so this profile cannot speak to those dimensions of school climate or daily experience.
The school is part of the Malden Public Schools district. A search for recent district-level changes such as curriculum overhauls, major referendums, or property tax shifts turned up little of substance to report, so that topic is left out rather than guessed at. The district’s five elementary and middle schools, including Ferryway, were all built or substantially renovated around the same period, which means Ferryway’s facilities are of a similar vintage as its peers in the city. Home values in the area reflect the urban Boston market, with housing costs well above the national typical figure, a dynamic families moving into the district should factor into their planning.
For a family weighing this school, the core takeaway is the academic picture. Ferryway’s state test results are below the midpoint among Middlesex County schools serving similar grades, with math proficiency being the weaker area. The school’s diversity is a plain fact of the student body, and the city’s dense, transit-connected setting suits families who value walkability and proximity to Boston. The missing data on economic disadvantage, special education, and English learner enrollment makes it harder to assess the full scope of student needs, but that information should be available directly from the school or district office.
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