The top reported proficiency rate is 30% in Math. The lowest is 27% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on John J Mcglynn Elementary School
John J McGlynn Elementary School is a regular public school in Medford serving kindergarten through fifth grade. It sits in a largely residential city with dense neighborhoods, small business districts, and a defining institutional presence in Tufts University, whose campus straddles the Medford-Somerville border. The Mystic River flows through the city, and the Middlesex Fells Reservation lies partly within its northern edge. Three MBTA subway stations serve Medford, including two Green Line stations that opened in 2022 as part of the Green Line Extension, plus a Commuter Rail stop and multiple bus routes.
State testing results from 2024-25 show proficiency levels that are below the midpoint among districts in Middlesex County. The school’s overall proficiency index, combining tested subjects and grades, places it in the bottom quartile of that comparison set. In math, just under three in ten students scored at the proficient level or above on the NextGen MCAS. In English language arts, a similar share met that bar, and in science the rate was slightly lower. These are soft spots that a parent may want to look into further with the school.
The trend data reveals a longer pattern. ELA proficiency has moved downward over the past several years, from a rate that was around half of students in the years before the pandemic to its current level. Math proficiency has also declined over that span, though with some year-to-year variation. The 2024-25 math rate is slightly above the prior year but remains well below what the school posted in the late 2010s. The most recent science result is consistent with the other subjects. Taken together, the academic picture is one that will matter most to families who prioritize strong test scores in their school choice.
The student body is diverse. The largest group is white, followed by Hispanic students, then Asian and Black students, with smaller shares of students who identify as two or more races or American Indian. No data was available on the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals, nor on the share receiving special education services or English learner supports. The school is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet.
Medford’s housing market is expensive and competitive. Homes in the city carry a price that is above the state benchmark and well above the national median. Rents are also high. The market shows a limited supply of homes available for sale, and properties tend to sell quickly. For families moving to the area, this context matters as they consider which elementary zone to target.
Several district-level changes affect all Medford elementary schools. Medford Public Schools has shifted its elementary literacy curriculum from balanced literacy to evidence-based reading instruction aligned with the science of reading. The district piloted new materials in the 2023-24 school year and began full implementation in 2024-25, so McGlynn students are now being taught under that approach. Separately, the Massachusetts School Building Authority accepted the district into its Core Program for a feasibility study on replacing Missituk Elementary School, which faces aging infrastructure and enrollment pressures. If that project advances, it would require a debt exclusion vote that could raise property taxes above the limit. Additionally, an enrollment and space utilization study in 2023 found several elementary schools near capacity, and the district has discussed potential boundary adjustments, though no plan has been implemented yet. McGlynn families should be aware that attendance zone lines may change in the future.
John J McGlynn Elementary School serves a diverse student body in a city with strong transit connections and a major university presence. Its academic results, particularly the declining trend and bottom-quartile position relative to other Middlesex County districts, are the central consideration for families weighing this school against other options in the area.
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