The top reported proficiency rate is 67% in Science. The lowest is 55% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Brooks School
Brooks School is a regular public elementary school in Medford, serving students in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. It is one of several elementary schools in the Medford Public Schools district and operates as a zoned school, meaning attendance is determined by a family's address within the city.
The enrollment is large for an elementary school. The student body is predominantly white, with smaller shares of students who are Hispanic, Asian, Black, or of two or more races. Data on the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, receive special education services, or are classified as English learners was not available in the data provided. A parent may want to contact the school directly for this information.
On the 2025 state assessments, Brooks School posted results that place it above the midpoint among districts in Middlesex County. In English language arts, a majority of students scored at the proficient level or above. The science proficiency rate was also strong. Math proficiency was lower than the other two subjects, with roughly half of students meeting the state standard. The multi-year trend data shows Brooks has been stable in math, with proficiency holding near the same level for several years after recovering from a dip. English language arts performance has been more variable, with a noticeable drop during the 2021-2022 school year, followed by a steady recovery to a level comparable with the school's pre-pandemic performance. Participation in the state tests was universal, meeting the state's threshold.
Medford is a primarily residential city with dense neighborhoods, commercial corridors, and a major university presence. Tufts University straddles the Medford-Somerville border and is a defining institutional force. The city has multiple walkable business districts, including Medford Square, Ball Square, and West Medford, and is served by several MBTA subway stations, a commuter rail stop, and bus routes. Interstate 93 runs through the city. Medford has significant open space, including a portion of the Middlesex Fells Reservation and other city parks.
Several developments are relevant to Brooks School families. The district shifted its elementary literacy curriculum to a science-of-reading approach, piloting new materials in 2023-2024 and beginning full implementation in 2024-2025. This is a lasting change that affects how all elementary students are taught to read. The Massachusetts School Building Authority accepted Medford into its Core Program in late 2024 for a feasibility study on potentially replacing Missituk Elementary School, a project that would involve a debt exclusion vote. Medford also completed an enrollment study in 2023 that found several elementary schools, including Brooks, near or at capacity. The district has discussed potential boundary adjustments as a long-term solution, but no redistricting plan has been implemented.
Brooks School reflects a primarily residential part of Medford with stable academic results. The school's proficiency in English and science is a clear strength, while math is an area where a family may want to look further into the school's support. The curriculum change in literacy is a major recent development that directly affects all students at Brooks. The possibility of future boundary changes and the ongoing planning for a new elementary school elsewhere in the district are factors for any family considering a home in the Brooks attendance zone.
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