The top reported proficiency rate is 42% in Science. The lowest is 28% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Milton Fuller Roberts
Milton Fuller Roberts is a regular public elementary school in Medford, serving kindergarten through fifth grade, with a pre-kindergarten program. It is one of several elementary schools within the Medford Public Schools district. The school sits on Court Street in a primarily residential city that includes dense neighborhoods, small business districts, and the Tufts University campus, which straddles the Medford-Somerville border. The Mystic River flows through the city, and several walkable commercial squares, including Medford Square and Ball Square, are part of the local fabric. Multiple MBTA subway stations and bus routes connect the area to Boston and Cambridge, making this a city where many residents commute outward for work.
The school’s student body is substantially white, with a noticeable share of Asian students and smaller shares of Hispanic, Black, and multiracial students. The total enrollment is mid-sized for an elementary school serving this grade band. Data on how many students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, receive special education services, or are English learners was not available, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about its support structures for different learner needs.
On state testing, the school’s results sit below where many families might hope. In the most recent year of the NextGen MCAS, proficiency rates in math and English language arts were both below the midpoint when compared to other districts in Middlesex County. The school placed in the bottom quarter of the district comparison set on overall proficiency across tested subjects. In math, about a quarter of students met the state’s proficiency standard; in English, about two in five did. Science results were higher but tested a smaller grade. Looking back over several years, proficiency in English has moved within a range, from around two in five to half, and math has fluctuated more, dropping sharply during the pandemic years before partially recovering but still ending below pre-pandemic levels. A parent considering this school should investigate what academic interventions and supports are in place, particularly in math, and whether the school’s approach matches their child’s needs.
The school itself serves only elementary grades, so there is no graduation rate to report. For families concerned about the full educational arc, they would need to consider how the district’s middle and high schools perform separately.
The housing market in this part of Middlesex County is expensive. Home values are well above national and state benchmarks, and rents are high relative to incomes, which is consistent with the broader Boston-area market. A family moving into the district for this school should expect a significant housing cost.
Medford Public Schools recently made a district-wide shift in how elementary literacy is taught, moving to a science-of-reading-aligned curriculum that began full implementation in the 2024-2025 school year. This is a lasting change that affects how students at Milton Fuller Roberts learn to read. Separately, the district is in the early stages of a potential major capital project to replace Missituk Elementary School, which could eventually affect property taxes through a debt exclusion vote, though no vote has been scheduled. The district has also studied enrollment pressures and discussed possible elementary boundary adjustments, so families buying a home with a specific school in mind should be aware that attendance zones could shift.
This is a school where the academic results are a soft spot relative to the county, and the surrounding community is an established, transit-connected Boston suburb with strong housing demand and a major university presence. A parent whose priority is strong test scores may want to explore what academic support and enrichment are available. A family that values the walkable, diverse, and well-connected setting of Medford and is comfortable engaging directly with the school about its academic programming may find this a workable fit.
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