The top reported proficiency rate is 69% in English language arts. The lowest is 61% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Roosevelt
Roosevelt is one of Melrose’s elementary schools, serving kindergarten through fifth grade as a regular public school in the Melrose Public Schools system. The school is located on Vinton Street in a primarily residential part of the city.
The student body is predominantly white, with smaller shares of students who identify as Asian, Black, Hispanic, or two or more races. Enrollment figures show a relatively even distribution across the elementary grades, which is typical for a neighborhood school of this size. Data on the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, students with individualized education programs, and English learners were not available in the sources provided. A parent may want to ask the school directly about these dimensions of student support.
On the Massachusetts Next-Generation MCAS assessments, Roosevelt’s students posted proficiency rates that place the school’s overall performance above the midpoint when compared with other districts within Middlesex County. In English language arts, the share of students scoring proficient or above was modestly higher than in math, while science proficiency was lower, though still a solid result among tested grades. Participation in the state tests was complete, which lends reliability to the results.
Looking at the trend data available, ELA proficiency has fluctuated somewhat over recent years, moving within a range above six in ten students reaching proficiency. Math proficiency has been steadier, holding around that same general level with less year-to-year variation. The most recent year’s results show a small uptick in both subjects compared to the prior year. These are solid, not top-tier, results for a Massachusetts elementary school, and they suggest a reasonably consistent academic foundation.
Because Roosevelt is an elementary school only, there is no graduation rate to report, and no data on chronic absenteeism or course access at this level. The school does not appear to offer magnet or specialized programs that would distinguish it strongly from other Melrose elementaries, though the data did not include detailed program listings.
Melrose itself is a built-out, historic suburb a short commute from Boston, with three commuter rail stations, a walkable downtown listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and civic anchors that include the Middlesex Fells Reservation and several parks. The housing market in the area is expensive, reflecting the desirability of the broader region. Recent district-level developments that may matter to a family include a voter-approved Proposition 2½ override in 2024 that directed additional recurring revenue to the schools, helping to maintain class sizes and programs. The district is also in the early stages of a feasibility study for potential renovations at the middle school, which points to attention on facilities but does not directly affect an elementary school family in the near term.
For a family considering Roosevelt, the picture is that of a straightforward neighborhood elementary school in an established, amenity-rich suburb, with student performance that is solidly above the middle of the pack among its county peers. It does not present as a standout academic powerhouse, nor does it show signs of struggle. The missing data on economic diversity and special populations is a gap a prospective parent would want to fill by talking with the school or visiting. The school fits a family looking for a stable, regular elementary experience in a community with good transit access to Boston and a tax base that has recently voted to invest more in its schools.
See more original research from School Decision →