The top reported proficiency rate is 75% in Social studies. The lowest is 64% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Bigelow Middle
Bigelow Middle School is a regular public school in Newton, Massachusetts, serving grades six through eight. It is one of several middle schools within the Newton Public Schools system, a district that draws from a city known for its thirteen distinct villages, each with its own small commercial center. Newton is heavily residential, with a mix of single-family homes, tree-lined streets, and a few denser corridors along major transit lines. The MBTA Green Line D branch runs through the city, and commuter rail stations serve several villages, making the area well connected to Boston. The housing market reflects the city’s desirability: home values are well above national and state benchmarks, rents are high, and the market is tight. Newton is a mature, largely built-out community where development tends to be infill or institutional expansion rather than large-scale new construction.
Academically, Bigelow Middle performs at a strong level. The most recent state assessment results show that a majority of students scored proficient or above in math, English language arts, science, and social studies. English language arts had the highest share of students reaching proficiency, while math and science were close behind. Social studies, tested only in eighth grade, also showed a solid proficiency rate. Over the past several years, the school’s performance has been fairly steady, with ELA hovering around the seven in ten mark and math fluctuating a bit more, particularly after the pandemic period when scores dipped. The most recent math results show a recovery to a level similar to pre-pandemic years. Across all tested subjects and grades, Bigelow’s overall proficiency index places it in the top quarter among districts in Middlesex County, a meaningful benchmark given the county includes many well-regarded districts.
The student body is predominantly white, with the next largest groups being Asian and Hispanic students, followed by smaller shares of students who are Black or identify as two or more races. The school enrolls a modest number of students across its three grade levels. Free or reduced-price lunch data was not available, and information on students with individualized education programs or English learners was also not provided. A parent who wants to understand the full range of support services may want to inquire directly with the school about how it serves students with different learning needs.
The school is classified as a regular public school and has no charter or magnet status. No information was available on course offerings, staffing, discipline, or attendance patterns, so those dimensions of the school experience are not covered here. Because Bigelow is a middle school, it does not report a graduation rate, and chronic absenteeism data was also missing from the available records. The district brief found no recent parent-relevant changes to note, so the school appears to operate without major recent disruptions or restructuring.
For a family considering Bigelow, the academic picture is one of consistent, above-average performance within a high-demand, high-cost suburban community. The school serves a diverse but majority-white student body in a city where the villages create a strong sense of neighborhood identity. The lack of detail on student support programs and discipline means that understanding the day-to-day environment may require a visit or conversation with current families. The housing market in Newton is expensive, and the city’s mature, built-out character means that finding a home within the school’s attendance zone may be competitive.
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