The top reported proficiency rate is 65% in English language arts. The lowest is 63% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Williams
Williams serves kindergarten through fifth grade in the village of Auburndale, part of the Newton public school system. It is a regular neighborhood elementary school that draws from the surrounding residential area. The student body is sizable for an elementary school of this grade band, and the school sees full participation on state assessments, a sign of strong engagement from families and staff.
On the 2024-25 NextGen MCAS, Williams posted results that place it above the midpoint among districts in Middlesex County, a large and diverse county that includes both urban and suburban communities. A substantial majority of students scored at the proficient level or above in English language arts, and a similarly strong share reached that threshold in mathematics. In science, the pattern held, with most students hitting proficiency. This consistency across subjects suggests a coherent instructional program. Looking at trends over several years, proficiency rates in both reading and math have moved around from year to year, but they have generally stayed at levels that many families would consider solid. The most recent year’s data shows the school in a healthy range, comparable to its own best years in the recent past. There is no sign of a sustained decline.
Because the school serves only elementary grades, there is no graduation rate to report, and state tests are the primary academic metric available. The data does not include information on chronic absenteeism, discipline, or staffing ratios, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about classroom sizes and how the school supports attendance and behavior.
The student population is diverse by race and ethnicity. The largest groups are white students and Asian students, with smaller shares of Hispanic students, multiracial students, and Black students. There is a visible presence of families who speak languages other than English at home, though the data on English learner enrollment was not reported. The school’s free- and reduced-price lunch data was also missing, so the economic mix is not captured in the available numbers. Given the housing costs in the neighborhood, the community is broadly affluent, but without the economic indicator it is hard to say how much income variation exists within the school.
Auburndale itself is a commuter village with a walkable center around Auburndale Square, where a library, small businesses, and a playhouse sit. The village is bisected by the Massachusetts Turnpike, but the school is situated on Grove Street, not far from the square and near Lasell University. The neighborhood is primarily made up of single-family homes on large lots, with a historic district that gives the area a cohesive architectural character. The MBTA commuter rail station and nearby Green Line stops provide transit access to Boston. Development pressure is noticeable, with large luxury townhomes replacing older homes on some streets and a major project planned on the MBTA site. These changes mean the area is growing in density, though the historic district offers some protection.
Home values in the zip code are among the highest in Massachusetts, placing this school firmly in an expensive housing market. Rents are also high. The combination of strong academic results, a diverse but generally well-resourced student body, and a historic suburban village setting means Williams will appeal most to families who can afford to live in this part of Newton and who prioritize a neighborhood school with consistent proficiency. Families looking for economic diversity or data on special education and English learner support will find those details absent from the public record and may wish to ask the school directly. The school’s stable performance and full community participation make it a reliable option for elementary education within a district known for its schools.
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