The top reported proficiency rate is 38% in Math. The lowest is 21% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Northeast Elementary School
Northeast Elementary School, a regular public school in the Waltham Public Schools district, serves students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. The school is located on a residential street and reflects the character of its host city. Waltham itself is a mixed-use city that combines residential neighborhoods with major corporate campuses in life sciences and technology, and is home to Brandeis University and Bentley University. The city has seen ongoing redevelopment of former industrial sites, and its civic life centers on Waltham Common and the Main Street corridor.
The school’s enrollment is diverse in its composition. Hispanic students make up the largest share of the student body, followed by white students, with smaller shares of Black, Asian, and multiracial students. The data does not indicate what share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, nor the share of students receiving special education services or English learner support. A parent considering the school may want to ask the school directly about its support structures for students with different learning needs.
State assessment results are available for the most recent school year. On the NextGen MCAS exams in math, English language arts, and science, the share of students scoring proficient or above sits below the midpoint of proficiency rates reported across schools in the Waltham district. When compared to other elementary schools across Middlesex County, Northeast Elementary’s overall proficiency rate across tested subjects places it in the bottom quarter. The school’s participation rate on the tests was high for all three subjects.
Looking at the trend over recent years, math proficiency has moved within a range. The most recent year’s math result is toward the higher end of that range, but remains below the levels seen in pre-pandemic years. English language arts proficiency has also stayed within a range in recent years, with the current result similar to recent outcomes. Both subjects show a pattern of results that are below the levels the school recorded before the pandemic.
Because Northeast Elementary serves only elementary grades, there is no high school graduation rate to report. That metric simply does not apply to this grade band. Similarly, there is no data on chronic absenteeism or disciplinary incidents available in the record.
The school does not appear to have a published list of special programs or course access offerings in the available data. A family looking for a school with a particular academic focus, such as a STEM or arts program, may want to ask the district about what enrichment or specialized instruction Northeast Elementary provides.
For a family weighing housing costs, the Waltham area reflects the broader Middlesex County market. Home values are high, and the typical rent is substantial relative to the national median household income. The local economy is strong, anchored by universities and major corporate employers, and the city has commuter rail access into Boston.
Northeast Elementary serves a diverse student body in a city that blends suburban residential life with a strong employment base. The academic performance data shows room for improvement across tested subjects, and a family may want to engage with the school about what instructional supports and enrichment options are in place. The school is part of a district that did not have any publicly reported recent changes or major initiatives that would alter a family’s sense of the school’s direction.
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