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Massachusetts public elementary school

John M Tobin Elementary

Cambridge school district

A
overall grade

Ranks #70 of 895 Massachusetts elementary schools — top 8%.

Overall rank
#70
of 895 schools
ELA · 2024–2026
67%+24 vs MA
MA average 42%
Math · 2024–2026
80%+36 vs MA
MA average 43%
Avg class size
7
282 students

ELA and Math show the share of 3rd graders meeting or exceeding expectations on the MCAS, averaged over 2024–2026.

How it compares

What stands out
  • Strongest area: Math, in the top 3% statewide. An average of 80% of 3rd graders met or exceeded expectations over 2024–2026, vs 43% statewide.
  • Area to watch: Attendance ranks in the bottom 18% statewide.
  • Trend: Chronic absence has fallen from 33.4% in 2022 to 20.8% in 2025.
  • Trend: Math is up 5 points since 2023 (76% to 81%).
Where it stands among 895 Massachusetts elementary schools
Bottom of MATop of MA
Overall
Excellenttop 8% · #70
ELA
Above averagetop 12% · #105
Math
Excellenttop 3% · #23
Attendance
Below averagebottom 18% · #743
Teacher quality
Averagebottom 49% · #464

MCAS standings use the 2024–2026 average of grade 3 results, so one unusual year doesn't swing a school's ranking. Scores in the sections below are from 2026.

Test scores

Both ELA and Math have been above the state average every year since 2018.

Share of 3rd graders meeting or exceeding expectations on the MCAS. There was no test in 2020.

English Language Arts72%in 2026 · state 43%
29 points above the state
0%50%100%This school72%State43%20172019202120232026
Math81%in 2026 · state 42%
39 points above the state
0%50%100%This school81%State42%20172019202120232026
Detailed scores
Average scaled score, ELA (500+ = meeting expectations)512
Average scaled score, Math (500+ = meeting expectations)524
Achievement percentile vs. MA schools (ELA · Math)94th · 99th

Students & classrooms

Classrooms
Students282
Average class size7MA avg 18
Students per teacher10.8MA avg 12.1
Who attends
White
36.9%
Black/African American
27.3%
Asian
15.6%
Multi-Race
12.4%
Hispanic/Latino
7.8%

48.9% girls · 51.1% boys

Student needs
Low incomeLower than average
This school
34.4%
MA avg
42.8%
English learnersLower than average
This school
6.7%
MA avg
17.2%
Students with disabilitiesHigher than average
This school
30.1%
MA avg
22.3%

Teachers

Licensed teachersAbout average
This school
96.3%
MA avg
98.4%
Experienced teachersAbout average
This school
75.9%
MA avg
73.2%
Teaching in their fieldAbout average
This school
96.4%
MA avg
92.4%
Stayed from last yearWorse than average
This school
69.4%
MA avg
82.7%
More staffing details
Teachers (full-time equivalent)27
Principal retention100%
General education teachers87%
Special education teachers11.1%
English learner teachers1.9%

Attendance & safety

Attendance rateWorse than average
This school
92.8%
MA avg
94.1%
Chronically absentmissed 10%+ of daysWorse than average
This school
20.8%
MA avg
15.6%

12.6 days absent per student (MA avg 10.3) · Suspensions: Not reported

About Cambridge

Middlesex County · Greater Boston — Inside I-95
Avg single-family home value$2.05MMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$13,680MA median $6,814
Tax rate$6.70 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$87,857MA median $47,872
Local kids in public school83.7%
Town bond ratingAAA
Free cash reserves17.1% of budget

Cambridge district profile · What could you afford here? · All towns A–Z

Town figures are FY2026 averages for single-family homes from the Massachusetts Department of Revenue. Assessed values usually run below recent sale prices. "MA median" is the median of the state's 351 towns.

Other schools in Cambridge

See all 11 Cambridge elementary schools →

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