Massachusetts public high school

Medford High School

Medford school district

B-

overall grade

Ranks #151 of 335 Massachusetts high schools — top 46%.

Overall rank

#151

of 335 schools

Average SAT

1176+85 vs MA

MA average 1091

Graduation rate

90%

MA average 92%

Plan on college

67%

MA average 72%

SAT is the average total score of test takers. Graduation is the four-year rate. College is the share of graduates who report plans to attend a 2- or 4-year college.

Medford is a densely populated city located about 5 miles northwest of Boston, situated along the Mystic River. The city has a rich colonial history, having been settled in 1630, and was once known for its shipbuilding industry and rum distilleries. Today, Medford is home to Tufts University and maintains a diverse, working-class character with a mix of residential neighborhoods and commercial corridors.

How it compares

What stands out

Strongest area: SAT scores, in the top 21% statewide. The average SAT score is 1176, vs 1091 at the typical MA high school.
Area to watch: College plans rank in the bottom 27% statewide.
Trend: Chronic absence has fallen from 39.5% in 2022 to 20.4% in 2025.
Trend: The average SAT score is up 40 points since 2022 (1136 to 1176).

Where it stands among 335 Massachusetts high schools

Bottom of MATop of MA

Overall

Averagetop 46% · #151

SAT

Above averagetop 21% · #70

ELA MCAS

Averagebottom 44% · #185

Math MCAS

Averagebottom 41% · #196

AP results

Above averagetop 24% · #74

Graduation

Below averagebottom 30% · #236

College plans

Below averagebottom 27% · #245

The overall rank weighs SAT (30%), MCAS (25%), AP results (20%), and graduates' college plans (25%). Categories rank only the schools with data for them. How we rank

SAT

Average total score1176in 2025 · MA avg 1091

85 points above the MA avg

By section (out of 800)

Reading & writingBetter than average

This school

606

MA avg

556

MathBetter than average

This school

570

MA avg

535

145 students took the SAT.

"MA avg" is the average of the 335 high schools we rank. Only students who choose to take the SAT are counted.

MCAS (10th grade)

Share of 10th graders meeting or exceeding expectations. Statewide results dropped after 2024, when passing the MCAS stopped being a graduation requirement. There was no test in 2020.

English Language Arts41%in 2026 · state 45%

4 points below the state

Math35%in 2026 · state 44%

9 points below the state

Biologyhigh school science, 2026Better than average

This school

45%

State

38%

Detailed scores

Average scaled score, ELA · Math · Science (500+ = meeting expectations)496 · 494 · 496

Achievement percentile vs. MA schools (ELA · Math)49th · 51st

Student growth percentile, ELA · Math (50 = typical growth)56 · 56

AP & advanced courses

AP exams scored 3+84%in 2025 · MA avg 66%

18 points above the MA avg

Score breakdown

Score 5: 24%Score 4: 32%Score 3: 28%Score 2: 12%Score 1: 4%

168 students took 312 AP exams. A 3 or higher can earn college credit.

Completed an advanced coursegrades 11–12Worse than average

This school

43.1%

MA avg

71.4%

9th graders passing all coursesAbout average

This school

84.5%

MA avg

82.6%

After high school

Four-year graduation rate90%in 2024 · MA avg 92%

2 points below the MA avg

Dropped outof the four-year classWorse than average

This school

5.4%

MA avg

4.3%

4.4% of the class were still in school after four years.

Plan to attend college67%in 2025 · state 72%

5 points below the state

Graduates' plans · 274 graduates

4-year private college

24.5%

4-year public college

24.1%

Other / unknown

23%

2-year public college

18.6%

Work

6.9%

Students

Who attends

White

54.3%

Hispanic/Latino

15.8%

Black/African American

15.3%

Asian

9.5%

Multi-Race

4.4%

American Indian/Alaska Native

0.6%

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0.2%

46.8% female · 52.6% male · 0.6% nonbinary

Student needs

High needslow income, English learner, or disabilityAbout average

This school

51.6%

MA avg

50.7%

Low incomeAbout average

This school

38.8%

MA avg

39%

English learnersAbout average

This school

9.8%

MA avg

8.6%

Teachers

Licensed teachersAbout average

This school

96.6%

MA avg

95.9%

Experienced teachersAbout average

This school

72%

MA avg

73.4%

Teaching in their fieldAbout average

This school

88.5%

MA avg

84.6%

Students per teacher

9.2MA avg 11.8

130 full-time-equivalent teachers

Attendance & safety

Attendance rateAbout average

This school

93.1%

MA avg

92.3%

Chronically absentmissed 10%+ of daysAbout average

This school

20.4%

MA avg

22.3%

11.8 days absent per student (MA avg 13.2) · Suspensions: 1.4% out-of-school, 0% in-school (MA high school avg 4% / 2.2%)

About Medford

Middlesex County · Greater Boston — Inside I-95

Avg single-family home value$861KMA median $588K

Avg property tax bill$7,427MA median $6,814

Tax rate$8.60 per $1,000MA median $12.40

Income per person$52,925MA median $47,872

Local kids in public school86.2%

Town bond ratingAA+

Free cash reserves9.4% of budget

Medford 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.

Similar schools elsewhere

Schools with similar test results, demographics, and college plans.

Weymouth High School

Weymouth

B-

#166 in MASAT 1114Graduation 90%94% match

Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical

B-

#169 in MASAT 1072Graduation 100%93% match

Woburn High

Woburn

B-

#154 in MASAT 1180Graduation 91%92% match

Leicester High

Leicester

B-

#140 in MASAT 1090Graduation 91%91% match