Massachusetts public high school

Watertown High School

Watertown school district

overall grade

Ranks #118 of 335 Massachusetts high schools — top 36%.

Overall rank

#118

of 335 schools

Average SAT

1132

MA average 1091

Graduation rate

87%

MA average 92%

Plan on college

80%

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.

Watertown is a densely populated city approximately 5 miles northwest of Boston, situated along the Charles River. Originally known for its mills and industrial history, the city has transformed into a diverse, walkable community that blends residential neighborhoods with commercial development. Watertown is home to the historic Arsenal on the Charles, a former U.S. Army facility now redeveloped into a mixed-use complex featuring shops, offices, and the Arsenal Center for the Arts.

How it compares

What stands out

Strongest area: AP results, in the top 33% statewide. 79% of AP exams in 2025 scored 3 or higher, vs 66% at the typical MA high school.
Area to watch: Graduation rate ranks in the bottom 22% statewide.
Trend: Math MCAS is down 16 points since 2023 (63% to 47%); statewide it fell 6 points.
Trend: ELA MCAS is down 9 points since 2023 (61% to 52%); statewide it fell 13 points.

Where it stands among 335 Massachusetts high schools

Bottom of MATop of MA

Overall

Averagetop 36% · #118

SAT

Averagetop 39% · #129

ELA MCAS

Averagetop 36% · #116

Math MCAS

Averagetop 40% · #129

AP results

Above averagetop 33% · #104

Graduation

Below averagebottom 22% · #261

College plans

Averagetop 46% · #152

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 score1132in 2025 · MA avg 1091

41 points above the MA avg

By section (out of 800)

Reading & writingAbout average

This school

565

MA avg

556

MathBetter than average

This school

567

MA avg

535

166 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 Arts52%in 2026 · state 45%

7 points above the state

Math47%in 2026 · state 44%

3 points above the state

Biologyhigh school science, 2026Worse than average

This school

State

38%

Detailed scores

Average scaled score, ELA · Math · Science (500+ = meeting expectations)499 · 502 · 464

Achievement percentile vs. MA schools (ELA · Math)59th · 72nd

Student growth percentile, ELA · Math (50 = typical growth)51 · 63

AP & advanced courses

AP exams scored 3+79%in 2025 · MA avg 66%

13 points above the MA avg

Score breakdown

Score 5: 21%Score 4: 32%Score 3: 26%Score 2: 13%Score 1: 9%

162 students took 351 AP exams. A 3 or higher can earn college credit.

Completed an advanced coursegrades 11–12Worse than average

This school

56.5%

MA avg

71.4%

9th graders passing all coursesWorse than average

This school

72.3%

MA avg

82.6%

After high school

Four-year graduation rate87%in 2024 · MA avg 92%

5 points below the MA avg

Dropped outof the four-year classWorse than average

This school

6.8%

MA avg

4.3%

5.1% of the class were still in school after four years.

Plan to attend college80%in 2025 · state 72%

8 points above the state

Graduates' plans · 190 graduates

4-year private college

36.3%

4-year public college

31.6%

2-year public college

11.6%

Work

11.1%

Military

3.2%

Other / unknown

3.2%

Students

Who attends

White

56.4%

Hispanic/Latino

24%

Asian

Multi-Race

6.8%

Black/African American

4.5%

American Indian/Alaska Native

0.3%

48.2% female · 51.4% male · 0.4% nonbinary

Student needs

High needslow income, English learner, or disabilityAbout average

This school

53.2%

MA avg

50.7%

Low incomeAbout average

This school

40.5%

MA avg

39%

English learnersHigher than average

This school

14.7%

MA avg

8.6%

Teachers

Licensed teachersAbout average

This school

95.9%

MA avg

95.9%

Experienced teachersWorse than average

This school

64.9%

MA avg

73.4%

Teaching in their fieldAbout average

This school

83.3%

MA avg

84.6%

Students per teacher

11.1MA avg 11.8

68.6 full-time-equivalent teachers

Attendance & safety

Attendance rateWorse than average

This school

90.8%

MA avg

92.3%

Chronically absentmissed 10%+ of daysWorse than average

This school

26.9%

MA avg

22.3%

15.5 days absent per student (MA avg 13.2) · Suspensions: 1.6% out-of-school, 0.1% in-school (MA high school avg 4% / 2.2%)

About Watertown

Middlesex County · Greater Boston — Inside I-95

Avg single-family home value$663KMA median $588K

Avg property tax bill$8,094MA median $6,814

Tax rate$12.20 per $1,000MA median $12.40

Income per person$64,792MA median $47,872

Local kids in public school84.8%

Town bond ratingAAA

Free cash reserves16.1% of budget

Watertown 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.

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