Waltham operates 10 public schools serving 5,703 students, placing it among the smaller districts in Massachusetts. The school portfolio breaks down into 5 elementary, 2 middle, 2 other, 1 high schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. Aggregated across those campuses, enrollment totals 5,728 pupils using the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 release, and the district is geographically located in Middlesex County County.
Per-pupil expenditure runs $65,788 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, which aggregates every revenue and spending line reported under federal accounting standards. The funding mix is 60.4% local, 33.3% state, and 6.3% federal — a breakdown that matters because districts leaning heavily on local revenue are more exposed to property-tax swings, while higher federal shares typically track Title I concentration. Average teacher compensation clocks in at $152,011 per NCES F-33, a signal of the district's ability to recruit and retain staff against neighbouring districts. The district's equity score — 57/100, ranked #21 of 362 in Massachusetts against a state average of 38 — measures how evenly funding reaches schools within its boundaries.
Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 10 schools offering Advanced Placement (24 AP courses district-wide), a 280.4:1 student-counselor ratio, above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 21.6% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 48.6% Hispanic or Latino, 33.8% White, 8.2% African American across the district's schools.
Waltham Sr High accounts for 31.3% of all Waltham student enrollment
That concentration — well above the 8.4% national median for largest-entity share — means Waltham-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: high. A single dominant campus often anchors a district's program offerings and staffing patterns; the share helps explain why district-wide averages may not reflect the typical neighbourhood-school experience. When one entity dominates a region's footprint, its programmatic and budget decisions effectively set policy for a majority of the affected population.
Waltham school enrollment varies 8.1× across entities
Waltham school enrollment ranges from 222 students (lowest) to 1,791 students (highest), a spread of 1,569 students. That spread reflects typical mixed-portfolio variation between specialty programs and large neighbourhood schools. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.
Waltham student-counselor ratio is 280:1 — near the typical range (US average ~408) — within the typical range for U.S. public districts
student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment — districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Variation between sub-units within Waltham is typically wider than the Waltham-aggregate figure suggests.
Waltham chronic absenteeism rate is 21.6% — near the typical range (US average ~28) — aligned with the national post-pandemic baseline of roughly 28% chronic absenteeism
chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason — illness, family obligations, or disengagement Variation between sub-units within Waltham is typically wider than the Waltham-aggregate figure suggests.
Waltham has 10 schools, including 1 high, 2 middle, 2 other, 5 elementary. Total enrollment is 5,703 students.
How much does Waltham spend per student?
Waltham spends $65,788 per student. The district has an equity score of 57/100, ranking #21 in Massachusetts.
What is the average teacher salary in Waltham?
The average teacher salary in Waltham is $152,011 per year, according to the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.
What is the average rent near Waltham?
The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Middlesex County County is $N/A/month (2026). This affects housing affordability for families in the district.
What is the demographic composition of Waltham?
Waltham students are 48.6% Hispanic or Latino, 33.8% White, 8.2% African American, 4.9% Asian, averaged across 10 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.
What is the equity score for Waltham?
Waltham has an equity score of 57/100, ranking #21 out of 362 districts in Massachusetts. This score measures resource distribution fairness across schools in the district.