The schools of Arlington, Massachusetts are known for their excellent educational programs, strong sense of community and dedicated teachers. Offering a blend of public and private schooling choices, the town presents a diverse array of learning experiences catering to students across all age groups. From the highly-rated Arlington Public Schools to the diverse and challenging curriculum offered by the private schools, Arlington’s education options provide a strong foundation for the students and prepare them for their future.

Preschool to Kindergarten

Starting off with preschool-age children, Menotomy Preschool is an integrated program for children ages 3 – kindergarten entry age. All children are provided with the opportunity to learn and grow in an inclusive and diverse learning environment. All classrooms are multi-age by design with a student-to-teacher ratio of 10:1, which is lower than the state’s average of 13:1. Specialized teaching staff and service providers individualize instruction to best meet the needs of each child. All children engage in developmentally appropriate activities throughout the day to promote social, language, emotional, cognitive and motor development.

Elementary Schools in Arlington

At the elementary school level, there are 7 public elementary schools, all of which rate well above the state average, with every public school ranking 7 and higher on the 1-10 GreatSchools rating scale. 

The Brackett School is a public school located in Arlington and was recently ranked as the 97th Best Public Elementary School in Massachusetts by US News. The school encourages participation and caring collaboration among parents, students and faculty. High expectations exist for involvement with the school and community endeavors. With its challenging curriculum and student-teacher ratio of 16 to 1, Brackett students enjoy cross-cultural enrichment and an opportunity to learn, communicate and grow.

The Peirce School stands on land that once belonged to John A.P. Peirce. The school encompasses a diverse school population: students come from the Peirce district, from other Arlington districts through open enrollment, and from the Boston city schools through the METCO program. Peirce School ranks as #101 for Public Elementary Schools in Massachusetts according to US News.  

Bishop Elementary School has amazing faculty and devoted staff with an average class size of approximately 20 students. Bishop participates in the Metropolitan Council for Educational Opportunities program (METCO – a voluntary desegregation program) and is ranked 133rd Best Public Elementary Schools in Massachusetts by US News. The school prides itself in instilling respect and responsible citizenship by integrating diversity into the curriculum.

Dallin Elementary School is another one of Arlington’s highly rated public schools, ranking as the 153rd Best Elementary School in the state by US News and recently was awarded the Blue Ribbon for Excellence.  Faculty and administration make a very good effort to help students and take pride in their commitment to providing a caring, joyful, and exciting place of learning. With a student-teacher ratio of 13 to 1, Dallin Elementary School aims to help students learn and enjoy more in a positive, vital, robust learning environment.

Curious about life in other North of Boston communities? Consider these other posts from our blog.

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Hardy Elementary School is a great neighborhood school with a short walk to the subway station after dropping off your kids at school. Hardy has a student-teacher ratio of 12 to 1 and is ranked as the 270th Elementary School in the state by US News. 

Stratton Elementary School has a noteworthy history and was awarded the 2010 U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon Award and recently won national accolades for excellence. It also ranked as the #217 Public Elementary School in Massachusetts by US News. With a student-teacher ratio of 15 to 1 and a solid core group of teachers, Stratton aims to support children to reach their fullest potential.

Thompson School, located in East Arlington, is named for businessman Francis E. Thompson and his wife Mabel Montgomery Thompson, whose family name would live on, attached to one of Arlington’s youngest schools. Ranked as 121st Best Public Elementary Schools in Massachusetts by US News. Thompson School serves students in grades K-5 with a student-teacher ratio of 14 to 1. Incredibly involved parent community and highly committed teachers help enrich and supplement the education and experience of all Thompson students during their time at the school.

Middle Schools & High Schools in Arlington

Ottoson Middle School is a public middle school located in Arlington that serves grades 7-8. The school excels academically with core classes of English, History and Social Studies, Math and Science that take place daily for the entire school year. Ottonson offers excellent music, arts, and technology programs. Ranking at #33 in Best Public Middle Schools in Massachusetts with a student-to-teacher ratio of 11:1, Ottonson graduates are lifelong learners who value and achieve high academic standards.

Arlington High School is a large, coed public high school located just minutes from downtown Boston. U.S. News and World Report awarded the school with a Gold Medal as one of the top high schools in the USA and is ranked 36th Best Boston Public High School by the. Also ranked #936 in the United States. AHS has a big passion for sport, making their hockey and lacrosse teams state champions for most of the 20th century, while the girl’s cross-country and soccer teams have come in first in regional and state competitions. Dedicated teachers set AHS students on a path to success by focusing on academics through its top-notch curriculum of more than 15 Advanced Placement courses and invite students to explore their creativity in courses like Music Technology or Film Scoring.

Arlington Catholic High School is a private, Catholic school located in Arlington. Serving grades 9-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 13 to 1. The school was recently ranked as 23rd Best Catholic High School in Massachusetts by Niche.com, ACHS students and teachers are motivated to be their best. You will find success stories where students and adults learn from each other, work together and grow collectively.