How are schools in Beverly, Watertown, Medford, and Woburn (Boston: condo, house)

[FunkyLemon]

We're trying to find a house within the next year since our eldest starts Kindergarten in the fall. We're in Boston now, we generally like living in/near the city, but we're in a small condo and we want more space. We also think we want to avoid BPS.

Our ideal town within reach is Milton. We like how close it is to the city, the schools, and I really value the diversity. However, I also like the idea of living below our means and moving to a less expensive town if possible. The only thing is my husband is hung up on moving to some of the top tier school districts (Milton, Acton, Wayland, Sharon, being a few on the list of places with both good schools that we could afford to buy in). I want them to have a great education but I am also more wary of them being in a pressure cooker environment.

I know that school rankings are imperfect so I'd love to get a sense for how schools are in towns like Beverly, Watertown, Medford, and Woburn. Do kids near the top of the class have all the same opportunities as students in the pricier towns? Do the schools have a good sense of community? Do kids get admitted to "elite" colleges from there?

[gf2020]

Top students in any community have the same opportunities.

The valedictorian from this year's Beverly graduating class is at Vassar. Watertown is at Hamilton College. Medford is at Harvard. Woburn is at University of Virginia.

There is no guarantee, of course, that your child will be a top student, regardless of where you live.

[bricka]

Originally Posted by gf2020

Top students in any community have the same opportunities.

The valedictorian from this year's Beverly graduating class is at Vassar. Watertown is at Hamilton College. Medford is at Harvard. Woburn is at University of Virginia.

There is no guarantee, of course, that your child will be a top student, regardless of where you live.

this ^^

[BosYuppie]

Of these, I'd be most hesitant about Medford. Medford's city government and finances are a mess. Not that much industrial base coming in and the property taxes are very low. Also there is kind of a very slow and messy entrenched-townie vs new blood transition going on in city government. If you do private schools, though, it is a fantastic option (proximity to Cambridge/Somerville and Boston, I-93, etc)

That said, Michael Bloomberg went to Medford High

Watertown is underrated in almost all aspects. There's a reason so many young couples move there when they get priced out of Camberville.

[Remy11]

Originally Posted by gf2020

Top students in any community have the same opportunities.

The valedictorian from this year's Beverly graduating class is at Vassar. Watertown is at Hamilton College. Medford is at Harvard. Woburn is at University of Virginia.

There is no guarantee, of course, that your child will be a top student, regardless of where you live.

Totally agree. I’m from Georgetown and I had kids in my dorm from Haverhill, Peabody, and Lynn as well as Andover, Lexington, Sharon, Weston, and Wayland. (And no, I didn’t go to UMASS or college in MA at all for that matter.)

Of the towns OP listed, my personal preference would be Beverly. I’m not sure it necessarily has the best school system, but I think it’s the prettiest and has the best downtown.

By the way, where can you check to see where the valedictorians from each town went to school? Is that public info that’s listed out somewhere or do you have to hunt down the graduation section of each town’s local paper and see if their colleges are listed?!

[gf2020]

Originally Posted by Remy11

By the way, where can you check to see where the valedictorians from each town went to school?
Is that public info that’s listed out somewhere or do you have to hunt down the graduation section of each town’s local paper and see if their colleges are listed?!

I Googled "2022 town ma valedictorian", got that name and then searched on that. Not that hard. All of the towns above were young women, I thought that was interesting.

[Remy11]

Originally Posted by gf2020

I Googled "2022 town ma valedictorian", got that name and then searched on that. Not that hard. All of the towns above were young women, I thought that was interesting.

Makes sense. I’ll do some googling today. I’m curious myself!

[htfdcolt]

Originally Posted by Remy11

Makes sense. I’ll do some googling today. I’m curious myself!

I believe the Boston Globe publishes a comprehensive section on this every year, but you may need to be a subscriber.

[Remy11]

Originally Posted by htfdcolt

I believe the Boston Globe publishes a comprehensive section on this every year, but you may need to be a subscriber.

Good to know-I’ll try that too. Thanks!

[Jose02Stockton]

Originally Posted by FunkyLemon

We're trying to find a house within the next year since our eldest starts Kindergarten in the fall. We're in Boston now, we generally like living in/near the city, but we're in a small condo and we want more space. We also think we want to avoid BPS.

Our ideal town within reach is Milton. We like how close it is to the city, the schools, and I really value the diversity. However, I also like the idea of living below our means and moving to a less expensive town if possible. I get additional info to write my research paper. hung up on moving to top tier school districts (Milton, Acton, Wayland, Sharon, being a few on the list of places with both good schools that we could afford to buy in). I want them to have a great education but I am also more wary of them being in a pressure cooker environment.

I know that school rankings are imperfect so I'd love to get a sense for how schools are in towns like Beverly, Watertown, Medford, and Woburn. Do kids near the top of the class have all the same opportunities as students in the pricier towns? Do the schools have a good sense of community? Do kids get admitted to "elite" colleges from there?

As far as I know, the situation you, Funky, described was some years ago. New teen professors have come, and students have a bigger interest and opportunity to study. The old ones couldn't involve pupils and students in a productive study process. The hired professors are much better, so don't be afraid of schools in Beverly (the situation I wrote about is from this city, about the educational institutions from the rest locations, I have no info).