At a glance
Reported students
298
NCES CCD 2024–25
Teachers (FTE)
42.5
NCES CCD 2024–25
Student–teacher ratio
7:1
Calculated; not a class-size measure
Grades served
06–08
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
School benchmarks
Massachusetts middle enrollment
12th percentile
Compared with 295 same-level schools reporting enrollment.
District median enrollment
307.5
Darby Vassall Upper School: 298 reported students.
State peer staffing position
2nd percentile
7:1 reported; state peer median 11.5:1. Ratio is not class size.
Historical enrollment and staffing · CRDC 2021–22
These older figures are kept separate from 2024–25 statistics and benchmarks. Differences between years can reflect changes in enrollment, staffing, or reporting scope.
- Students
- 289
- Teachers (FTE)
- 33.23
- Student–teacher ratio
- 8.7:1
What the reported data says about Darby Vassall Upper School
Darby Vassall Upper School is a public middle school serving grades 06–08 in Cambridge. It is one of 16 current school records connected to Cambridge. NCES reports 298 students for 2024–25.
Among 295 middle schools in Massachusetts with comparable records, this school is smaller than the reported median of 540 students. Its enrollment is at approximately the 12th percentile for that peer group. Size describes the campus, not instructional quality.
The reported student–teacher ratio is 7:1, below the Massachusetts median of 11.5:1 for the same school level. This ratio uses total enrollment and teacher FTE; it is not an average classroom headcount and can be affected by special programs or part-time staffing.
The largest reported race and ethnicity groups are White (35.6%) and Black (27.2%). English learners represent 10.7% of enrollment. Students served under IDEA represent 25.6%. These figures help families understand who the school serves; they are not rating inputs.
Questions worth asking Darby Vassall Upper School
- 1How do the reported 7:1 student–teacher ratio and 42.5 teacher FTE translate into actual class sizes by grade?
- 2Which advanced, gifted, career, arts, and computer-science courses are available this year, and how do students qualify?
- 3What counseling support is available today? The school reported 2 counselor FTE in 2021–22.
- 4Does community eligibility provide breakfast and lunch to every enrolled student, and are summer meals available?
Enrollment needs
- English learners
- 10.7%
- Students with disabilities
- 25.6%
- Lunch program
- Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Reported support staff
- Counselors (FTE)
- 2
- Nurses (FTE)
- 0
- Psychologists (FTE)
- 1
- Social workers (FTE)
- 0
CRDC 2021–22 full-time-equivalent counts; verify current assignments with the school.
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White35.6%
- Hispanic12.4%
- Black27.2%
- Asian17.4%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.3%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0%
- Multiracial7%
Race/ethnicity: NCES CCD 2024–25. English learner and disability context: CRDC 2021–22. Lunch eligibility: NCES CCD 2024–25. Privacy rules can produce missing values.
Programs reported by the school
Gifted and talented
Not reported as offered
CRDC 2021–22: the AP flag records student enrollment; gifted and computer-science fields describe reported programs/classes. Confirm current courses and eligibility with the school.
Other schools in Cambridge
Start with campuses at the same school level or with similar reported enrollment.
Cambridge Street Upper School
Middle · Grades 06–08
301 reported students
Rindge Avenue Upper School
Middle · Grades 06–08
292 reported students
Putnam Avenue Upper School
Middle · Grades 06–08
283 reported students
John M Tobin
Elementary · Grades PK–05
291 reported students
Peabody
Elementary · Grades PK–05
314 reported students
Morse
Elementary · Grades PK–05
328 reported students
Public schools near Darby Vassall Upper School
Closest campuses by straight-line distance between NCES geocodes, favoring the same school level. Distance is not drive time or an attendance assignment.
| School | Grades | Students | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cambridge Street Upper School Middle · Cambridge | 06–08 | 301 | 0.3 mi |
| Next Wave Junior High Middle · Somerville | 06–08 | 16 | 1.3 mi |
| Putnam Avenue Upper School Middle · Cambridge | 06–08 | 283 | 1.3 mi |
| Rindge Avenue Upper School Middle · Cambridge | 06–08 | 292 | 2.6 mi |
| John J. McGlynn Middle School Middle · Medford | 06–08 | 464 | 2.8 mi |
| Madeleine Dugger Andrews Middle · Medford | 06–08 | 435 | 3 mi |
Frequently asked questions about Darby Vassall Upper School
What grades does Darby Vassall Upper School serve?
Darby Vassall Upper School reports grades 06–08 in the NCES 2025–26 preliminary directory. It is classified as a middle school in Cambridge.
How many students attend Darby Vassall Upper School?
Darby Vassall Upper School reported 298 students in the NCES 2024–25 membership file. That places it near the 12th percentile among 295 Massachusetts middle schools reporting enrollment. The 2021–22 civil-rights collection recorded 289 students.
What is the student–teacher ratio at Darby Vassall Upper School?
The calculated ratio is 7:1, based on 298 students and 42.5 full-time-equivalent classroom teachers in 2024–25. The Massachusetts median for the same school level is 11.5:1. A ratio is not the same as average class size.
Is Darby Vassall Upper School a public, charter, or magnet school?
Darby Vassall Upper School is a public school and is not a charter school. Enrollment is generally based on Cambridge attendance boundaries and transfer rules.
Which school district is Darby Vassall Upper School in?
Darby Vassall Upper School is part of Cambridge, based in Cambridge, MA, which operates 16 current schools. Confirm attendance zones and enrollment rules with the district.
What public schools are near Darby Vassall Upper School?
The closest public schools by straight-line distance include Cambridge Street Upper School (0.3 mi), Next Wave Junior High (1.3 mi), Putnam Avenue Upper School (1.3 mi). Distance does not determine eligibility; attendance boundaries and program rules do.