Public schools in Reading, MA
9 open public schools with an address in Reading, operated by 1 education agency. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
9
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
3,836
9 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
12.8:1
Massachusetts median 11.8:1
Charter schools
0
0 virtual
An overview of Reading public schools
The federal directory lists 9 public schools in Reading, MA: 5 elementary, 2 middle, 1 high, 1 combined or other. The 9 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 3,836 students, an average of 426 per school. The largest campus is Reading Memorial High (1,094 students), and the largest elementary school is J Warren Killam (406).
Every listed school belongs to Reading. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 12.8:1, higher than the statewide school median of 11.8:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
School districts and agencies serving Reading
Elementary schools in Reading
5| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alice M Barrows Reading | KG–05 | 365 | 12.8:1 | |
| Birch Meadow Reading | KG–05 | 359 | 10.7:1 | |
| J Warren Killam Reading | KG–05 | 406 | 13.4:1 | |
| Joshua Eaton Reading | KG–05 | 388 | 13.7:1 | |
| Wood End Elementary School Reading | KG–05 | 236 | 13.4:1 |
Middle schools in Reading
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arthur W Coolidge Middle Reading | 06–08 | 405 | 10.9:1 | |
| Walter S Parker Middle Reading | 06–08 | 467 | 9.5:1 |
High schools in Reading
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reading Memorial High Reading | 09–12 | 1,094 | 12.1:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Reading
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RISE PreSchool Reading | PK–PK | 116 | 13.5:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White82.8%
- Hispanic5.1%
- Black3.5%
- Asian5.2%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.1%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0%
- Multiracial3.2%
Enrollment-weighted across 9 Reading schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (3,836 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Reading
How many public schools are in Reading, MA?
The current NCES directory lists 9 open public schools with a location address in Reading: 5 elementary, 2 middle, 1 high, 1 combined or other. Together they reported 3,836 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Reading?
All listed public schools with an address in Reading belong to Reading. Mailing cities do not always match district boundaries, so confirm the district for a specific home address.
What is the largest public high school in Reading?
Reading Memorial High reported the largest high-school enrollment in Reading, with 1,094 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Reading?
No school with an address in Reading is identified as a charter school in the current NCES directory. Families may still have charter or virtual options elsewhere in Massachusetts.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Reading schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Reading public schools is 12.8:1, higher than the Massachusetts school median of 11.8:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Reading guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby Massachusetts cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All Massachusetts cities