State Boosts Waltham High School Rating

The state Dept. of Elementary and Secondary Education has upgraded Waltham High School's accountability rating to Level 1 from its previous Level 3 rating, according to the Waltham Public Schools.

The rating means the school is among the 80 percent of schools statewide whose "Progress and Performance Index," formerly known as Annual Yearly Progress, rank at least 75 or higher, according to the DESE website.  

DESE recently altered its formula for classifying schools to include the five-year cohort graduation rate for a school, which led DESE to place Waltham High School in Level 1. Level 1 is the top billing on the state's performance, according to a Waltham Public Schools press release. 

Superintendent Susan Nicholson could not be reached for comment on the news. The rating upgrade comes just one week after the DESE criticized the school district for micromanaging the schools and underfunding certain items.

The Waltham Educators Association, which represents the city's public school teachers, hailed the announcement and Nicholson.

"After her first year on the job, I have no doubt that Dr. Nicholson was pleased to see Waltham High School move from Level 3 status to Level 1. Clearly, the district is moving in the right direction," a statement from the WEA reads.