Vassal Lane Upper School

vassallane.cpsd.us

273 Students

Middle School 6th - 8th

School Overview

The Vassal Lane Upper School, located at 197 Vassal Lane in Cambridge, Massachusetts, serves as one of the four upper school communities within the Cambridge Public Schools district. Designed specifically for students in grades 6 through 8, the school focuses on creating a supportive, developmentally appropriate environment that bridges the gap between elementary education and the rigors of high school. The school is known for its commitment to academic excellence, social-emotional learning, and fostering a strong sense of community among its middle-grades student body.

At the core of the Vassal Lane experience is a focus on "communities"—smaller groups of students and teachers who work together throughout the school day. This model encourages interdisciplinary learning and allows teachers to better understand the unique academic and personal needs of each student. By emphasizing inquiry-based learning, inclusive classroom practices, and collaborative projects, the school aims to prepare its students to become engaged, thoughtful, and capable citizens as they transition into the Cambridge Rindge and Latin School.

273

Total Students

42.7

Full-Time Teachers

6.4

Student/Teacher Ratio

N/A

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Vassal Lane Upper School
Demographic	Student Count
White	101
Hispanic	30
Black	65
Asian	48
Two or More	28

White
101 (37.1 %)
Black
65 (23.9 %)
Asian
48 (17.6 %)
Hispanic
30 (11.0 %)
Two or More
28 (10.3 %)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Middle School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	Cambridge
Phone:	(617)349-6550
Website:	http://vassallane.cpsd.us
Grade Range:	6th - 8th
Total Students:	273
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	42.7
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	6.4
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	0
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	0

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Grade 6 103

Grade 7 70

Grade 8 100