Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
Middle· 12 schools in district

Benjamin Friedman Middle

500 Norton Avenue, Taunton, MA 02780Taunton
Federal DataRegular SchoolGrades 0507Non-Charter
730
Students
Total enrolled
$25,188
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
76% vs nat'l
14.3 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
7% vs nat'l
46/100
Opportunity Score
Neighborhood outcomes
~avg
Large public school
Serves 730 students in grades 05–07 in Taunton, Massachusetts.
76% above average funding
District spends $25,188 per pupil, 76% more than the national average of $14,347.
Near-median opportunity
Children from this neighborhood historically reach the 46th income percentile as adults, per Harvard/Census Opportunity Atlas data.
About This School

Benjamin Friedman Middle is a large middle in Taunton, Massachusetts, serving grades 05–07 with 730 students. The district invests $25,188 per student — 76% above the national average of $14,347, with a 14.3:1 student-teacher ratio near the national norm.

Student Body & Demographics at Benjamin Friedman Middle

730
Total Students
14.3 : 1
Student:Teacher
Free Lunch
51
Teacher FTE
Grade Range
PK
K
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Highlighted grades (0507) are served by this school
Gender Distribution388 male · 342 female
53%
47%
Male 53%Female 47%
Student Composition
62%
14%
18%
Asian1%
White62%
Hispanic / Latino14%
Black18%
Multiracial5%
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 251152001662

Academic Outcomes at Benjamin Friedman Middle

Neighborhood Opportunity Score
46
/ 100
Near-median opportunity

Children from modest-income families in this neighborhood reach the 46th income percentile as adults. This school is in the 62th percentile nationally.

0 — Low50 — MedianHigh — 100
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census) · Census tract · ZIP 02780

School Resources & Funding

Per-Pupil Expenditure$25,188Above avg
National avg $14,347
Per-Pupil Spending Comparison
This school
$25,188
State avg
$28,509
National avg
$14,347
How School Funding Is Typically Spent
44%
19%
12%
15%
Instruction$11,083
Student Support$4,786
Administration$3,023
Operations$3,778
Other$2,519
Estimated using national average spending distribution (NCES) · School-level breakdowns not publicly reported
Of the $25,188 spent per student, an estimated $11,158 (~44%) goes directly to classroom instruction.
Where Funding Comes From
50%
40%
State government
50.0%
Local (property tax)
40.0%
Federal programs
10.0%
NCES F-33 Finance Survey · District-level data applied to this school
Strengths & Considerations
Strengths
  • Above-average funding — $25,188/student vs $14,347 nationally
  • Traditional public school — open enrollment, no application process required
Strengths and considerations are derived from federal data thresholds — not editorial judgements. See data sources below.
School Profile
TypeRegular School
LevelMiddle
Grades05 – 07
Location
CountyBristol County
CharterNo
VirtualNo
DistrictTaunton
Phone: (508)821-1493
NCES ID: 251152001662
Who Is This School For?

Best suited for families in Taunton seeking a public middle school, especially those prioritizing above-average resources and classroom investment. We always recommend an in-person visit and a conversation with current families before making any enrollment decision.

Location
500 Norton Avenue, Taunton, MA 02780
Data Sources & Transparency
Enrollment & Profile
NCES Common Core of Data. Grades, enrollment, demographics, school characteristics. Updated annually.
Funding & Spending
NCES F-33 Finance Survey. District-level spending data. School-level breakdowns are not publicly reported.
Graduation Rate
EDFacts Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR). High schools only. Small cohorts may be range-coded for privacy.
Opportunity Score
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census Bureau). Census tract outcomes for children born in the 1980s.
Fact-Based Rankings
Best-school rankings are computed from federal metrics only — enrollment, per-pupil spending, student-teacher ratio, opportunity score, and graduation rate. No editorial opinion or paid placements.
Equity Data (Coming Soon)
AP access, counselor ratios, and chronic absenteeism from the CRDC will be added in a future update.

Questions to Ask on Your School Visit

Research shows the most important factors are invisible in the data. Here is what to ask when you visit.

Middle
1
How does the school support the transition from elementary?
Orientation programs, peer mentoring
2
What electives and clubs are available?
Arts, STEM, sports, extracurriculars
3
How are students grouped for core subjects?
Tracking policies can affect equity
4
What is the school's homework and study policy?
Look for balance and academic support
5
How is bullying and social pressure addressed?
Anti-bullying policies, counselor availability
6
What advanced or enrichment options exist?
Honors courses, gifted programs
7
What does the school do with student performance data?
How data is used to personalize instruction
8
How would you describe teacher retention here?
High turnover can disrupt continuity of learning
9
What's the culture around student diversity and inclusion?
How differences are celebrated and managed

Frequently Asked Questions

About this school and the data on this page

About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.