Best High Schools in Massachusetts

High schools
375
Students
300,392
Avg actual
40%
Avg projected
43%
Impact
meet expectations

The top high schools in Massachusetts, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.

SchoolActualProjectedImpact

1. Dover-sherborn Regional High

A+

SchoolGrade

89%

Actual Test Scores

80%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Greatly Exceeds Expectations

Dover-sherborn • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 669 Students

2. Lexington High

A+

SchoolGrade

88%

Actual Test Scores

90%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Meets Expectations

Lexington • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 2303 Students

3. Belmont High

A+

SchoolGrade

84%

Actual Test Scores

89%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Meets Expectations

Belmont • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1364 Students

4. Wayland High School

A+

SchoolGrade

84%

Actual Test Scores

81%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Exceeds Expectations

Wayland • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 824 Students

5. Brookline High

A+

SchoolGrade

84%

Actual Test Scores

83%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Exceeds Expectations

Brookline • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 2087 Students

6. Bromfield

A+

SchoolGrade

83%

Actual Test Scores

72%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Greatly Exceeds Expectations

Harvard • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 560 Students

7. Acton-boxborough Regional High

A+

SchoolGrade

82%

Actual Test Scores

84%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Exceeds Expectations

Acton-boxborough • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1683 Students

8. Hopkinton High

A+

SchoolGrade

81%

Actual Test Scores

84%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Meets Expectations

Hopkinton • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1234 Students

9. Needham High

A+

SchoolGrade

81%

Actual Test Scores

78%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Exceeds Expectations

Needham • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1645 Students

10. Duxbury High

A+

SchoolGrade

81%

Actual Test Scores

79%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Exceeds Expectations

Duxbury • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 927 Students

Best Middle Schools in Massachusetts

Middle schools
311
Students
169,085
Avg actual
39%
Avg projected
38%
Impact
meet expectations

The top middle schools in Massachusetts, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.

SchoolActualProjectedImpact

1. Jonas Clarke Middle

A+

SchoolGrade

82%

Actual Test Scores

76%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Exceeds Expectations

Lexington • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 823 Students

2. Wayland Middle School

A+

SchoolGrade

80%

Actual Test Scores

68%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Greatly Exceeds Expectations

Wayland • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 621 Students

3. High Rock School

A+

SchoolGrade

78%

Actual Test Scores

68%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Greatly Exceeds Expectations

Needham • Public • Grades 6 • 446 Students

4. Concord Middle

A+

SchoolGrade

77%

Actual Test Scores

65%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Greatly Exceeds Expectations

Concord • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 650 Students

5. Ottoson Middle

A+

SchoolGrade

77%

Actual Test Scores

65%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Greatly Exceeds Expectations

Arlington • Public • Grades 7 - 8 • 922 Students

6. Charles E Brown Middle

A+

SchoolGrade

77%

Actual Test Scores

75%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Meets Expectations

Newton • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 750 Students

7. Hopkinton Middle School

A+

SchoolGrade

77%

Actual Test Scores

71%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Exceeds Expectations

Hopkinton • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 972 Students

8. Wm Diamond Middle

A+

SchoolGrade

77%

Actual Test Scores

75%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Meets Expectations

Lexington • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 942 Students

9. Raymond J Grey Junior High

A+

SchoolGrade

76%

Actual Test Scores

69%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Exceeds Expectations

Acton-boxborough • Public • Grades 7 - 8 • 825 Students

10. Weston Middle

A+

SchoolGrade

75%

Actual Test Scores

75%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Meets Expectations

Weston • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 444 Students

Best Elementary Schools in Massachusetts

Elementary schools
1,325
Students
456,406
Avg actual
43%
Avg projected
41%
Impact
meet expectations

The top elementary schools in Massachusetts, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.

SchoolActualProjectedImpact

1. Mary Lee Burbank

A+

SchoolGrade

86%

Actual Test Scores

70%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Greatly Exceeds Expectations

Belmont • Public • Grades KG - 3 • 336 Students

2. Country

A+

SchoolGrade

85%

Actual Test Scores

74%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Exceeds Expectations

Weston • Public • Grades Pre K - 3 • 331 Students

3. L D Batchelder

A+

SchoolGrade

85%

Actual Test Scores

67%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Greatly Exceeds Expectations

North Reading • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 463 Students

4. Martin Luther King Jr.

A+

SchoolGrade

84%

Actual Test Scores

63%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Greatly Exceeds Expectations

Cambridge • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 332 Students

5. John D Hardy

A+

SchoolGrade

84%

Actual Test Scores

73%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Exceeds Expectations

Wellesley • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 206 Students

6. Albert S. Woodward Memorial School

A+

SchoolGrade

83%

Actual Test Scores

73%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Exceeds Expectations

Southborough • Public • Grades 2 - 3 • 268 Students

7. Martha Jones

A+

SchoolGrade

83%

Actual Test Scores

76%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Meets Expectations

Westwood • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 264 Students

8. William E Sheehan

A+

SchoolGrade

82%

Actual Test Scores

72%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Exceeds Expectations

Westwood • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 287 Students

9. Paul P Gates Elementary School

A+

SchoolGrade

82%

Actual Test Scores

70%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Exceeds Expectations

Acton-boxborough • Public • Grades KG - 6 • 350 Students

10. Plymouth River

A+

SchoolGrade

81%

Actual Test Scores

71%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Exceeds Expectations

Hingham • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 381 Students

Education & Community Snapshot in Massachusetts

State-level factors that shape the learning environment around local schools.

Community Factors

Massachusetts has a total population of 7,029,917 with 24% of that population attending schools. The adult high school graduation rate is 91%, and 46% of adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher.

Students in Massachusetts

1,004,642

K-12 Students

High School Graduates

91%

Adults 25+ with HS diplomas

College Graduates

46%

Adults 25+ with a Bachelor’s degree or higher

Demographics statistics provided by Best Neighborhood Massachusetts.

Safety

Crime Grades summarize reported incidents per 1,000 residents. Use them as neighborhood context, not a school rating.

Overall Crime Grade

A+

13.87 per 1,000 Residents

Violent Crime Grade

C+

3.36 per 1,000 Residents

Property Crime Grade

A+

10.51 per 1,000 Residents

Crime statistics provided by CrimeGrade in Massachusetts.

Connectivity

Connectivity influences learning at home. We summarize internet infrastructure, typical download speed, and a digital connectivity index for Massachusetts.

ISP Report Card

B-

Internet Infrastructure Grade

Average Download Speed

1,694 Mbps

Speed Most Residents Can Get

Digital Connectivity Index

74 / 100

ISP Connectivity Demand Report

To read more about these statistics, please visit Massachusetts Internet Health Assessment.

Questions About Schools in Massachusetts

How many schools are in Massachusetts?

Massachusetts has 2,336 public schools: 375 high schools, 311 middle schools and 1,325 elementary schools, serving 1,004,642 students in total.

How do schools in Massachusetts perform on state tests?

On average, 2,336 schools in Massachusetts score 42% proficient on state assessments. Given the socioeconomic context of their students we project 42%, so on average schools in Massachusetts meet expectations.

How does SchoolGrade rank the best schools in Massachusetts?

Every public school gets a SchoolGrade from A+ to F based on the share of students at or above the state proficiency bar. The Impact Grade compares that result with what we would expect given the school’s student and community context, so schools that outperform their circumstances stand out. Schools cannot pay to change a grade. Read the full methodology.

Best Schools in Cities Near Massachusetts

Explore nearby cities to widen your school search.

Rhode Island

  • Actual: 34%
  • Projected: 37%
  • Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
New Hampshire

  • Actual: 46%
  • Projected: 45%
  • Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
Connecticut

  • Actual: 44%
  • Projected: 43%
  • Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
Vermont

  • Actual: 45%
  • Projected: 43%
  • Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
New York

  • Actual: 56%
  • Projected: 54%
  • Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
Maine

  • Actual: 82%
  • Projected: 73%
  • Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
New Jersey

  • Actual: 43%
  • Projected: 35%
  • Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
Delaware

  • Actual: 33%
  • Projected: 37%
  • Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
Pennsylvania

  • Actual: 47%
  • Projected: 47%
  • Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
Maryland

  • Actual: 36%
  • Projected: 35%
  • Impact Grade: Meets Expectations

Every city and county in Massachusetts

School rankings for each place: 751 cities, towns and neighborhoods, and 14 counties.

Counties

Cities and towns

School district map of Massachusetts

Every public school district in Massachusetts with graded schools. Hover for the district and its school count; click to open its page.

shaded by the district's average SchoolGrade, F to A; grey = not yet graded. Boundaries from the NCES EDGE composite school district file. Districts without a page (fewer than three graded schools) are not linked.

Largest school districts in Massachusetts

The 25 districts with the most graded schools in Massachusetts. Each district page lists every one of its schools.