Boston is renowned for its rich history, cultural significance, and excellent educational opportunities. The city has a long tradition of providing top-rated education as the oldest education system in the United States. In fact, Boston was the first city to finance a public primary school from the state’s budget.
The Boston school district currently has 117 public schools serving 51,433 students across grades PK-12. Picking the right school for your child from this lot can be daunting, as every student has unique needs and learning styles.
A good school provides a safe and welcoming environment, experienced and dedicated teachers, a comprehensive curriculum, and extracurricular activities that enhance each student's learning experience.
We considered all these factors and additional metrics such as GreatSchools.org test scores, parents' reviews, Google reviews, and Next-Door reviews to create a comprehensive ranking guide for the ten top-rated schools in Boston.
This post will explore the ten top-rated schools in Boston, highlighting the features and programs that make them stand out.
Best Elementary Schools
Joseph P. Manning Elementary School
130 Louders Lane, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
Joseph P. Manning Elementary School is a top-rated magnet public school in Jamaica Plain, a neighborhood in Boston, MA. The school accommodates students from Pre-K to 5th grade and has a total enrollment of 147 students. With above-average standardized test scores, Manning Elementary School is one of the most sought-after schools in the city.
The school boasts a math proficiency rate of 53%, surpassing the state average of 48%. Similarly, the English proficiency rate is 68%, compared to the state average of 53%. The science proficiency rate is 42%, just below the state average of 49%. The school earns a 6/10 rating on GreatSchools.org, with a report indicating that the students perform above average compared to other students in the state.
One factor contributing to Manning Elementary School's academic success is the low student-teacher ratio. With a ratio of 10:1, which is better than the state average of 12:1, students can receive more individualized attention from their teachers. All of the school's full-time teachers have at least three years of experience, and 74% are certified, ensuring students receive top-notch instruction.
Manning Elementary School is a diverse school with a minority percentage of 56%. Furthermore, 38% of students come from low-income households, making the school an excellent choice for families seeking quality education, regardless of their financial background. Parents appreciate the small classes and helpful school staff.
Bradley Elementary School
110 Beachview Road, East Boston, MA 02128
Bradley Elementary School is a public magnet school in East Boston serving students from pre-kindergarten to fifth grade. With an enrollment of 276 students, Bradley Elementary offers small class sizes and individualized attention to students, with the student-teacher ratio mirroring the state average, 12:1.
The school has a strong academic program, with students consistently scoring above average on standardized tests. GreatSchools.org notes that students at this school are making more academic progress than other students in the state. In standardized tests, 61% of students attain proficiency in math, 69% of students in English, and 45% in science. The school earns a 7/10 overall score from GreatSchools.
One hundred percent of full-time teachers in Bradley Elementary have at least three years of experience, compared to the state average of 89%. Additionally, 96% of full-time teachers at Bradley Elementary are certified. The student body is diverse, with Hispanics making up 49% and whites making up 36%. The school also has a high percentage of students from low-income households, at 63%.
Parents are pleased with the academic program and the dedicated and experienced staff at Bradley Elementary. The school offers advanced work classes in 4th and 5th grade, as well as additional programs such as Japanese and dance. Bradley Elementary is an excellent pick if you wish to raise a well-rounded child.
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Nathan Hale School
51 Cedar Street, Boston, MA 02119
Nathan Hale School is a public elementary school in Boston, serving students in Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 5. With a small enrollment of only 155 students, the school has a close-knit community that fosters strong relationships between students, teachers, and families.
Nathan Hale School has consistently achieved above-average standardized test scores, with a high academic progress rate among its students. In Nathan Hale, 51% of students attain proficiency in math. Similarly, 67% and 43% of students in the school achieve proficiency in English and science, respectively. Overall, the school earns a 7/10 rating from GreatSchools.org.
All of the school's teachers have at least three years of teaching experience, and 85% are certified, ensuring that students receive high-quality instruction from dedicated and knowledgeable educators. The school has a student-teacher ratio of 13:1, which is slightly higher than the state average of 12:1, but still provides ample opportunities for individualized attention and support.
The school has a diverse student body, with Black students making up 52% of the population and Hispanic students comprising 33%. Additionally, 74% of students come from low-income households.
Nathan Hale School has also received positive feedback from parents, with many praising the school's warm and welcoming environment as well as its commitment to parent involvement. This learning institution is an excellent pick for parents in the Fort Hill neighborhood.
Eliot Elementary
16 Charter Street, Boston, MA 02113
Eliot Elementary School is a public magnet school located at the heart of North End, Boston, Massachusetts. The school serves students from Pre-Kindergarten to 8th grade and is known for its strong academic programs. It’s the only K-8 Innovation School in Boston.
The school’s enrollment stands at 675 students, with a student-teacher ratio of 13:1, which just barely exceeds the state average of 12:1. All of the school’s faculty are certified and have at least three years of teaching experience. The school receives a 6/10 rating from GreatSchools.org.
Eliot Elementary school’s standardized test scores are consistently above the state average, with 73% of students attaining proficiency in math, 71% in English, and 53% in science. In addition to its strong academic programs, Eliot Elementary School offers a range of enrichment programs, including science clubs, Italian, robotics, and theater.
Parents praised the supportive school staff and closely-knit school community. Eliot Elementary School is an excellent option for families seeking a high-quality education in downtown Boston.
Best Middle Schools
Joyce Kilmer K-8 School
35 Baker Street, West Roxbury, MA 02132
Joyce Kilmer K-8 School is an academically rigorous school in West Roxbury, Massachusetts, serving pre-kindergarten through eighth-grade students. The school has an enrollment of 675 students and a student-teacher ratio of 12:1, consistent with the state average.
The school's standardized test scores indicate that the students are proficient in math and English at rates higher than the state average, with 53% of students achieving proficiency in both subjects. Kilmer K-8 school earned a 5/10 rating from GreatSchools.org.
The school has a diverse student body, with the majority of students being white (52%), followed by Hispanic (17%) and Black (16%). Approximately 31% of students come from low-income households.
Joyce Kilmer K-8 School prides itself on having a highly qualified faculty, with 100% of teachers having at least three years of experience and 93% being certified. The school also has a full-time nurse on staff.
With above-average test scores and a high academic progress rate, Joyce Kilmer K-8 School is a great starting point in your search for a public school in Boston.
Hurley K-8 School
70 Worcester Street, Boston, MA 02118
The Hurley K-8 School is a Spanish-English immersion public school serving students from PK-8 in Boston’s South End. The institution features an incentive curriculum focused on languages and art.
Hurley K-8 School posts above-average standardized test scores with an average academic progress rate. In math, 50% of students attain proficiency, while 60% of students attain proficiency in English, which is higher than the state average of 53%. GreatSchools.org gives the school an overall rating of 5/10.
The student-teacher ratio at Hurley K-8 School is 14:1, higher than the state average of 12:1. However, the school has an experienced teaching staff, with all teachers having at least three years of experience and 96% being certified. The school also employs a full-time nurse.
The Hurley K-8 School is a diverse and inclusive school, with 72% of its student population being Hispanic and 65% of students coming from low-income households. The school is committed to providing a safe and supportive learning environment for all students, regardless of their backgrounds.
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Best High Schools
New Mission High School
655 Metropolitan Ave, Hyde Park, MA 02136
New Mission High School is a public school in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. It is among the top-rated schools in Boston, serving 462 students in grades 7-12. The school has a diverse student body, with only 2% of students being white, 56% being Black, and 40% Hispanic. This inclusivity has helped create a community where all students feel welcome and can thrive academically.
New Mission High School's student-teacher ratio is well below the state average at 10:1. This allows for a more personalized approach to education, with teachers able to provide individual attention and support to their students. Additionally, all teachers have at least three years of experience. The school also has a full-time law enforcement officer on staff and a part-time nurse.
While the school's science proficiency rate is below the state average, its math and English proficiency rates are above average. 53% of the students attain proficiency in math, while 52% are proficient in English. Generally, New Mission earns a 7/10 rating from Great Schools.
New Mission High School is an excellent choice for parents searching for an inclusive school community with a focus on personalized education.
John D. O'Bryant School of Mathematics and Science
55 Malcolm X Blvd, Roxbury, MA 02120
John D. O'Bryant School of Mathematics and Science is a public magnet school that caters to students from grades 7-12. With an enrollment of 1,535, this school provides excellent academic opportunities for college placements to its students.
The school has a remarkable track record of producing above-average test scores with strong academic progress. The students' performance is evident in their high standardized test scores, with 88% proficiency in math and 78% in English against the state average of 50% and 53%, respectively. The school also boasts an impressive 100% four-year high school graduation rate.
The John D. O'Bryant School of Mathematics and Science provides its students with a wide array of AP courses. The school offers 22 AP classes, and its participation rate is 36%, significantly higher than the state average of 20%.
The school has a student-teacher ratio of 16:1, slightly worse than the state average of 12:1. 97% of its teachers have at least three years of experience, compared to the state average of 89%. Additionally, 87% of the school's full-time teachers are certified.
The school's impressive academic record and commitment to diversity and inclusivity are reflected in the positive feedback received from parents. O’Bryant School of Mathematics and Science is ideal for parents who want to prepare their kids for college placement.
Notable Alumni
William Bratton – Former Chief of Police for the BPD, NYPD, and LAPD
Harry Barnes – Retired professional basketball player
Fred Ahern – Former professional hockey player who spent four years in the NHL
Liz Miranda – Member of the Massachusetts Senate
Dan Sullivan – Former professional offensive lineman who played ten years in the NFL
Richard Egan – Former U.S. Ambassador to Ireland
Boston Latin Academy
205 Townsend Street, Dorchester, MA 02121
Boston Latin Academy is a public magnet school with a high reputation for academic excellence. The school offers grades 7-12 and has an enrollment of 1,767 students. GreatSchools.org gives Boston Latin Academy an 8/10 rating.
The standardized test scores for the school are above average, with an average academic progress rate. In math, 80% of the students attain proficiency, much higher than the state average of 50%. Similarly, 76% of students attain proficiency in English, compared to the state average of 53%. In science, the proficiency rate is 47% against the state average of 38%.
Boston Latin Academy provides 19 AP courses, and the participation rate is 43%, much higher than the state average of 20%. The average SAT score for the school is 1132, which is slightly lower than the state average of 1152. The 4-year high school graduation rate is an impressive 98%.
The student-teacher ratio is 19:1, higher than the state average of 12:1. However, all full-time teachers have three or more years of experience, with 93% certified. The school has a full-time nurse and psychologist.
With its exceptional AP courses and high AP participation rate, the school is an excellent choice to prepare your kid for college and life beyond.
Notable Alumni
Barbara Henry – Educator known for teaching Ruby Bridges, the first Black student to attend an all-white school
Mary McGrory – Journalist who made it on Richard Nixon's Enemy List
Ida Shaw Martin – Founder of the Delta Delta Delta sorority
Ellen Swepson Jackson – Pioneer of Boston school desegregation
Maud Worcester Makemson – Former director of the Vassar Observatory
Nathan Blecharczyk – Chief Strategy Officer and co-founder of Airbnb
Boston Latin School
78 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA 02115
Boston Latin School is the oldest existing public school in the United States. Established in 1635, the school currently serves students in grades 7-12 and has an enrollment of 2,440 students. The school is well-known for its exceptional academic standards, with students attaining standardized test scores well above the state average.
In particular, the school's students excel in math, with 94% attaining proficiency compared to the state average of 50%. 89% gain English proficiency, higher than the 53% state average. Graduation rates at the Boston Latin School are 98%, earning an overall 8/10 rating from GreatSchools.org.
The school offers an extensive range of Advanced Placement (AP) classes, with 29 available, and has an AP participation rate of 74%, significantly higher than the state average of 20%. Additionally, the school's average SAT score of 1309 is well above the state average of 1152, further underscoring the quality of education available at Boston Latin School.
With a student-teacher ratio of 18 to 1, the school's ratio is slightly higher than the state average of 12:1. Still, it maintains a high level of educational quality, with 97% of teachers having at least three years of experience and 85% of full-time teachers being certified.
Boston Latin School’s rigorous curriculum is the perfect challenge for students who wish to prepare adequately for future academic pursuits.
Notable Alumni
Samuel Adams – One of the United States' Founding Fathers and an early governor of Massachusetts
Jonathan Belcher – Colonial governor of Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New Hampshire
Charles Bulfinch – Architect of the U.S. Capitol
Charles William Eliot – Former President of Harvard known for being the university's longest-serving president
John F. Fitzgerald – Former mayor of Boston and former U.S. Representative
Dave Gettleman – Former senior vice president and general manager for the New York Giants and Carolina Panthers
Nathaniel Gorham – President of the Continental Congress and signer of the Declaration of Independence
William Hooper – Member of the Continental Congress and signer of the Declaration of Independence
Richard Morris Hunt – Founder of the American Institute of Architects and the Municipal Art Society
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There's No Wrong Choice
Boston boasts an impressive collection of top-rated schools. The ten schools highlighted have unique strengths that make them stand out. While some are highly-rated magnet schools that offer specialized programs to their students, others are public schools that provide excellent education to a wide range of students from diverse backgrounds.
It’s essential to note that all the high schools listed also provide middle school education and may provide excellent alternatives to your current pool. Ensure that the school you pick matches your child’s needs and interests.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©ESB Professional/Shutterstock.com.