Massachusetts consistently ranks as the #1 state in the nation for education, so it follows that we’re home to some of the best schools and school districts in the country. Using data from the U.S. Department of Education, Niche has released their latest rankings of the best school districts in the state and we’ve assembled the top 15 here for you. Read more about their methodology here.
- Harvard
Wikimedia Commons/John Phelan The Harvard Public School district includes two schools and achieved an overall A+ grade. The average student-teacher ratio is 13:1 (the national average is 16:1) and the graduation rate is 92 percent. The reading proficiency rate for this district is 90 percent.
Academics: A+ Teachers: A+ Clubs & Activities: B+ Diversity: C College Prep: A+ Health & Safety: A-
- Lenox
Flickr/Adrian Scottow The Lenox Public School district includes two schools and achieved an overall A+ grade. The average student-teacher ratio is 9:1 (the national average is 16:1) and the graduation rate is 95 percent. The reading proficiency rate for this district is 82 percent.
Academics: A+ Teachers: A+ Clubs & Activities: A+ Diversity: C+ College Prep: A+ Health & Safety: A
- Westborough
Flickr/Doug Kerr The Westborough Public School district includes six schools and achieved an overall A+ grade. The average student-teacher ratio is 13:1 (the national average is 16:1) and the graduation rate is 95 percent. The reading proficiency rate for this district is 86 percent.
Academics: A+ Teachers: A Clubs & Activities: A Diversity: B College Prep: A+ Health & Safety: A+
- Needham
Flickr/C Hanchey The Needham Public School district includes eight schools and achieved an overall A+ grade. The average student-teacher ratio is 14:1 (the national average is 16:1) and the graduation rate is 98 percent. The reading proficiency rate for this district is 86 percent.
Academics: A+ Teachers: A+ Clubs & Activities: A Diversity: C+ College Prep: A+ Health & Safety: A
- Amherst & Pelham
Flickr/MOTT The Amherst-Pelham Public School district includes two schools and achieved an overall A+ grade. The average student-teacher ratio is 12:1 (the national average is 16:1) and the graduation rate is 88 percent. The reading proficiency rate for this district is 86 percent.
Academics: A+ Teachers: A+ Clubs & Activities: A_ Diversity: A- College Prep: A+ Health & Safety: A
- Acton & Boxborough
Flickr/MOTT The Acton-Boxborough Public School district includes eight schools and achieved an overall A+ grade. The average student-teacher ratio is 16:1 (the national average is 16:1) and the graduation rate is 96 percent. The reading proficiency rate for this district is 88 percent.
Academics: A+ Teachers: A+ Clubs & Activities: A Diversity: B College Prep: A+ Health & Safety: A-
- Wayland
Flickr/Calmuziclover The Wayland Public School district includes five schools and achieved an overall A+ grade. The average student-teacher ratio is 13:1 (the national average is 16:1) and the graduation rate is 99 percent. The reading proficiency rate for this district is 86 percent.
Academics: A+ Teachers: A+ Clubs & Activities: A- Diversity: B- College Prep: A+ Health & Safety: A-
- Brookline
Flickr/Axel Drainville The Brookline Public School district includes 12 schools and achieved an overall A+ grade. The average student-teacher ratio is 13:1 (the national average is 16:1) and the graduation rate is 92 percent. The reading proficiency rate for this district is 84 percent.
Academics: A+ Teachers: A+ Clubs & Activities: A+ Diversity: A- College Prep: A+ Health & Safety: B+
- Weston
Flickr/Doug Kerr The Weston Public School district includes five schools and achieved an overall A+ grade. The average student-teacher ratio is 11:1 (the national average is 16:1) and the graduation rate is 95 percent. The reading proficiency rate for this district is 86 percent.
Academics: A+ Teachers: A+ Clubs & Activities: A- Diversity: B- College Prep: A+ Health & Safety: A
- Belmont
Flickr/Jauher Ali Nasir The Belmont Public School district includes 6 schools and achieved an overall A+ grade. The average student-teacher ratio is 17:1 (the national average is 16:1) and the graduation rate is 94 percent. The reading proficiency rate for this district is 92 percent.
Academics: A+ Teachers: A+ Clubs & Activities: A- Diversity: B College Prep: A+ Health & Safety: B+
- Cambridge
Flickr/Alan Cordova The Cambridge Public School district includes 17 schools and achieved an overall A+ grade. This school district is ranked as the safest in the state. The average student-teacher ratio is 10:1 (the national average is 16:1) and the graduation rate is 92 percent. The reading proficiency rate for this district is 72 percent.
Academics: A+ Teachers: A Clubs & Activities: A+ Diversity: A+ College Prep: A+ Health & Safety: A+
- Westford
Flickr/MOTT The Westford Public School district includes 10 schools and achieved an overall A+ grade. The town of Westford is one of the most affluent communities in the state. The average student-teacher ratio is 14:1 (the national average is 16:1) and the graduation rate is 96 percent. The reading proficiency rate for this district is 91 percent.
Academics: A+ Teachers: A+ Clubs & Activities: A+ Diversity: B- College Prep: A+ Health & Safety: A+
- Newton
Flickr/Tim Englemen The Newton Public School district includes 22 schools and achieved an overall A+ grade. It ranked #2 for having the best teachers in the state. The average student-teacher ratio is 12:1 (the national average is 16:1) and the graduation rate is 96 percent. The reading proficiency rate for this district is 85 percent.
Academics: A+ Teachers: A+ Clubs & Activities: A+ Diversity: B+ College Prep: A+ Health & Safety: A-
- Lexington
Flickr/MOTT The Lexington Public School district includes 10 schools and achieved an overall A+ grade. The average student-teacher ratio is 12:1 (the national average is 16:1) and the graduation rate is 97 percent. The reading proficiency rate for this district is 91 percent.
Academics: A+ Teachers: A+ Clubs & Activities: A Diversity: B+ College Prep: A+ Health & Safety: A-
- Wellesley
Flickr/C Hanchey The Wellesley Public School district includes nine schools and achieved an overall A+ grade. This district also ranked as the number one place to teach in Massachusetts. The average student-teacher ratio is 13:1 (the national average is 16:1) and the graduation rate is 96 percent.
Academics: A+ Teachers: A+ Clubs & Activities: A Diversity: B- College Prep: A+ Health & Safety: A+
Please be aware that rankings change from year to year. The list above was compiled using recent U.S. Department of Education data. If you’re looking to settle down somewhere peaceful, check out this list of the 10 happiest cities in Massachusetts.
Wikimedia Commons/John Phelan
The Harvard Public School district includes two schools and achieved an overall A+ grade. The average student-teacher ratio is 13:1 (the national average is 16:1) and the graduation rate is 92 percent. The reading proficiency rate for this district is 90 percent.
Academics: A+ Teachers: A+ Clubs & Activities: B+ Diversity: C College Prep: A+ Health & Safety: A-
Flickr/Adrian Scottow
The Lenox Public School district includes two schools and achieved an overall A+ grade. The average student-teacher ratio is 9:1 (the national average is 16:1) and the graduation rate is 95 percent. The reading proficiency rate for this district is 82 percent.
Academics: A+ Teachers: A+ Clubs & Activities: A+ Diversity: C+ College Prep: A+ Health & Safety: A
Flickr/Doug Kerr
The Westborough Public School district includes six schools and achieved an overall A+ grade. The average student-teacher ratio is 13:1 (the national average is 16:1) and the graduation rate is 95 percent. The reading proficiency rate for this district is 86 percent.
Academics: A+ Teachers: A Clubs & Activities: A Diversity: B College Prep: A+ Health & Safety: A+
Flickr/C Hanchey
The Needham Public School district includes eight schools and achieved an overall A+ grade. The average student-teacher ratio is 14:1 (the national average is 16:1) and the graduation rate is 98 percent. The reading proficiency rate for this district is 86 percent.
Academics: A+ Teachers: A+ Clubs & Activities: A Diversity: C+ College Prep: A+ Health & Safety: A
Flickr/MOTT
The Amherst-Pelham Public School district includes two schools and achieved an overall A+ grade. The average student-teacher ratio is 12:1 (the national average is 16:1) and the graduation rate is 88 percent. The reading proficiency rate for this district is 86 percent.
Academics: A+ Teachers: A+ Clubs & Activities: A_ Diversity: A- College Prep: A+ Health & Safety: A
The Acton-Boxborough Public School district includes eight schools and achieved an overall A+ grade. The average student-teacher ratio is 16:1 (the national average is 16:1) and the graduation rate is 96 percent. The reading proficiency rate for this district is 88 percent.
Academics: A+ Teachers: A+ Clubs & Activities: A Diversity: B College Prep: A+ Health & Safety: A-
Flickr/Calmuziclover
The Wayland Public School district includes five schools and achieved an overall A+ grade. The average student-teacher ratio is 13:1 (the national average is 16:1) and the graduation rate is 99 percent. The reading proficiency rate for this district is 86 percent.
Academics: A+ Teachers: A+ Clubs & Activities: A- Diversity: B- College Prep: A+ Health & Safety: A-
Flickr/Axel Drainville
The Brookline Public School district includes 12 schools and achieved an overall A+ grade. The average student-teacher ratio is 13:1 (the national average is 16:1) and the graduation rate is 92 percent. The reading proficiency rate for this district is 84 percent.
Academics: A+ Teachers: A+ Clubs & Activities: A+ Diversity: A- College Prep: A+ Health & Safety: B+
The Weston Public School district includes five schools and achieved an overall A+ grade. The average student-teacher ratio is 11:1 (the national average is 16:1) and the graduation rate is 95 percent. The reading proficiency rate for this district is 86 percent.
Academics: A+ Teachers: A+ Clubs & Activities: A- Diversity: B- College Prep: A+ Health & Safety: A
Flickr/Jauher Ali Nasir
The Belmont Public School district includes 6 schools and achieved an overall A+ grade. The average student-teacher ratio is 17:1 (the national average is 16:1) and the graduation rate is 94 percent. The reading proficiency rate for this district is 92 percent.
Academics: A+ Teachers: A+ Clubs & Activities: A- Diversity: B College Prep: A+ Health & Safety: B+
Flickr/Alan Cordova
The Cambridge Public School district includes 17 schools and achieved an overall A+ grade. This school district is ranked as the safest in the state. The average student-teacher ratio is 10:1 (the national average is 16:1) and the graduation rate is 92 percent. The reading proficiency rate for this district is 72 percent.
Academics: A+ Teachers: A Clubs & Activities: A+ Diversity: A+ College Prep: A+ Health & Safety: A+
The Westford Public School district includes 10 schools and achieved an overall A+ grade. The town of Westford is one of the most affluent communities in the state. The average student-teacher ratio is 14:1 (the national average is 16:1) and the graduation rate is 96 percent. The reading proficiency rate for this district is 91 percent.
Academics: A+ Teachers: A+ Clubs & Activities: A+ Diversity: B- College Prep: A+ Health & Safety: A+
Flickr/Tim Englemen
The Newton Public School district includes 22 schools and achieved an overall A+ grade. It ranked #2 for having the best teachers in the state. The average student-teacher ratio is 12:1 (the national average is 16:1) and the graduation rate is 96 percent. The reading proficiency rate for this district is 85 percent.
Academics: A+ Teachers: A+ Clubs & Activities: A+ Diversity: B+ College Prep: A+ Health & Safety: A-
The Lexington Public School district includes 10 schools and achieved an overall A+ grade. The average student-teacher ratio is 12:1 (the national average is 16:1) and the graduation rate is 97 percent. The reading proficiency rate for this district is 91 percent.
Academics: A+ Teachers: A+ Clubs & Activities: A Diversity: B+ College Prep: A+ Health & Safety: A-
The Wellesley Public School district includes nine schools and achieved an overall A+ grade. This district also ranked as the number one place to teach in Massachusetts. The average student-teacher ratio is 13:1 (the national average is 16:1) and the graduation rate is 96 percent.
Academics: A+ Teachers: A+ Clubs & Activities: A Diversity: B- College Prep: A+ Health & Safety: A+
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