Public schools in Boston, MA
17 open public schools with an address in Boston, operated by 5 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
17
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
10,140
16 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
11.1:1
Massachusetts median 11.8:1
Charter schools
4
0 virtual
An overview of Boston public schools
The federal directory lists 17 public schools in Boston, MA: 7 elementary, 7 high, 3 combined or other. The 16 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 10,140 students, an average of 634 per school. The largest campus is Boston Latin School (2,424 students), and the largest elementary school is Eliot K-8 Innovation School (784).
Boston operates the most schools here (13), plus 4 charter, service, or other agencies. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 11.1:1, lower than the statewide school median of 11.8:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
School choice options include 4 charter schools. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 10 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 7 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 4 of 10 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
School districts and agencies serving Boston
Boston
Public school district
13 schools in Boston · 105 total
Dudley Street Neighborhood Charter School (District)
Independent charter agency
1 school in Boston
Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann
Independent charter agency
1 school in Boston
Match Charter Public School (District)
Independent charter agency
1 school in Boston
UP Academy Charter School of Dorchester (District)
Independent charter agency
1 school in Boston
Elementary schools in Boston
7| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blackstone Elementary School Boston | PK–06 | 582 | 9.7:1 | |
| Dudley Street Neighborhood Charter School Dudley Street Neighborhood Charter School (District) · Charter | PK–05 | 293 | 15.4:1 | |
| Eliot K-8 Innovation School Boston | PK–08 | 784 | 13.4:1 | |
| Hurley K-8 School Boston | PK–08 | 335 | 12.2:1 | |
| Quincy Elementary School Boston | PK–05 | 731 | 12:1 | |
| Sarah Roberts Elementary School Boston | PK–06 | — | — | |
| UP Academy Charter School of Dorchester UP Academy Charter School of Dorchester (District) · Charter | PK–08 | 640 | 11.1:1 |
High schools in Boston
7| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston Arts Academy Boston · Alternative School | 09–12 | 500 | 9.6:1 | |
| Boston Latin School Boston | 07–12 | 2,424 | 18.7:1 | |
| Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Charter | 09–12 | 383 | 9.6:1 | |
| English High School Boston | 07–12 | 720 | 10.2:1 | |
| Margarita Muniz Academy Boston | 07–12 | 428 | 9.1:1 | |
| Quincy Upper School Boston | 06–12 | 557 | 12:1 | |
| Snowden International High School Boston | 09–12 | 421 | 11.1:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Boston
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carter School Boston | 02–12 | 28 | 28:1 | |
| Match Charter Public School Match Charter Public School (District) · Charter | PK–12 | 1,189 | 10.2:1 | |
| Melvin H. King South End Academy Boston | PK–12 | 125 | 3.3:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White17.1%
- Hispanic38.2%
- Black25.8%
- Asian14.8%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.2%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.1%
- Multiracial3.7%
Enrollment-weighted across 16 Boston schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (10,140 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Boston
How many public schools are in Boston, MA?
The current NCES directory lists 17 open public schools with a location address in Boston: 7 elementary, 7 high, 3 combined or other. Together they reported 10,140 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Boston?
Schools with an address in Boston belong to 5 education agencies, led by Boston (13 schools), Dudley Street Neighborhood Charter School (District) (1 school), Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann (1 school). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Boston?
Boston Latin School reported the largest high-school enrollment in Boston, with 2,424 students in 2024–25 (grades 07–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Boston?
Yes. 4 of the 17 public schools in Boston are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Dudley Street Neighborhood Charter School, Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann, Match Charter Public School. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Boston schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Boston public schools is 11.1:1, lower than the Massachusetts school median of 11.8:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Boston guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby Massachusetts cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All Massachusetts cities