Public schools in Chelsea, MA
12 open public schools with an address in Chelsea, operated by 2 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
12
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
6,292
12 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
12.2:1
Massachusetts median 11.8:1
Charter schools
1
1 virtual
An overview of Chelsea public schools
The federal directory lists 12 public schools in Chelsea, MA: 5 elementary, 3 middle, 3 high, 1 combined or other. The 12 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 6,292 students, an average of 524 per school. The largest campus is Chelsea High (1,649 students), and the largest elementary school is Shurtleff Early Childhood (779).
Chelsea operates the most schools here (11), plus 1 charter, service, or other agency. 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 12.2:1, similar to 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 1 charter school, 1 virtual school. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 4 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 2 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 2 of 4 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
School districts and agencies serving Chelsea
Elementary schools in Chelsea
5| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edgar F. Hooks Elementary Chelsea | 01–04 | 430 | 10.8:1 | |
| Frank M Sokolowski Elementary Chelsea | 01–04 | 472 | 11.2:1 | |
| George F. Kelly Elementary Chelsea | 01–04 | 527 | 12:1 | |
| Shurtleff Early Childhood Chelsea | PK–01 | 779 | 13.4:1 | |
| William A Berkowitz Elementary Chelsea | 01–04 | 455 | 12.3:1 |
Middle schools in Chelsea
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clark Avenue School Chelsea | 05–08 | 673 | 12.7:1 | |
| Eugene Wright Science and Technology Academy Chelsea | 05–08 | 436 | 9.8:1 | |
| Joseph A. Browne School Chelsea | 05–08 | 487 | 9:1 |
High schools in Chelsea
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chelsea High Chelsea | 09–12 | 1,649 | 13.1:1 | |
| Chelsea Opportunity Academy Chelsea · Alternative School | 09–12 | 132 | 18.8:1 | |
| Phoenix Academy Charter Public High School Chelsea Phoenix Academy Charter Public High School Chelsea (Distric · Charter · Alternative School | 09–12 | 198 | 19.9:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Chelsea
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chelsea Virtual Learning Academy Chelsea · Virtual | KG–12 | 54 | 8.4:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White5.3%
- Hispanic88.8%
- Black4.7%
- Asian0.6%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.1%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0%
- Multiracial0.4%
Enrollment-weighted across 12 Chelsea schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (6,292 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Chelsea
How many public schools are in Chelsea, MA?
The current NCES directory lists 12 open public schools with a location address in Chelsea: 5 elementary, 3 middle, 3 high, 1 combined or other. Together they reported 6,292 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Chelsea?
Schools with an address in Chelsea belong to 2 education agencies, led by Chelsea (11 schools), Phoenix Academy Charter Public High School Chelsea (Distric (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 Chelsea?
Chelsea High reported the largest high-school enrollment in Chelsea, with 1,649 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Chelsea?
Yes. 1 of the 12 public schools in Chelsea are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Phoenix Academy Charter Public High School Chelsea. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Chelsea schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Chelsea public schools is 12.2:1, similar to 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 Chelsea 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