Public schools in Dorchester, MA
28 open public schools with an address in Dorchester, operated by 5 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
28
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
14,036
28 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
10.1:1
Massachusetts median 11.8:1
Charter schools
4
0 virtual
An overview of Dorchester public schools
The federal directory lists 28 public schools in Dorchester, MA: 18 elementary, 7 high, 3 combined or other. The 28 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 14,036 students, an average of 501 per school. The largest campus is Boston Latin Academy (1,693 students), and the largest elementary school is Murphy K-8 School (855).
Boston operates the most schools here (24), 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 10.1:1, 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, 10 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 9 of 10 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
School districts and agencies serving Dorchester
Boston
Public school district
24 schools in Dorchester · 105 total
Boston Collegiate Charter (District)
Independent charter agency
1 school in Dorchester
Codman Academy Charter Public (District)
Independent charter agency
1 school in Dorchester
Conservatory Lab Charter (District)
Independent charter agency
1 school in Dorchester
Neighborhood House Charter (District)
Independent charter agency
1 school in Dorchester
Elementary schools in Dorchester
18| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clap Elementary School Boston | PK–06 | 140 | 9:1 | |
| Conservatory Lab Charter School Conservatory Lab Charter (District) · Charter | PK–08 | 454 | 16.5:1 | |
| Dever Elementary School Boston | KG–06 | 445 | 11.5:1 | |
| Everett Elementary School Boston | PK–06 | 288 | 11.3:1 | |
| Greenwood Sarah K-8 School Boston | PK–08 | 357 | 9.3:1 | |
| Henderson K-12 Inclusion School Lower Boston | PK–01 | 196 | 7.7:1 | |
| Holmes Elementary School Boston | PK–06 | 283 | 9.4:1 | |
| Kenny Elementary School Boston | PK–06 | 329 | 10.2:1 | |
| King Elementary School Boston | PK–06 | 464 | 9.9:1 | |
| Lee Academy Boston | PK–03 | 195 | 11.3:1 | |
| Lee K-8 School Boston | PK–08 | 551 | 9.3:1 | |
| Mather Elementary School Boston | PK–06 | 473 | 10.8:1 | |
| Murphy K-8 School Boston | PK–08 | 855 | 12.1:1 | |
| Russell Elementary School Boston | PK–05 | 356 | 11.9:1 | |
| Shaw-Taylor Elementary School Boston | PK–06 | 528 | 9.4:1 | |
| Trotter Elementary School Boston | PK–06 | 352 | 10.7:1 | |
| UP Academy Holland Boston | PK–06 | 641 | 14.4:1 | |
| Winthrop Elementary School Boston | PK–06 | 226 | 9.2:1 |
High schools in Dorchester
7| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albert D Holland School of Technology Boston | 07–12 | 399 | 9.8:1 | |
| Boston Collegiate Charter School Boston Collegiate Charter (District) · Charter | 05–12 | 708 | 9.7:1 | |
| Boston International High School & Newcomers Academy Boston | 09–12 | 490 | 8.8:1 | |
| Boston Latin Academy Boston | 07–12 | 1,693 | 17.9:1 | |
| Community Academy of Science and Health Boston | 09–12 | 398 | 12.6:1 | |
| Ruth Batson Academy Boston | 07–12 | 604 | 9.6:1 | |
| TechBoston Academy Boston | 07–12 | 850 | 12.2:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Dorchester
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Codman Academy Charter Public School Codman Academy Charter Public (District) · Charter | PK–12 | 344 | 10.4:1 | |
| Henderson K-12 Inclusion School Upper Boston | 02–12 | 631 | 8.1:1 | |
| Neighborhood House Charter School Neighborhood House Charter (District) · Charter | PK–12 | 786 | 10.1:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White9.2%
- Hispanic38%
- Black40%
- Asian8.6%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.4%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.2%
- Multiracial3.6%
Enrollment-weighted across 28 Dorchester schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (14,036 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Dorchester
How many public schools are in Dorchester, MA?
The current NCES directory lists 28 open public schools with a location address in Dorchester: 18 elementary, 7 high, 3 combined or other. Together they reported 14,036 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Dorchester?
Schools with an address in Dorchester belong to 5 education agencies, led by Boston (24 schools), Boston Collegiate Charter (District) (1 school), Codman Academy Charter Public (District) (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 Dorchester?
Boston Latin Academy reported the largest high-school enrollment in Dorchester, with 1,693 students in 2024–25 (grades 07–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Dorchester?
Yes. 4 of the 28 public schools in Dorchester are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Boston Collegiate Charter School, Codman Academy Charter Public School, Conservatory Lab Charter School. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Dorchester schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Dorchester public schools is 10.1:1, 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 Dorchester 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