Best Public School Districts in Boston 2017

RankDistrictEnrollmentAvg. Class SizeStudent-Teacher RatioPer-Pupil SpendingGraduation RateAttending College (%)Avg. SAT Reading ScoreAvg. SAT Writing ScoreAvg. SAT Math ScoreMCAS / PARCCTook AP ClassesAP Scoring 3-5 (%)3rd Grade Proficient or Higher on MCAS / PARCC Reading (%)3rd Grade Proficient or Higher on MCAS / PARCC Math (%)5th Grade Proficient or Higher on MCAS / PARCC English (%)5th Grade Proficient or Higher on MCAS / PARCC Math (%)5th Grade Proficient or Higher on MCAS / PARCC Science (%)8th Grade Proficient or Higher on MCAS / PARCC English (%)8th Grade Proficient or Higher on MCAS / PARCC Math (%)8th Grade Proficient or Higher on MCAS / PARCC Science (%)10th Grade Proficient or Higher on MCAS / PARCC English (%)10th Grade Proficient or Higher on MCAS / PARCC Math (%)10th Grade Proficient or Higher on MCAS / PARCC Science (%)
1Dover-Sherborn2,08717.211.6$20,14397.290.7613608620MCAS20294.47190918686957977999899
2Concord-Carlisle3,97416.412.6$18,88197.589.5616605635PARCC27494.47684878878848070989497
3Weston2,15415.511.4$22,76893.981.6604603627PARCC27584.27885848074818677999585
4Lexington7,07219.612.2$17,86796.184.0619611645MCAS81994.37989878778948879989695
5Wayland2,64616.912.8$17,65297.486.6595593619PARCC20392.96773817974788574989594
6Westford5,12019.014.1$13,11897.491.0594580612PARCC39796.08281868280898873999796
7Newton12,82718.011.9$18,09697.384.9587585608PARCC96790.97879837667848257989493
8Wellesley5,01817.713.3$18,18596.185.4601598614MCAS31395.68187898370937670989391
9Manchester Essex1,39617.410.7$15,31497.487.7595582601MCAS12586.575858375699377681009796
10Harvard1,11716.612.1$15,79994.290.7594583589MCAS14492.56784918790946870989293
11Sharon3,46818.312.5$15,40194.687.0573577599PARCC31894.18083838378848361989796
12Lincoln-Sudbury5,57119.812.5$17,13295.785.9577572610PARCC23595.98183898075878956989391
13Westborough3,80517.313.4$14,74696.585.5583577608PARCC21294.57884818073858366969393
14Winchester4,62319.413.1$12,80196.987.2587586617MCAS26489.08190908984928175989392
15Acton-Boxborough5,58821.615.0$14,01696.988.6616607640MCAS44594.56777878071968577989595
16Medfield2,60417.813.2$13,84998.394.0553558587PARCC28874.48381868267848259989593
17Bedford2,60814.511.7$17,83992.790.4566550572PARCC13291.68087827463737850958885
18Brookline7,69517.912.6$17,65292.880.6598589617MCAS40594.67684837966907962969290
19Needham5,58818.913.9$15,90097.190.2574571582MCAS43192.67587858070948169999391
20Masconomet3,91716.112.8$15,56896.590.6549547566PARCC28183.57277767866877684969189
21Marblehead3,14418.211.9$13,67895.588.6563565564PARCC30585.68578796864847165989294
22Westwood3,16218.613.5$15,85397.688.0557548578PARCC28590.38384857676856545989592
23Belmont4,46621.316.6$13,02996.386.2586583609PARCC46792.48285897879916272989695
24Hamilton-Wenham1,78217.411.8$15,95697.688.3571559559PARCC18571.28483837964796547989480
25Hopkinton3,46219.913.4$13,53598.489.7552544580MCAS46884.88589827769948571989497
26Northboro-
Southboro
4,45117.312.4$15,60395.790.7551552566MCAS38790.67386807168847165979394
27Hingham4,31718.514.7$12,36898.287.5555563569MCAS25196.07688908883906964989495
28Andover6,00918.313.1$15,60294.388.4566562581PARCC45878.17773827063837348989484
29Arlington5,52418.013.9$13,38395.484.2581576592PARCC37186.18178837377774975959086
30Cohasset1,58619.313.1$14,93798.292.9564560562MCAS14885.97579807167937557989687
31Norwell2,19218.113.4$14,35297.690.0555547555PARCC22181.76474736165847068999494
32Newburyport2,29517.812.4$14,16595.684.1549544563PARCC14890.16774707154878167989091
33Holliston2,88917.713.8$13,44693.289.2561549581MCAS23686.57078838279927066969392
34Nashoba3,41317.813.0$14,26494.290.0552539563MCAS29185.47287787466867966979392
35Ashland2,70118.014.4$13,60893.686.6549530576PARCC16294.67069735963847658999795
36Lynnfield2,20718.413.5$13,90098.887.0530541547MCAS14979.58389868679927960978989
37Littleton1,64619.014.9$13,99094.687.3578578589MCAS9792.57183737659835960969393
38Natick5,47219.414.1$14,04497.985.2555538565PARCC35780.26666716567827562979290
39Scituate3,00118.812.3$13,79194.990.3544543551PARCC26074.46674837774705558979083
40Franklin5,41218.613.2$12,43595.789.5542532556PARCC42173.86371777662746759989393
41Duxbury3,12120.913.2$13,15697.889.7545544565PARCC31671.76679737469774463989396
42Mansfield3,95817.013.1$13,79097.588.5541537566PARCC22889.06776716052806846948783
43Reading4,32419.413.9$12,52097.590.5542524557PARCC20683.96473736756806354999391
44Swampscott-Nahant2,23117.111.5 $ 15,095 93.590.6520515535PARCC16171.37176805153.0797538958992
45Walpole3,85519.613.6$14,07895.087.8527524538PARCC17888.96879787282816951978390
46Chelmsford4,97418.013.6$13,28994.589.4545519556MCAS28876.26877776765907263969290
47Braintree5,80917.714.4$13,83893.887.0518509541PARCC31185.38079805869767161959385
48North Reading2,49618.912.7$14,13793.078.9551541554PARCC25564.47984847075706240978988
49King Philip4,77820.015.0$14,07494.986.1551535544MCAS39880.17473827766696051989198
50Medway2,31618.714.8$13,30895.387.8535526547MCAS28675.77586878071876748989185
51Foxborough2,60116.212.7$15,20795.281.6520514534PARCC21771.06982616452667450958988
52Georgetown1,44718.913.6$12,60296.192.6549540534MCAS42100.05680687459885635979088
53Berlin-Boylston1,06716.613.1$14,73091.782.8526510528PARCC6977.57780615053705967998788
54Canton3,32518.913.6$14,16894.987.7520507536PARCC23467.37078746357736856988889
55Rockport92816.710.9$16,12893.883.8530499528PARCC5363.06446704261746459998486
56Easton3,75020.014.6$12,73196.889.9543533550MCAS30971.86879667366917465978980
57Marshfield4,24518.713.1$12,70995.886.9518512520MCAS18072.36879867971897156989083
58Burlington3,52117.611.4$19,23895.385.2521517540PARCC21379.36070584957655345938777
59Ipswich1,77817.310.9$14,06994.079.7527518513MCAS12680.26278787569887147978682
60Milton4,15018.916.8$14,11694.588.2530524555PARCC28175.66271777363757453958887
61Cambridge6,79415.110.6$27,56988.880.6521514526PARCC35283.26564766152654835897874
62Melrose3,79820.114.5$12,05894.784.3529527533PARCC26870.08281827470765455958380
63Hanover2,62518.913.5$12,47498.586.9505495520PARCC21164.06167765768794752998689
64Millis1,32317.714.0$13,49093.087.4516496503MCAS9371.16286807459877345989182
65Norwood3,41117.612.4$15,48093.182.3505512522PARCC10673.56972755856715942918383
66Wilmington3,39117.712.4$15,50293.386.6514508527MCAS13769.16480797548815643958779
67Silver Lake3,66519.614.2$13,72597.975.4520509539PARCC21580.45269676754785259958785
68Pentucket2,49816.812.3$13,86990.582.8524528532PARCC16768.96059634748694241968787
69Watertown2,59216.111.2$20,13485.683.8503487534PARCC10880.35356655652645338938176
70Dedham2,69316.611.6$17,78091.778.9490477520PARCC19158.57164746650665839928985
71Stoneham2,35316.512.7$14,94091.687.0497498490PARCC13665.96066754238707047958786
72Triton2,51518.512.3$14,98789.780.9523518550PARCC12967.35760724844686138978878
73North Andover4,76621.415.9$12,05594.488.6523517530MCAS27890.16678807062876848938589
74Hull93014.311.4$17,67180.076.7507502513PARCC7566.97585745858735941897381
75Wakefield3,53818.613.3$13,59896.186.2524521537PARCC17273.95768634746644338938278
76Norton2,50119.014.1$13,21993.779.9520502513MCAS17972.05765716346906744968890
77Danvers3,37918.212.5$14,60793.681.4515506523PARCC25266.46761695538564647937979
78Billerica4,88218.713.1$15,43591.976.7521516540PARCC21569.45761634830694049948084
79Stoughton3,55517.111.9$13,51790.783.3512502518PARCC12162.25961715046634231947982
80West Bridgewater1,28719.114.5$11,75097.386.9506496508PARCC10847.660807357556332341008384
81Framingham8,60916.911.7$17,44884.873.4529514562PARCC40191.24445543837544732918083
82Pembroke3,00219.214.7$11,46795.475.8505500522PARCC19963.67576696246513947999384
83Woburn4,62817.312.3$15,15887.975.8495481516PARCC18165.85965686355655539958376
84Amesbury2,15018.312.7$13,77290.972.3530517531MCAS10481.05058635958866655917974
85Bridgewater-
Raynham
5,34620.316.0$12,75991.176.1510504531PARCC26967.96767645550717253958676
86Tewksbury3,54720.613.7$14,72092.677.0495489512PARCC20265.37273484939706439938584
87Beverly4,52518.814.2$13,18889.575.8517511523PARCC22664.45664655145676947897979
88Carver1,62616.712.4$14,26288.875.8514496517PARCC10451.84866736153564121968468
89Medford4,48715.312.0$16,00680.474.7511508513PARCC12888.94943573436643846918072
90Hudson2,64317.211.2$14,63788.987.3506503512MCAS17463.14368595838754533947273
91Avon71414.710.8$14,28483.387.8467451481PARCC2137.08472705234655543917365
92Middleborough2,76219.012.0$13,51593.073.4501481508PARCC18267.65764585347673133898177
93Quincy9,24916.813.3$16,02390.474.3474461510MCAS34372.45571686353785741898078
94Gloucester2,93017.511.2$16,06686.768.5496475509PARCC10466.36864665435564930937268
95Waltham5,46117.011.4$19,94084.674.2473471500PARCC22571.94850604242655240876772
96Maynard1,43917.913.1$14,64286.076.7540524546PARCC8567.45549665243541328907062
97Milford4,18717.612.7$13,34083.977.0505492514PARCC31555.75760653651715847877070
98Bellingham2,25718.313.7$13,22088.467.4515480518PARCC10150.05467544450616346927678
99East Bridgewater2,30221.617.7$10,40095.285.7518494500MCAS12654.45068777278804738978367
100Plymouth7,55217.411.8$14,93589.668.4473460491PARCC43556.85463564744593745927879
101Whitman-Hanson4,00021.915.8$11,70392.475.7499499518PARCC33956.75059505041555538948683
102Abington1,91621.614.7$13,27192.475.8520498516MCAS7056.15665666050775527938074
103Holbrook1,17014.913.1$14,78183.162.7458450473PARCC3548.15376625466596134947675
104Peabody5,95618.313.5$13,49686.675.4497476508MCAS37058.55868705452785333907168
105Marlborough4,52517.612.1$15,84385.075.8498478522PARCC25542.63950484940595335846770
106Saugus2,60316.512.6$14,16686.483.0490484500MCAS16342.75972665447753526886966
107Weymouth6,28918.914.9$13,67587.162.9503491510PARCC21275.35358533942534630927480
108Winthrop1,97120.613.1$12,54886.680.2480468493PARCC14841.76366756238613530937067
109Rockland2,29419.615.0$13,54988.271.8481467501PARCC13541.45759525244464026897267
110Somerville4,93116.411.5$18,16581.570.7460456484MCAS27153.85061534936704228856767
111Salem3,77215.510.1$16,89583.166.2490460487PARCC18834.54545564134443415865656
112Methuen6,89619.414.0$12,80886.677.6473459482MCAS35144.75067525128714029907361
113Haverhill7,45218.314.5$12,30174.467.4513494511PARCC29653.15147423832444228876764
114Lowell14,41618.913.8$13,85178.876.9465446491PARCC35055.34853443619464520846963
115Revere7,45120.114.1$14,16578.766.1429425460PARCC30561.75461615647624340846868
116Malden6,62320.714.5$13,64382.975.9455444507PARCC49041.64045423231514629877460
117Randolph2,82318.111.5$16,05181.173.5438429462MCAS10846.14053524329664222876863
118Taunton8,00520.917.8$12,26088.764.0495475501PARCC25256.04449483928393025876953
119Wareham2,46116.613.0$14,56776.463.0479452483MCAS8334.53948514648663423856545
120Boston53,26318.213.7$19,24672.470.0434431466PARCC3,13149.43340434018423013836652
121Everett7,07819.314.1$13,25976.766.5437415439PARCC18831.74651484125543826845556
122Lynn15,29920.014.2$13,69175.360.3446430458PARCC31339.73842534336464234795646
123Brockton16,97019.915.9$14,21479.170.6440428453PARCC31533.02935343017473317866057
124Lawrence13,85719.113.6$14,47571.465.7389383411PARCC25023.73347343216384120724940
125Chelsea6,33823.315.1$13,77059.770.2448424449PARCC21231.125451724730218634035

Methodology: We ranked the 125 school districts that lie within, or partially within, I-495. To compile the list, we collected the most recent available data provided on the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education website (profiles.doe.mass.edu). For districts that report multiple lower grade levels individually, a weighted average score was used. This year some schools took the PARCC test in grades three, five, and eight, while others took the MCAS; the test each district primarily used is noted below. To calculate the rankings, George Recck, director of the Math Resource Center at Babson College, compared each district’s data points to the overall average for all districts. He then applied a percentage weight to the standardized data for each district to create an aggregate “score” (we considered a smaller class size, a lower student-to-teacher ratio, and a higher rate of spending per pupil more desirable). The districts were ranked based on that score.