2023 Best High Schools in Massachusetts

What High School Paths Does Massachusetts Provide?

Massachusetts has 632 schools, which is a 30% increase over the average state, with the 39th highest ranking per capita in the nation. As a whole, the state's average school rating is a B–, which is slightly better than the national average.

When it comes to public high schools, there are 403 in total, which equals 64% of all schools in the state. This is a 23% decrease vs. the typical state. The average grade of these schools is a B. Of those 403 public schools, the majority are traditional public schools (320). An impressive 75% of those traditional public schools are rated above the national average, meaning there are 240 such schools that are considered better than typical.

In addition to traditional public schools, there are 50 charter schools, which is a 25% increase over the average state, ranking Massachusetts 25th in the nation for most charter schools per capita. Of those 50 schools, 80% of them exceed the national average in terms of quality. Also, of the 33 magnet high schools, 14 earned above average marks.

When it comes to private high schools, there are 191 in Massachusetts, which is 30% of all schools in the state. This is only 4% more than the average state, but it still provides numerous private school options. With a median rating of A+, about half (52%) of Massachusetts' private schools are rated above the national average. Approximately 30% of private high schools in the state are religiously affiliated, led primarily by Christian schools which total 26. The state ranks 48th for most religious schools per capita, so it actually falls slightly below average in terms of how much religious influence there is in its school options. There are also 17 all-boys schools in Massachusetts, which is 48% more than the typical state (after normalizing for population size). There are also 18 all-girls options in the state, which is an impressive 187% (or 2.87 times) more than the average state.

Finally, there are also 3 schools offered online (just 0% of all schools). This actually ranks Massachusetts in the 40th position in terms of online schools per capita vs. the typical state (it's below the average by 72%).