Best Public High Schools in Massachusetts (2026)

The Three Boston Exam Schools

Boston Latin School (BLS, 1635), Boston Latin Academy (BLA, 1878, originally Girls Latin School), and John D. O'Bryant School of Mathematics and Science (O'Bryant, 1893, originally Boston High School of Commerce) form Boston's three exam schools. All three admit students via the Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE) combined with 4th and 5th grade grades. BLS is the most selective, followed by BLA, then O'Bryant.

Admission Process Details

Students take the ISEE in fall of their 6th grade year (applying for grade 7 entry) or in 9th grade (applying for grade 9 entry at BLS only). Boston Public Schools calculates a composite of ISEE scores and elementary school GPA. Students rank their school preferences; assignments are made based on this composite. Boston residents who are BPS students may apply free of charge.

The Diversity Question

Boston's exam schools, like NYC's specialized schools, face persistent diversity challenges. Black and Hispanic students — who make up approximately 76% of overall BPS enrollment — represent roughly 15–20% of BLS enrollment. Efforts to reform admissions (including a 2021 temporary change to zip code-based selection during COVID) have generated ongoing political debate. The current composite scoring system was restored after the temporary change.

Technology Employer Concentration

Route 128 is home to major biotech and tech employers: Biogen, Genzyme, Raytheon, iRobot, EMC/Dell, MathWorks, and hundreds of startups. The families of their engineers and scientists are concentrated in Lexington, Newton, Needham, Wellesley, and Weston.

Per-Pupil Spending

Lexington (~$16,500/pupil), Newton (~$18,000/pupil), Wellesley (~$17,000/pupil), and Needham (~$16,000/pupil) all exceed the state average of $16,700. High property values in these communities sustain property tax revenues that fund school budgets.

University Proximity

Proximity to Harvard, MIT, Tufts, Brandeis, Wellesley College, Babson, and Boston College means that K-12 students in these communities can access university courses, research labs, and mentorship programs unavailable in most school districts.

Chapter 70 Foundation Budget

Massachusetts's Chapter 70 education aid formula sets a 'foundation budget' for each district and requires state aid to bring funding to at least this level. Wealthy Route 128 communities typically exceed their foundation budget significantly through local property taxes.

Grade 10 MCAS

Students take the grade 10 MCAS in ELA and Mathematics. Passing both at the 'Needs Improvement' threshold or above (score of 220+) is required for graduation. There is no separate diploma tier — all students must pass the same test.

Grade 10 Science MCAS

Beginning with the class of 2010, passing a Science, Technology/Engineering, and Mathematics MCAS is also required for graduation. Students typically take biology, chemistry, physics, or technology/engineering depending on their coursework.

Implications for School Quality

The MCAS requirement means that schools with high MCAS proficiency rates (scoring 'Proficient' or 'Advanced') are easily identifiable by families and researchers. Massachusetts's NAEP scores — which are nationally normed — show MA students outperforming all other states, suggesting the MCAS standards are genuinely rigorous.

What are Boston's three exam schools and how does admission work?

Boston operates three exam schools — Boston Latin School (BLS, founded 1635, the oldest public school in America), Boston Latin Academy (BLA), and John D. O'Bryant School of Mathematics and Science — that admit students via the Boston Exam School Entrance Exam (ISEE). The exam is taken in 6th grade for grades 7–12 entry. Admission is based on a weighted composite of the ISEE score and 4th and 5th grade GPA. BLS is the most selective; BLA is second-most selective; O'Bryant focuses on STEM. All three are Boston Public Schools, free to Boston residents. BLS's 7-year program (grades 7–12) is unusually structured compared to most US high schools. BLS and BLA consistently rank among the top 20 public high schools in the nation by US News. Boston's exam school admissions process was modified in 2021 to use a zip code-based system to increase geographic diversity, generating significant controversy before returning to a modified composite scoring approach.

Why does Massachusetts consistently rank among the top states for public education?

Massachusetts consistently ranks #1 or #2 in national K-12 quality assessments (Education Week, NAEP scores, US News state rankings) for several structural reasons: (1) The 1993 Massachusetts Education Reform Act overhauled school funding through Chapter 70 grants, ensuring more equitable funding across districts while preserving local control; (2) Rigorous curriculum standards, backed by the MCAS (Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System) exam, create accountability without compromising depth; (3) The concentration of higher education institutions in the Boston area — Harvard, MIT, Tufts, Northeastern, Boston College, and dozens more — creates a research and academic culture that permeates public schooling expectations; (4) Massachusetts's Route 128/495 technology corridor employs a highly educated workforce whose families are concentrated in the suburban districts around Boston.

What is the MCAS and how does it affect Massachusetts high school quality?

The Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) is a state-mandated assessment in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science administered annually to all Massachusetts public school students. Importantly, passing the grade 10 MCAS is a graduation requirement for all Massachusetts public school students — one of a shrinking number of states that maintains this requirement. The MCAS creates a meaningful accountability floor: schools with high MCAS performance are easily identified, and districts compete to maintain strong scores. Massachusetts's NAEP (National Assessment of Educational Progress) scores — the 'national report card' — are the highest of any state in the country, making Massachusetts public education the nation's academic benchmark.

What districts dominate Massachusetts public school rankings outside of Boston?

Outside Boston, Massachusetts's top public high schools cluster in three geographic areas: (1) the Route 128 tech corridor suburbs — Lexington, Newton (North and South), Needham, Wellesley, Weston, and Westwood are all within 15–20 miles of Boston and home to concentrated finance, biotech, and tech professionals; (2) the I-495 outer ring — Acton-Boxborough, Westford, Sudbury/Lincoln-Sudbury, Wayland, and Hopkinton are outer suburbs benefiting from tech company growth along the 495 corridor; (3) Metro South/Southeast — Sharon and similar towns round out the state's top performers. All of these districts benefit from high per-pupil spending, low student-teacher ratios, and parent communities with very high rates of advanced degrees.

How does Advanced Math and Science Academy (AMSA) Charter School work?

AMSA Charter School in Marlborough is a state-chartered public school serving grades 6–12 that consistently ranks #1 or #2 in Massachusetts by US News. As a charter school, it is publicly funded but independently operated, drawing students from multiple surrounding towns through a lottery process. Admission is by lottery — not competitive exam — but the school's STEM focus and project-based learning model attract motivated students and families. Once enrolled, AMSA offers an intensive STEM curriculum with 30+ AP courses. Its performance reflects the charter model's ability to create a concentrated academic environment. Students from Marlborough, Northborough, Southborough, Westborough, and several other towns are eligible to apply to the lottery. There is no tuition.