High Schools in Boston

The Boston public high school system consists of 28 schools serving grades 9-12, located in the city of Boston, Massachusetts. The schools in this district exhibit a wide range of academic performance, with some of the top-ranked schools in the state alongside lower-performing institutions. While the high-achieving Boston Latin School and Boston Latin Academy demonstrate the potential for Boston students to excel, many schools struggle with low proficiency rates, high dropout levels, and concerning achievement gaps.

The clear standout in the data is Boston Latin School, which ranks 1st out of 348 Massachusetts high schools and has exceptional academic performance, with over 95% of 10th graders proficient or better in both ELA and Math. Boston Latin Academy and O'Bryant School of Math & Science also stand out as high-performing schools, with strong test scores and graduation rates. However, many other Boston high schools face significant challenges, with low proficiency rates, high dropout levels, and large achievement gaps between student subgroups.

The data reveals concerning trends across the Boston high school system, including alarmingly low percentages of students proficient in core subjects, dropout rates exceeding 10% at several schools, and 4-year graduation rates under 70% at some institutions. While high per-student spending at some low-performing schools suggests that simply increasing funding is not enough, the success of schools like Boston Latin School demonstrates the potential for improvement with the right resources and support. Addressing these disparities and improving outcomes for all students will require a comprehensive, data-driven approach focused on equity and effective educational practices.