schoolsbycounty

Bristol County Schools & Education

School Score

73/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Higher Signal

Graduation Rate

90.2%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

90.2%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 88.1%

Per-Pupil Spending

$10,941

National avg $13,239

State avg $13,582

School Score

73/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 72/100

State Score Position

#8

of 14 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Bristol County

Measured School Summary

Bristol County has a higher measured school signal with a school score of 73/100 and a graduation rate of 90.2%, based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-score inputs.

Funding Context

Bristol County spends $10,941 per student, which is on the lower end of adequate and may require careful resource allocation to maintain quality.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 1% above the Massachusetts average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 2.1 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 19% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Bristol County before comparing districts

County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.

Local context that changes the interpretation

139 public schools and 27 districts are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.

Overall screen

73/100

Higher measured signal. Ranks #8 of 14 Massachusetts counties with school score data.

Completion

90.2%

2.1 pts above the state average

Funding context

$10,941

$2,641 below the state average

School coverage

139

27 districts represented in the county school list.

Start with measured county context

This county screens well on the combined school metrics available here. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.

Check the local school mix

Bristol County has 139 public schools across 27 districts, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.

Verify local rules

Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.

Parent decision brief

What Bristol County school data means before you move

County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.

Large multi-district county

Bristol County has many school records across many districts. County averages are only the opening screen; neighborhood-level assignment and grade-band fit matter more here.

State position

#8

of 14 Massachusetts counties with school score data. The county score is roughly in line with the state average.

Data confidence

Usable

3 of 5 county signals are present, and 100% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.

K-12 continuity check

These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.

New Bedford

Elementary to high school visible

12,522 students

Elementary 19Middle 3High 3Other 0

25 listed schools in this county slice.

Fall River

Elementary to high school visible

10,447 students

Elementary 10Middle 3High 2Other 2

17 listed schools in this county slice.

Taunton

Elementary to high school visible

7,905 students

Elementary 6Middle 3High 2Other 1

12 listed schools in this county slice.

Attleboro

Elementary to high school visible

5,926 students

Elementary 5Middle 3High 3Other 1

12 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

New Bedford is the largest listed district slice, with 25 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.

What the data cannot tell you

NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.

Questions to ask before choosing an address

Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Bristol County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Bristol County district systems?

What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?

Which charter, magnet, or virtual options require a lottery, application window, separate transportation plan, or address eligibility check?

Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?

Education Overview

About Schools in Bristol County, Massachusetts

This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.

A Massive Network for a Growing Region

Bristol County supports a large-scale education system with 139 public schools and 27 different districts. Total enrollment reaches nearly 80,000 students, supported by 77 elementary schools and 28 high schools. This robust infrastructure includes alternative schools to ensure diverse learning needs are met across the county.

High-Capacity Districts in Major Hubs

New Bedford and Fall River are the primary education hubs, serving 12,522 and 10,447 students respectively. Four charter schools operate in the county, providing alternative options within these large urban centers. Attleboro also plays a major role, managing 12 schools for its nearly 6,000 students.

Suburban Life and Large High Schools

The county is overwhelmingly suburban, with 128 of its 139 schools located in suburb locales. Schools are larger here than in neighboring counties, averaging 574 students per building. New Bedford High is the county's flagship, serving 2,898 students in a bustling, high-capacity environment.

School Overview

Total Schools

139

in Bristol County

Reported Enrollment

79,826

139 schools reporting

School Districts

27

districts

Charter Schools

4

3% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary77
Middle26
High28
Other8

139 Public Schools in Bristol County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 17 high-enrollment schools; every NCES public school remains listed here.

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

Level

Showing 20 of 139 matching schools

New Bedford High

New Bedford

New Bedford, 02740 / Suburb: Midsize

Profile9–12High2,898 students

Taunton High

Taunton

Taunton, 02780 / Suburb: Large

Profile8–12High2,760 students

B M C Durfee High

Fall River

Fall River, 02720 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High2,460 students

Gr New Bedford Vocational Technical

Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical

New Bedford, 02745 / Suburb: Midsize

Profile9–12Vocational2,095 students

Attleboro High

Attleboro

Attleboro, 02703 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,844 students

Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical

Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical

South Easton, 02375 / Rural: Fringe

Profile9–12Vocational1,558 students

Diman Regional Vocational Technical High

Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical

Fall River, 02723 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12Vocational1,412 students

Bristol-Plymouth Vocational Technical

Bristol-Plymouth Regional Vocational Technical

Taunton, 02780 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12Vocational1,310 students

Atlantis Charter School

Atlantis Charter (District)

Fall River, 02721 / Suburb: Large

ProfileKG–12Charter1,283 students

North Attleboro High

North Attleborough

North Attleborough, 02760 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,107 students

Mansfield High

Mansfield

Mansfield, 02048 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,092 students

Oliver Ames High

Easton

North Easton, 02356 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,082 students

Normandin Middle School

New Bedford

New Bedford, 02745 / Suburb: Midsize

Profile6–8Middle1,051 students

Alma del Mar Charter School

Alma del Mar Charter School (District)

New Bedford, 02746 / Suburb: Midsize

ProfileKG–8Charter1,038 students

Somerset Berkley Regional High School

Somerset Berkley Regional School District

Somerset, 02726 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,003 students

Dartmouth High

Dartmouth

Dartmouth, 02748 / Suburb: Midsize

Profile9–12High979 students

North Attleborough Middle

North Attleborough

North Attleborough, 02760 / Suburb: Large

Profile6–8Middle956 students

Keith Middle School

New Bedford

New Bedford, 02740 / Suburb: Midsize

Record6–8Middle870 students

James L. Mulcahey Elementary School

Taunton

Taunton, 02780 / Suburb: Large

RecordPK–4Primary851 students

Westport Middle-High School

Westport

Westport, 02790 / Suburb: Large

Record5–12High832 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$10,941

State avg $13,582

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Bristol County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.

Open Compare

Browse Public Schools

See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which Massachusetts counties have the highest graduation rates?
Barnstable County (92.4%), Hampshire County (92.3%), and Middlesex County (92.1%) currently lead Massachusetts among counties with available NCES four-year adjusted cohort graduation-rate data. This answer is generated from the same dataset used in the county table and can change when federal data refreshes.
What is per-pupil spending like in Massachusetts?
Across Massachusetts counties with available NCES district-finance data, average per-pupil spending is $13,582. The highest current county values are Dukes County ($21,423), Nantucket County ($16,692), and Suffolk County ($15,756). Compare counties in the table before treating the statewide average as representative of a local district.
How should I read the school score in Bristol County?
Bristol County has a school score of 73/100, which is a higher measured signal in this county-level index. This score is calculated from available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data, with school-level records shown separately below.
What is the graduation rate in Bristol County?
The high school graduation rate in Bristol County is 90.2%, which is above the national average of 87.5%. This figure is based on NCES district-level data for public high schools in the county.
How much does Bristol County spend per student?
Bristol County spends $10,941 per pupil annually on public education, based on NCES district finance data. Current operating spending per fall enrollment, including instruction, support services, administration, transportation, and operations. It excludes capital outlays and debt service in the SchoolsByCounty methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Schools in Bristol County, Massachusetts — FAQ

What does the school system look like in Bristol County, Massachusetts?

Bristol County supports a large-scale education system with 139 public schools and 27 different districts. Total enrollment reaches nearly 80,000 students, supported by 77 elementary schools and 28 high schools. This robust infrastructure includes alternative schools to ensure diverse learning needs are met across the county.

What are the major school districts in Bristol County, Massachusetts?

New Bedford and Fall River are the primary education hubs, serving 12,522 and 10,447 students respectively. Four charter schools operate in the county, providing alternative options within these large urban centers. Attleboro also plays a major role, managing 12 schools for its nearly 6,000 students.

What is the school experience like in Bristol County?

The county is overwhelmingly suburban, with 128 of its 139 schools located in suburb locales. Schools are larger here than in neighboring counties, averaging 574 students per building. New Bedford High is the county's flagship, serving 2,898 students in a bustling, high-capacity environment.

Counties with Similar School Profile

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Data Sources

Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.

Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.