schoolsbycounty

Suffolk County Schools & Education

School Score

51/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Midrange Signal

Graduation Rate

74.0%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

74.0%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 88.1%

Per-Pupil Spending

$15,756

National avg $13,239

State avg $13,582

School Score

51/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 72/100

State Score Position

#14

of 14 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Suffolk County

Measured School Summary

Suffolk County has midrange measured school signals (score: 51/100) with a graduation rate of 74.0%, which warrants review in official state and district records.

Funding Context

With $15,756 per pupil, Suffolk County has adequate funding that generally covers core educational needs and some supplemental services.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 29% below the Massachusetts average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 14.1 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 16% higher than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Suffolk 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

157 public schools and 26 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

51/100

Mixed county signal. Ranks #14 of 14 Massachusetts counties with school score data.

Completion

74.0%

14.1 pts below the state average

Funding context

$15,756

$2,174 above the state average

School coverage

157

26 districts represented in the county school list.

Start with measured county context

This county needs a closer look at district mix, school level, and local context. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.

Check the local school mix

Suffolk County has 157 public schools across 26 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 Suffolk 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.

Dominant-district county

Boston carries most of the listed public-school system, with 109 of 157 schools. Start there, then verify whether your target address sits inside that district slice.

State position

#14

of 14 Massachusetts counties with school score data. The county score is 21 points below 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.

Boston

Elementary to high school visible

46,001 students

Elementary 75Middle 3High 28Other 3

109 listed schools in this county slice.

Revere

Elementary to high school visible

7,298 students

Elementary 6Middle 3High 2Other 0

11 listed schools in this county slice.

Chelsea

Elementary to high school visible

6,153 students

Elementary 5Middle 3High 3Other 0

11 listed schools in this county slice.

Brooke Charter School (District)

Other grade structure

2,223 students

Elementary 0Middle 0High 0Other 1

1 listed school in this county slice.

District reality check

Boston is the largest listed district slice, with 109 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 Suffolk County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Suffolk 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 Suffolk 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 Dynamic Urban Educational Powerhouse

Suffolk County hosts 157 public schools across 26 districts, serving a diverse student body of 75,476. The system is heavily urban, featuring 94 elementary schools and 44 high schools alongside 22 charter schools. This region offers the highest density of charter and alternative school options in the state.

Boston Public Schools and Charter Innovation

The Boston district dominates the landscape with 109 schools and 46,001 students, followed by Revere and Chelsea. Charter schools are a major factor here, representing 14% of all schools, including the large Brooke Charter School with 2,223 students. This mix provides families with a wide array of specialized and traditional educational paths.

City-Centric Learning and Historic Institutions

With 130 schools in city settings, the Suffolk experience is distinctly urban and fast-paced. The county is home to the prestigious Boston Latin School, which enrolls 2,423 students, making it one of the largest in the area. The average school size is 481, allowing for diverse social environments within a bustling metropolitan context.

School Overview

Total Schools

157

in Suffolk County

Reported Enrollment

75,476

157 schools reporting

School Districts

26

districts

Charter Schools

22

14% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary94
Middle12
High44
Other7

26 School Districts in Suffolk County

Boston

Guide
109 schools
46,001 students
Open district guide

Revere

Guide
11 schools
7,298 students
Open district guide

Chelsea

Guide
11 schools
6,153 students
Open district guide

Brooke Charter School (District)

1 school
2,223 students

Winthrop

4 schools
1,941 students

Excel Academy Charter (District)

1 school
1,363 students

Roxbury Preparatory Charter (District)

1 school
1,295 students

MATCH Charter Public School (District)

1 school
1,186 students

Boston Renaissance Charter Public (District)

1 school
922 students

Neighborhood House Charter (District)

1 school
766 students

157 Public Schools in Suffolk County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 11 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 157 matching schools

Boston Latin School

Boston

Boston, 02115 / City: Large

Profile7–12High2,423 students

Brooke Charter School

Brooke Charter School (District)

Roslindale, 02131 / City: Large

ProfileKG–12Charter2,223 students

Revere High

Revere

Revere, 02151 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High2,084 students

Boston Latin Academy

Boston

Dorchester, 02121 / City: Large

Profile7–12High1,723 students

Chelsea High

Chelsea

Chelsea, 02150 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,611 students

O'Bryant School of Math & Science

Boston

Roxbury, 02120 / City: Large

Profile7–12High1,567 students

Excel Academy Charter School

Excel Academy Charter (District)

East Boston, 02128 / City: Large

Profile5–12Charter1,363 students

Roxbury Preparatory Charter School

Roxbury Preparatory Charter (District)

Roxbury, 02120 / City: Large

Profile5–12Charter1,295 students

East Boston High School

Boston

East Boston, 02128 / City: Large

Profile7–12High1,276 students

MATCH Charter Public School

MATCH Charter Public School (District)

Boston, 02215 / City: Large

ProfilePK–12Charter1,186 students

Madison Park Technical Vocational High School

Boston

Roxbury, 02120 / City: Large

Profile9–12Vocational1,087 students

Curley K-8 School

Boston

Jamaica Plain, 02130 / City: Large

RecordPK–8Primary931 students

Boston Renaissance Charter Public School

Boston Renaissance Charter Public (District)

Hyde Park, 02136 / City: Large

RecordPK–6Charter922 students

TechBoston Academy

Boston

Dorchester, 02124 / City: Large

Record6–12High871 students

Murphy K-8 School

Boston

Dorchester, 02122 / City: Large

RecordPK–8Primary836 students

Shurtleff Early Childhood

Chelsea

Chelsea, 02150 / Suburb: Large

RecordPK–1Primary823 students

Eliot K-8 Innovation School

Boston

Boston, 02113 / City: Large

RecordPK–8Primary809 students

Charlestown High School

Boston

Charlestown, 02129 / City: Large

Record7–12High792 students

Neighborhood House Charter School

Neighborhood House Charter (District)

Dorchester, 02122 / City: Large

RecordPK–12Charter766 students

Quincy Elementary School

Boston

Boston, 02111 / City: Large

RecordPK–5Primary738 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$15,756

State avg $13,582

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Suffolk 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.

View Schools

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 Suffolk County?
Suffolk County has a school score of 51/100, which is a midrange 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 Suffolk County?
The high school graduation rate in Suffolk County is 74.0%, which is below 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 Suffolk County spend per student?
Suffolk County spends $15,756 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 Suffolk County, Massachusetts — FAQ

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

Suffolk County hosts 157 public schools across 26 districts, serving a diverse student body of 75,476. The system is heavily urban, featuring 94 elementary schools and 44 high schools alongside 22 charter schools. This region offers the highest density of charter and alternative school options in the state.

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

The Boston district dominates the landscape with 109 schools and 46,001 students, followed by Revere and Chelsea. Charter schools are a major factor here, representing 14% of all schools, including the large Brooke Charter School with 2,223 students. This mix provides families with a wide array of specialized and traditional educational paths.

What is the school experience like in Suffolk County?

With 130 schools in city settings, the Suffolk experience is distinctly urban and fast-paced. The county is home to the prestigious Boston Latin School, which enrolls 2,423 students, making it one of the largest in the area. The average school size is 481, allowing for diverse social environments within a bustling metropolitan context.

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.