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Best public high schools in Massachusetts

By Stacker
Stacker compiled a list of the best private high schools in Massachusetts using rankings from Niche. (LightField Studios // Shutterstock/LightField Studios // Shutterstock)
By Stacker

As filmmaker and writer Nora Ephron said during a '96 commencement address at Wellesley College, "Your education is a dress rehearsal for a life that is yours to lead." If that's the case, high school may be one of the greatest dress rehearsals of all.

It's a place where students explore their interests, dive into extracurricular activities, finally get the freedom to choose their own classes, and prepare for college or the workplace. For many of these students and their families, public education is key: 49.4 million students enrolled in public pre-K-12 schools in fall 2021, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Of those, about a third were in high school, enrolled across about 23,500 public secondary schools nationwide.

For many anxious parents, getting their kids into the best of these public high schools is of the utmost importance. Some families even move homes to get into better school districts. However, among all of these thousands of schools, a few stand out for their academic excellence, incredible track records, and the future success of their young students.

Stacker compiled a list of the 30 best public high schools in Massachusetts using 2023 rankings from Niche. Niche uses seven weighted factors for its rankings. A majority of the score is based on academics, but other factors include culture and diversity; sports; clubs and activities; resources; and surveys of parents, teachers, and students. School districts are provided when available; otherwise, the city is listed instead.

A class of high schoolers as viewed from the rear. (Stacker/Stacker)

Daniel Hoz // Shutterstock

#30. Medfield Senior High School

- Location: Medfield Public Schools, MA

- Enrollment: 750 (13:1 student to teacher ratio)

- Niche grade: Grade A

A student filling out a scantron form for a multiple choice test. (Stacker/Stacker)

Achira22 // Shutterstock

#29. Lynnfield High School

- Location: Lynnfield Public Schools, MA

- Enrollment: 564 (12:1 student to teacher ratio)

- Niche grade: Grade A

A student talking to a teacher in the hallway. (Stacker/Stacker)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

#28. Advanced Math & Science Academy Charter School

- Location: Marlborough, MA

- Enrollment: 965 (12:1 student to teacher ratio)

- Niche grade: Grade A

A student standing next to their backpack as seen from the knee down. (Stacker/Stacker)

LightField Studios // Shutterstock

#27. The Bromfield School

- Location: Harvard Public Schools, MA

- Enrollment: 573 (11:1 student to teacher ratio)

- Niche grade: Grade A

Students walking down a hallway with their backs facing the camera. (Stacker/Stacker)

Mircea Moira // Shutterstock

#26. Bedford High School

- Location: Bedford Public Schools, MA

- Enrollment: 849 (11:1 student to teacher ratio)

- Niche grade: Grade A

A high school student doing a chemical experiment. (Stacker/Stacker)

LStockStudio // Shutterstock

#25. Amherst Regional High School

- Location: Amherst-Pelham Regional School District, MA

- Enrollment: 858 (12:1 student to teacher ratio)

- Niche grade: Grade A+

A high school student sitting at a desk writing on a piece of paper. (Stacker/Stacker)

panitanphoto // Shutterstock

#24. Shrewsbury Senior High School

- Location: Shrewsbury Public Schools, MA

- Enrollment: 1,835 (15:1 student to teacher ratio)

- Niche grade: Grade A+

A student raising their hand in class. (Stacker/Stacker)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

#23. Westwood High School

- Location: Westwood Public Schools, MA•

- Enrollment: 952 (10:1 student to teacher ratio)

- Niche grade: Grade A+

An empty school hallway lined with red lockers. (Stacker/Stacker)

ImageFlow // Shutterstock

#22. Algonquin Regional High School

- Location: Northborough, MA

- Enrollment: 1,269 (11:1 student to teacher ratio)

- Niche grade: Grade A+

A student solving a math equation on a whiteboard. (Stacker/Stacker)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

#21. Cambridge Rindge & Latin School

- Location: Cambridge Public Schools, MA

- Enrollment: 1,867 (9:1 student to teacher ratio)

- Niche grade: Grade A+

A row of empty desks with notebooks and pencils on them. (Stacker/Stacker)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

#20. Needham High School

- Location: Needham Public Schools, MA

- Enrollment: 1,669 (13:1 student to teacher ratio)

- Niche grade: Grade A+

A hallway lined with green lockers. (Stacker/Stacker)

SEALANDSKYPHOTO // Shutterstock

#19. Sturgis Charter Public School

- Location: Hyannis, MA

- Enrollment: 846 (9:1 student to teacher ratio)

- Niche grade: Grade A+

A side view of a person using a laptop in the school library. (Stacker/Stacker)

sirtravelalot // Shutterstock

#18. Acton-Boxborough Regional High School

- Location: Acton-Boxborough Regional School District, MA

- Enrollment: 1,703 (13:1 student to teacher ratio)

- Niche grade: Grade A+

An empty classroom as viewed from the back. (Stacker/Stacker)

maroke // Shutterstock

#17. Winchester High School

- Location: Winchester Public Schools, MA

- Enrollment: 1,349 (14:1 student to teacher ratio)

- Niche grade: Grade A+

A pencil case full of pens, pencils, and highlighters spilling on a table. (Stacker/Stacker)

Studio KIWI // Shutterstock

#16. Westford Academy

- Location: Westford Public Schools, MA

- Enrollment: 1,567 (13:1 student to teacher ratio)

- Niche grade: Grade A+

A group of students walking down the hall with their backs facing the camera. (Stacker/Stacker)

GagliardiPhotography // Shutterstock

#15. Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School

- Location: Sudbury, MA

- Enrollment: 1,513 (12:1 student to teacher ratio)

- Niche grade: Grade A+

An overhead view of high school pupils in group study sitting around circular tables. (Stacker/Stacker)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#14. Dover-Sherborn Regional High School

- Location: Dover-Sherborn Regional School District, MA

- Enrollment: 657 (12:1 student to teacher ratio)

- Niche grade: Grade A+

Students using microscopes in science class. (Stacker/Stacker)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

#13. Wayland High School

- Location: Wayland Public Schools, MA

- Enrollment: 831 (11:1 student to teacher ratio)

- Niche grade: Grade A+

High school students studying and reading together in their school library. (Stacker/Stacker)

Joyseulay // Shutterstock

#12. Westborough High School

- Location: Westborough Public Schools, MA

- Enrollment: 1,178 (12:1 student to teacher ratio)

- Niche grade: Grade A+

Students raising their hands for class participation. (Stacker/Stacker)

LStockStudio // Shutterstock

#11. Sharon High School

- Location: Sharon Public Schools, MA

- Enrollment: 1,139 (11:1 student to teacher ratio)

- Niche grade: Grade A+

A stack of textbooks with pens on top of them next to an open notebook. (Stacker/Stacker)

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#10. Wellesley Senior High School

- Location: Wellesley Public Schools, MA

- Enrollment: 1,406 (12:1 student to teacher ratio)

- Niche grade: Grade A+

Two students sharing a book. (Stacker/Stacker)

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#9. Newton South High School

- Location: Newton Public Schools, MA

- Enrollment: 1,837 (12:1 student to teacher ratio)

- Niche grade: Grade A+

A high school student doing classwork on their laptop. (Stacker/Stacker)

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#8. Hopkinton High School

- Location: Hopkinton Public Schools, MA

- Enrollment: 1,212 (14:1 student to teacher ratio)

- Niche grade: Grade A+

A teacher writing an equation on a blackboard using chalk. (Stacker/Stacker)

Roman Kosolapov // Shutterstock

#7. Belmont High School

- Location: Belmont Public Schools, MA

- Enrollment: 1,329 (16:1 student to teacher ratio)

- Niche grade: Grade A+

Students' backpacks sitting on a hallway floor. (Stacker/Stacker)

LBeddoe // Shutterstock

#6. Newton North High School

- Location: Newton Public Schools, MA

- Enrollment: 2,098 (11:1 student to teacher ratio)

- Niche grade: Grade A+

Bookshelves at a high school's library. (Stacker/Stacker)

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#5. Brookline High School

- Location: Public Schools of Brookline, MA

- Enrollment: 2,087 (11:1 student to teacher ratio)

- Niche grade: Grade A+

A stack of spiral noteboooks in front of a wooden background. (Stacker/Stacker)

DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

#4. Boston Latin School

- Location: Boston Public Schools, MA

- Enrollment: 2,416 (20:1 student to teacher ratio)

- Niche grade: Grade A+

Two rows of red lockers. (Stacker/Stacker)

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#3. Weston High School

- Location: Weston Public Schools, MA

- Enrollment: 638 (11:1 student to teacher ratio)

- Niche grade: Grade A+

Empty desks in a high school classroom. (Stacker/Stacker)

Anna Jurkovska // Shutterstock

#2. Lexington High School

- Location: Lexington Public Schools, MA

- Enrollment: 2,273 (12:1 student to teacher ratio)

- Niche grade: Grade A+

A closeup of a student taking notes in class. (Stacker/Stacker)

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#1. MA Academy for Math & Science School

- Location: Worcester, MA

- Enrollment: 100 (14:1 student to teacher ratio)

- Niche grade: Grade A+

This story features data reporting and writing by Emma Rubin and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.

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