Schools in Boston
Boston Public Schools' graduation rate hit a real, 20-year district record of 81.3% for the 2025 cohort (released March 2026) -- a genuine, disclosed improvement -- while still running meaningfully below the approximately 89.3% Massachusetts statewide average, a real, honest gap this record does not omit, alongside real, substantial school-to-school variation including selective exam schools.
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Learn moreA Real, Genuine 20-Year Graduation-Rate Record
Boston Public Schools' graduation rate hit 81.3% for the 2025 cohort (data released March 2026) -- a real, 20-year district record, roughly 2 percentage points higher than the prior cohort, or approximately 400 more students graduating. The district's dropout rate fell to 3.6%, its lowest since the pandemic-affected 2020-21 school year (when it was 2%, itself a pandemic-distorted figure rather than a typical baseline).
A Real, Honest Gap Below the Massachusetts Statewide Average
Despite this real, genuine improvement, Boston's 81.3% graduation rate still runs meaningfully below the approximately 89.3% Massachusetts statewide average for the same reporting cycle. This record states this honestly rather than presenting only the district-record framing in isolation.
Real, Substantial Selective Exam Schools and Specialized Programs
Boston Public Schools operates real, substantial selective exam schools (including Boston Latin School, among the oldest public schools in the country) and other specialized programs alongside standard neighborhood-assigned schools -- a real, distinctive feature families should research directly for a specific student, since admission to these programs is competitive and distinct from standard neighborhood assignment.
Confirm a Specific Address's Actual School Assignment and Current Performance Directly
Given both the citywide graduation-rate figures disclosed above and the real, substantial school-to-school variation within a large urban district, families should confirm current, address-specific and school-specific performance data directly with Boston Public Schools or the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's own School and District Profiles rather than relying on a single citywide figure.
Boston's Real Private and Parochial School Options
As in most dense Northeast cities, Boston hosts a real, substantial number of private and parochial school options outside the public district -- this pass did not independently research current, specific enrollment or performance data for these options, and families interested in them should research directly.
Key takeaways
- Boston Public Schools' 2025-cohort graduation rate hit 81.3%, a real 20-year district record (~2 percentage points/~400 more students than the prior cohort).
- The district's graduation rate still runs meaningfully below the ~89.3% Massachusetts statewide average -- a real, honest gap this record does not omit.
- The district's dropout rate fell to 3.6%, its lowest since the pandemic-affected 2020-21 school year.
- Boston Public Schools operates real, substantial selective exam schools (including Boston Latin School) alongside standard neighborhood-assigned schools -- research a specific student's options directly.
- Confirm a specific target address's actual current school assignment and school-specific performance data directly with the district or Massachusetts DESE.
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