Boston is an old and venerable city, and it is home to a number of old and venerable (and academically excellent) high schools. Just because two high schools are both considered 鈥済ood鈥� however, doesn鈥檛 mean they鈥檙e at all alike, nor does it mean a student will thrive equally at both of them. High schools are unique, and as the most important thing preparing a student for college, finding the right high school is important.
In this article, we鈥檙e going to be taking a look at some of the best high schools in Boston. This isn鈥檛 going to be an exhaustive review, but will look at some of the best public and private high schools in the city. Our goal isn鈥檛 to say that one is the best for all students, but rather to give you a sense of what your options are, and how each may be able to support you.
The Best Public High Schools in Boston
All of the best public high schools in Boston are . There are good public schools beyond these three, but these three are universally acknowledged as the best. These schools all serve students in grades 7-12, admitting students in grades 7 and 9 only.
In order to get into one of these schools, you must take the MAP test, which is administered to all public school students in Boston. You must additionally have a B or higher grade point average, and indicate your interest in an exam school. Students are scored; 70% of this comes from their GPA, 30% comes from their MAP score. All three schools share an admissions model. 20% of spaces are given to the best scoring students overall, the remaining 80% of spaces are divided equally among the top ranking students in each of the four economic tiers set by the school district.
Students who are homeless, living in family housing, or who are in the care of the Department of Children and Family Services will receive extra points for their consideration in their economic tier. There is no benefit from having a sibling in one of these schools.
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Founded in 1635, this is the oldest high school in the US, and generally considered the best public high school in Boston. While originally male-only, it became coed in 1972, and remains so. It enrolls approximately 2,400 students from grades 7-12. It is usually called simply Boston Latin, while its companion school is referred to as Latin Academy.
Their is expressly designed to prepare students for colleges, offering a lot of high level coursework across the classic liberal arts disciplines. They offer a full suite of AP coursework, and most students enroll in AP classes. There is some grade inflation at the school, but that鈥檚 the case at most every high school. Boston Latin does offer Latin as a language, and it maintains a requirement for all students to take it; four years if you enter in 7th grade, three if you enter in 9th.
The average SAT score at Boston Latin is 1370; the average ACT is 31. Seniors have an option to pursue a , where they pursue an independent course of study and research project. The school鈥檚 community is tight knit, and very academically oriented. There is some competition amongst students, but not excessively.
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This school was founded in 1878, as the female-only sister school to Boston Latin, leading to the somewhat confusing names. It became coed in 1972, and has remained so. It is generally referred to as BLA or Latin Academy, in order not to confuse it with Boston Latin. It serves approximately 1,700 students in grades 7-12.
While BLA diverges somewhat from Boston Latin, it was founded on the same model, and their is quite similar. They focus on preparing students for college, and offer the full suite of liberal arts coursework, with most courses being offered at an advanced level, and a full range of AP courses. Much like Boston Latin, all students are required to take Latin coursework. The average SAT score at BLA is 1210, and the average ACT score is 27.
The school鈥檚 culture is very focused on academics. There is some grade inflation, but not much, and the student body is generally very supportive. They offer a full range of extracurricular opportunities, sports, arts, school clubs; all that you expect to find from a high school experience. It is not a particularly athletically focused school, but sports are a common ground for many students. Many of their students get into top colleges, particularly liberal arts colleges in New England.
Generally referred to as O鈥橞 (as the full name is something of a mouthful), this is the third and final exam school in Boston, and is an excellent public school. Founded in 1893 as a mechanical school, it still has a strong focus on STEM subjects, as opposed to the more liberal-arts focused Latin schools. They serve approximately 1400 students in grades 7-12.
Their curriculum is STEM focused; while they do offer a full suite of humanities and social studies coursework, they have more advanced science and math courses than the Latin schools. The student body is self-selecting in this regard; the students who are more interested in STEM fields are more likely to try and attend O鈥橞. They offer a full suite of AP coursework, and all classes are offered at an advanced or honors level. A notable program is their Naval JROTC, which is not something that is a major focus of the school, but which is more prominent than many JROTC programs.
The average SAT score at O鈥橞 is 1170, and the average SAT score is 26. They regularly send students to top colleges; not every graduate, but a significant number each year. The school culture is very academically focused, with a special preference for STEM. They tend to be quite supportive as a student body. They do offer a full suite of arts and athletics options, though neither is the main focus of the school.
The Best Private Schools in Boston
In addition to excellent public schools, there are a number of highly regarded private schools in and around Boston. These are all distinct in what they offer, and can be far more individualistic than public schools, for they answer to no-one but themselves. We鈥檙e going to go through a number of different options, each of which has something unique to offer.
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Located in Belmont, a Boston suburb, this is one of the best private schools in the Boston area. It is an all-boys school; they have a partnership with the nearby Winsor School, which is an all-girls school, and they combine some extracurriculars with them. They are a day school, but have optional five-day boarding, with students staying at the school during the week and going home on weekends. This is mostly done by students in the greater Boston area, to ease the commute. They serve approximately 470 students in grades 7-12.
The curriculum at Belmont is aimed at preparing students for college, and follows a liberal arts model, with students taking courses in all core academic subjects. Of note, they offer a number of independent research courses in the physical sciences to advanced students. All of their courses are offered at an advanced level; they have a full set of APs, and offer a number of subjects which go beyond the AP level, particularly in math. The average SAT score at Belmont is 1450, the average ACT score is 33.
Tuition at Belmont is $71,800 annually for day students, and $81,500 for boarding students. They do have financial aid available for students with demonstrated financial need. Applications are done online through ; students usually enter in 7th and 9th grades. Applications require standardized test scores, the online form, student and parent interviews, transcripts, three letters of recommendation, and a parent questionnaire. Admissions is highly selective.
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Located in Groton, Massachusetts, this school is much more of a boarding school than a day school, but does serve day students who reside in the Boston area. When it was founded in 1884 it was a feeder school for Harvard. While it no longer officially is, many of its students still go on to top colleges. This is an Episcopalian school, and students are required to attend mass on Sundays; they can choose which to attend, either the Episcopalian service in the chapel or another service near the school. Groton is coed, and enrolls approximately 400 students in grades 8-12.
骋谤辞迟辞苍鈥檚 is based on the liberal arts model, and is designed to prepare students for college. Students are required to complete one term of a religious studies or philosophy course, but the curriculum overall is secular, even if the school鈥檚 overall philosophy is Episcopalian. They offer an advanced curriculum, both AP courses and other advanced coursework, including some that go beyond AP level. Advanced upperclassmen have the option to take independent study courses where they pursue research projects under faculty guidance in a range of subjects. The average SAT score at Groton is 1460, the average ACT is 33.
Tuition at Groton is $48,850 for day students and $62,740 for boarding students. There is financial aid available to students with demonstrated need. Admissions to Groton is competitive; applications open in September and are due in January. Applications must be submitted ; they require the online form itself, standardized test scores, an interview, two letters of recommendation, transcripts, and a graded writing sample. They are looking for both maturity and academic excellence in students.
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Massachusetts is still a Commonwealth; that is how they refer to themselves, and that is where this school draws its name. The school itself is an independent day school in Boston, serving a coed population of approximately 160 students in grades 9-12. It is purposefully a very small and close-knit school; that is what it was founded to be. The small size and campus of the school means they do have a lack of athletic facilities compared to some high schools, but their focus has always been on academics.
The at Commonwealth is modeled after a liberal arts college, and meant to prepare their students to enter the same. They offer a range of advanced coursework, including a suite of APs. There are a number of opportunities for students to conduct their own , including research week (a brief, in-depth exploratory period), and optional senior capstones, where seniors pursue an independent study project under faculty guidance. The average SAT score at Commonwealth is 1520; the average ACT score is 34.
Annual tuition at Commonwealth is $62,780; there is need-based aid available. Admissions is competitive; applications open in September and are due in January. Applications must be submitted ; this requires the online form, standardized test scores, an interview, three letters of recommendation, a transcript, and a graded essay from your current school as a writing sample. Students are also invited to visit; as part of the visit, students complete an additional writing exercise.
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Frequently referred to simply as Nobles, this is a private school in Dedham Massachusetts serving students in grades 7-12. This is a day and boarding school, but only offers five-day boarding; students spend the school week staying at the school, then return home on the weekends. While historically it served mainly Episcopalian students, it is currently a secular school. It once served as a feeder school for Harvard; it no longer is, but many graduates still go on to attend top colleges. It enrolls approximately 630 students.
The curriculum at Nobles is intended to prepare students for college. They do offer a high degree of flexibility to upperclassmen, with students able to take electives and courses in subjects and subfields which interest them. All courses are offered at a high level. Students may take lab research courses where they learn lab techniques and pursue an individual research project with faculty permission. Note that all students must take part in ten seasons of after school programs as part of the graduation requirements at Nobles. The average SAT score at Nobles is 1450, the average ACT score is 33.
Tuition at Nobles is $68,500 for day students and $74,800 for boarding students. There is generous need-based financial aid available. Applications to Nobles must be done , they use Ravenna as their application portal. Applications to the school require the online form, standardized test scores, interviews, a parent statement, two letters of recommendation, a transcript, and a student statement. They have an acceptance rate of around 16%; the most common entry years are 7th and 9th grades.
By Eric Haynes for the Office of the Governor of Massachusetts – https://www.flickr.com/photos/erichaynes/albums/72157646930974957/with/5540797270, Public Domain,
Located in Milton Massachusetts, Milton is a private school serving students from grades K-12. The lower grades are day only, while the upper school has both boarding and day students. Founded in 1798, this is a very old school, though they鈥檝e moved locations within Milton several times. They are a coed, secular school, with day students from around the greater Boston area.
The at Milton is explicitly college-preparatory. There is a liberal arts basis for it, but upperclassmen are given more leeway to explore their interests through electives and within core requirements. Milton offers all classes at an advanced level; they offer only a few standard AP courses, but many students take AP exams related to subjects they have taken, even if the courses are not officially AP. Upperclassmen may take an independent study course, including individual research projects, with faculty permission. The average SAT score at Milton is 1440, the average ACT is 32.
Tuition at Milton is $69,900 annually, for boarding students tuition is $79,900. There is need-based financial aid available for students with demonstrated need. All applications to Milton must be submitted online; the first step is always to . Once this is done, you will be able to access the application portal; most students enter in 9th grade. The application requires an online form, standardized test scores, parent and student interviews, three letters of recommendation, transcripts, and an optional graded writing assignment. You may apply as either a boarding or day student; you may not change this designation. Milton is need-aware in the admissions process. Their acceptance rate is around 13%.
Final Thoughts
This is only a fraction of the high schools in the greater Boston area, but are some of the best available, and all have a track record for serving students well. We hope this article has given you a sense of what options are out there for students, and which offerings may be best suited to meet your needs. Each high school is unique, and each offers something different to the students who attend.
If you are looking for advice on which high school will best meet your needs, or help applying to some of these remarkably competitive programs, then 吃瓜官网 can help. We regularly work with middle school students to help guide them through the transition to high school, and that includes helping them find the best fit. Schedule a free consultation today to learn more about how we can help you succeed.
