📊 What this ranking measures
Rankings are based on academic achievement — the share of students scoring proficient or above on state reading and math assessments (MCAS 2024–25), ranked against other districts in the same state — not on spending, district size, or staffing. See full methodology →
Top 25 Districts Massachusetts
Sorted by rating — highest first
| # | District | City | Rating | State Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Carlisle School District | Carlisle | 10/10 Excellent | 99th |
| #2 | Hopkinton School District | Hopkinton | 10/10 Excellent | 99th |
| #3 | Lexington Public Schools | Lexington | 10/10 Excellent | 99th |
| #4 | Lincoln-Sudbury School District | Sudbury | 10/10 Excellent | 99th |
| #5 | Weston Public Schools | Weston | 10/10 Excellent | 99th |
| #6 | Northborough-Southborough School District | Fayville | 10/10 Excellent | 98th |
| #7 | Wayland School District | Wayland | 10/10 Excellent | 98th |
| #8 | Wellesley School District | Babson Park | 10/10 Excellent | 98th |
| #9 | Hingham School District | Hingham | 10/10 Excellent | 97th |
| #10 | Needham Public Schools | Needham | 10/10 Excellent | 97th |
| #11 | Winchester School District | Winchester | 10/10 Excellent | 97th |
| #12 | Medfield School District | Medfield | 10/10 Excellent | 96th |
| #13 | Westwood School District | Westwood | 10/10 Excellent | 96th |
| #14 | Cohasset School District | Cohasset | 10/10 Excellent | 95th |
| #15 | Concord School District | Concord | 10/10 Excellent | 95th |
| #16 | Dover-Sherborn School District | Sherborn | 10/10 Excellent | 95th |
| #17 | Dover School District | Dover | 10/10 Excellent | 94th |
| #18 | North Reading School District | North Reading | 10/10 Excellent | 94th |
| #19 | Arlington School District | Arlington | 10/10 Excellent | 93th |
| #20 | Belmont Public Schools | Belmont | 10/10 Excellent | 93th |
| #21 | Brookline School District | Brookline | 10/10 Excellent | 93th |
| #22 | Harvard School District | Devens | 10/10 Excellent | 92th |
| #23 | Acton-Boxborough Regional School District | Acton | 10/10 Excellent | 91th |
| #24 | Norwell School District | Norwell | 10/10 Excellent | 91th |
| #25 | Sharon School District | Sharon | 10/10 Excellent | 91th |
Best School Districts in Massachusetts (2026)
This ranking covers 258 rated public school districts in Massachusetts, scored using MCAS 2024–25 state assessment data. Each district's reading and math proficiency rates are averaged, then ranked against other districts in the same state to produce a 1–10 score.
A district's score reflects how its students perform on state assessments relative to same-state peers — it is not a direct measure of teaching quality, school culture, or individual student outcomes. Always visit schools, talk to local families, and contact districts directly before making decisions. Learn how ratings are calculated →
Massachusetts School Districts at a Glance
- 289 of the 323 regular school districts operating in Massachusetts have a published rating on this site.
- 92 districts score 8/10 or higher, the top three rating bands.
- Ratings come from MCAS 2024–25, and every district is ranked against other districts in Massachusetts only — never against districts in another state, because the tests differ.
- The highest-rated district is Carlisle School District in Carlisle, rated 10/10.
- Massachusetts has 15 high-school-only districts, so an address here can sit in an elementary district and a separate high school district at the same time. How split districts work →
How to Use This List
Click any district name to see its zip code page and confirm your exact assignment with the district office. Boundaries don't always follow city or neighborhood lines — the zip code search gives you the most accurate result.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best school district in Massachusetts? ▼
Based on state reading and math assessment proficiency (MCAS 2024–25), the top-rated district is Carlisle School District in Carlisle, rated 10/10 (Excellent).
How are these rankings calculated? ▼
Rankings use the share of students scoring proficient or above on state reading and math assessments (MCAS 2024–25), ranked against other districts in the same state, then converted to a 1–10 scale. Full methodology here.
Are ratings based on test scores? ▼
Yes. Ratings are based directly on state reading and math assessment proficiency rates, not on enrollment, spending, or school count. They are a starting point for research, not a final verdict on school quality.
How many school districts are in Massachusetts? ▼
Massachusetts has 323 regular school districts operating in the 2024–25 school year, according to the NCES Common Core of Data. 289 of them have enough state assessment data to carry a rating on this site.
What test are Massachusetts school district ratings based on? ▼
MCAS 2024–25. The rating is the share of students scoring proficient or above in reading and math, converted to a percentile against other districts in Massachusetts and then to a 1–10 scale. Spending, staffing and district size are not part of it.
How many districts in Massachusetts are rated 8 out of 10 or higher? ▼
92 of the 289 rated districts in Massachusetts score 8/10 or above. Because the scale is a within-state percentile, a high rating means the district outperforms most other districts in Massachusetts, not the country.
Can one address in Massachusetts be in two school districts? ▼
Yes. Massachusetts has 15 districts that serve only high school grades, so a home can be in an elementary district for the lower grades and a separate high school district for grades 9–12. Search your street address to see every district that serves it.