| # | District | City | Rating | State Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Dover School District | Dover | 10/10 Excellent | 99th |
| #2 | Lincoln-Sudbury School District | Lincoln-Sudbury | 10/10 Excellent | 99th |
| #3 | Northborough-Southborough School District | Northborough-Southborough | 10/10 Excellent | 99th |
| #4 | Weston Public Schools | Weston | 10/10 Excellent | 99th |
| #5 | Belmont Public Schools | Belmont | 10/10 Excellent | 98th |
| #6 | Hopkinton School District | Hopkinton | 10/10 Excellent | 98th |
| #7 | Lexington Public Schools | Lexington | 10/10 Excellent | 98th |
| #8 | Winchester School District | Winchester | 10/10 Excellent | 98th |
| #9 | Dover-Sherborn School District | Dover-Sherborn | 10/10 Excellent | 97th |
| #10 | Carlisle School District | Carlisle | 10/10 Excellent | 96th |
| #11 | Hingham School District | Hingham | 10/10 Excellent | 96th |
| #12 | Wayland School District | Wayland | 10/10 Excellent | 96th |
| #13 | Wellesley Public Schools | Wellesley | 10/10 Excellent | 95th |
| #14 | Wellesley School District | Wellesley | 10/10 Excellent | 95th |
| #15 | Westwood School District | Westwood | 10/10 Excellent | 95th |
| #16 | Westborough School District | Westborough | 10/10 Excellent | 94th |
| #17 | Westford School District | Westford | 10/10 Excellent | 94th |
| #18 | Harvard School District | Harvard | 10/10 Excellent | 93th |
| #19 | Lynnfield School District | Lynnfield | 10/10 Excellent | 93th |
| #20 | Needham Public Schools | Needham | 10/10 Excellent | 93th |
| #21 | Needham School District | Needham | 10/10 Excellent | 93th |
| #22 | Acton-Boxborough Regional School District | Acton-Boxborough | 10/10 Excellent | 92th |
| #23 | Brookline School District | Brookline | 10/10 Excellent | 92th |
| #24 | Concord School District | Concord | 10/10 Excellent | 91th |
| #25 | Norwell School District | Norwell | 10/10 Excellent | 91th |
Best School Districts in Massachusetts (2026)
This ranking covers 259 rated public school districts in Massachusetts, scored using NCES EDFacts state assessment data for the 2017–18 school year — the most recent district-level federal collection we have processed. 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 →
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.