Frequently Asked Questions

Boston School Finder’s mission is to support Boston families in choosing a school that is a fit for their children and their families. We collect and share comprehensive, publicly available data on Boston Public Schools (BPS), charter public schools, and parochial schools. This data is presented in an easy to understand format.

No, Boston School Finder does not rate schools. Boston School Finder simply takes publicly available data, previously only available across a number of different sites or organizations, and centralizes it in one location so that it’s easy to find and use. We provide accurate and publicly available data from all school sectors so each family can decide what school is the best fit for their child.

Yes! Our site is available in English, Arabic, Haitian Creole, Chinese, Portugues, Somali, Spanish, and Vietnamese. You can select your language preference at the top right of the screen.

You can sign up for our newsletter by submitting this form.

Our newsletter provides parents, families and community partners with information to help them navigate the school registration process, including school registration tips and resources, upcoming school preview dates, school-related deadlines and events, local education news, and more. We will never share or sell your information. 

Depending on the season, our newsletter comes out between once a week and once a month.

You can find information about transportation for students attending Boston Public Schools (BPS) here.

Other schools (charter, private) may have other transportation options. Check with individual schools for more information.

Excellence for All (EFA) is a Boston Public Schools (BPS) initiative that expands access to rigorous and enriching 21st-century learning experiences. Students participate in the STEM Program (coding, robotics, and 3D Printing coursework), the Scholars Program (exam school prep and executive function support), and World Languages coursework (Spanish, Mandarin, and French). Students in grades 4-6 also complete the EFA Capstone Project, where they research and propose solutions to global and community issues. At the end of each school year, EFA hosts the EFA Capstone Conference, where students present to their peers, teachers, and community partners.

You can find more information on EFA here.

Boston Public Schools — also commonly referred to as BPS — is the free public school district for the city of Boston. The majority of Boston’s school-aged children are enrolled at a BPS school. BPS schools serve students in grades K0 to K2 (ages 3 to 5 years old) through 12th grade and beyond.You can find more about enrolling your child in BPS on our resources page.

Boston Public Schools (BPS) has three exam schools that serve students in grades 7th through 12th: Boston Latin School (BLS), Boston Latin Academy (BLA), and the John D. O'Bryant (O’Bryant) School. Students currently enrolled in grades 6, 8 or 9 can apply and are admitted based on academic qualifications, including grades and performance on a district-identified assessment. 

You can find out more details about BPS exam schools on our Exam Schools page or by visiting the BPS Exam Schools page.

Charter schools are public schools that are not managed by BPS. Located across the city, Boston's charter schools serve approximately 11,000 students in all grades, are free to attend, and admit students through an open lottery. Entering the lottery does not mean that you must choose that school if you gain admission - it simply becomes another option to accept or decline. 

Boston charter schools allow you to enter the lottery for all schools through a single system. You can create a login and enter the lottery by clicking here. 

You can also learn more about charter schools here.

A parochial school is a private school that is managed by a church or religious organization. Students do not have to share the same or any religion to attend many of these schools. Boston has many parochial schools across the city, the majority of which are Catholic. Most parochial schools charge tuition, but many offer financial aid to families. You can learn more about parochial schools and how to apply on our resources page, or by visiting the Boston Catholic Schools Directory website.

An independent school is a private school not affiliated with a religious organization. Boston is home to over 30 non-Catholic private schools. Independent schools charge tuition, but many offer financial aid to families. You can learn more about independent schools and how to apply on our resources page or by visiting the American Independent Schools of New England (AISNE) website.

METCO (the Metropolitan Council for Educational Opportunity) is a program that began in 1966 during the Civil Rights era. METCO refers Boston students to more than 30 public school districts outside of Boston. Enrollment in the METCO program happens through an online lottery. To learn more about the METCO program, visit the METCO website and read through our How to Apply to METCO resource guide.

All Boston Public Schools (BPS) high schools are available to every student, no matter what part of the city you live in. Some high schools in BPS may require a special application or exam process. You can find out more about BPS high schools and their application/exam requirements here. 

Charter, parochial and private schools also are open to all residents. The Boston Charter School application can be found here.

When a family wishes to enroll in BPS, the Home-Based Assignment Program assigns each family a customized list of schools to choose from, based on where a family lives. You can go to Discover BPS to get your applicable school list.

In order to have the most choices, it is recommended that families register during the earliest possible deadline for BPS.

A family’s list includes every school located within a certain radius of a family’s home. The list includes at least two top performing BPS schools and at least four schools that are in the top half of district performance.

If the schools within the radius do not meet these qualifications, the home-base system includes the nearest high performing schools on a family’s list.

Families rank their school options, and then are assigned by a lottery. Visit BPS to learn more about Home-Based Assignment Program.

A BPS pathway is when a family at a certain elementary school is guaranteed a spot at a linked middle school or a K-8. A pathway helps students and families to know their future school assignments. A current list of BPS pathways can be found here.

The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is responsible for implementing laws and regulations for all Massachusetts public schools. This includes funding, curriculum, standardized tests, teacher licenses and evaluations, special education and more. DESE is also responsible for identifying and supporting low-performing schools and school districts. DESE is led by Commissioner Jeff Riley and the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (whose members are appointed by the Governor).

Private schools may require tuition. These include parochial and independent schools. Most of these schools also provide financial aid. If you are interested in applying, please contact each school’s admissions office.

We advise families to apply to as many different types of schools that might be a good fit for their family, including BPS, charter, parochial and independent options.  Please see “How to Choose a School”  for more advice. Remember: applying to a school does not mean that you must attend if you gain admission - it simply increases the number of options you have for your child to decline or accept.

Boston does not have a single registration process for all of its school options, so you need to register for each type of school based on their individual processes. This page offers an overview of the different registration processes for BPS, charter and private/independent schools.

Each of Boston’s different types of schools has different registration and application deadlines.

School communities have their own cultures and personalities. To best assess if a particular school culture is a fit for your family, nothing beats an in-person visit. Please see our school visit checklist to assist your planning on school visits.

Boston is home to many different schools with different governance. Each school sector has its own application process.

Please see “How to Apply.” If you still have specific questions, we recommend reaching out directly to the school.

Many schools offer financial aid when requiring tuition. However, each school has its own financial aid policy. Please use the “Apply Now” link on each school’s profile to find out more about their financial aid options, visit the school website directly, or call the school admissions office for support. School contact information can be found on each school page on Boston School Finder.

There are many resources available to help you choose a school for your child. This school visit checklist offers items to get you started.

An accountability system measures school and district performance. It helps schools improve the performance of all students, and helps communities and the state decide how to allocate resources. Accountability results answer two questions: How is the school doing? and What kind of support does the school need?

The Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education (DESE) collects data each year on schools to improve teaching and learning, as well as ensure that schools are meeting the standards set by the state. This data informs the accountability system, and gives information on how well schools are performing - how well it is teaching students based on the measures set by the state. This data is publicly available to anyone who wishes to find it, but can often be difficult to find and decipher.

Boston School Finder makes some data available on our school pages - use our search bar to search for Boston schools.

You can find out more about accountability by visiting the DESE Accountability site.

There are many measures of school quality, and there are many different ways that families prioritize what is important to them when choosing a school for their children. Our school visit checklist can help you prioritize what is right for you and your family, and what to look for in a school.

The proof of residency policy does not apply to homeless students and families. Contact the BPS Homeless Education Resource Network (617-635-8037) or visit a Welcome Center for assistance with registering your child. If you are staying in a shelter, bring a letter from the shelter staff stating that you are living there. For more information, please visit the BPS Residency Policy website.

Any child whose family lives in the City of Boston is guaranteed access to a free public education in the Boston Public Schools. No family will be denied access to school because of their immigration status. Undocumented immigrant families living with friends or relatives may be considered “homeless." For more information, please visit the BPS Residency Policy website.

The Re-Engagement Center (REC) is the only Boston Public Schools program that specifically supports people who have not completed their high school degree. A partnership between BPS and the PIC, the REC provides one central location in a caring environment for students to access the resources and counseling that they need to re-enroll in school and get back on track to graduation.

GED/ HISET    

If you would like to take the GED/HISET to get your high school equivalency, resources can be found it the links below:

• HiSET/GED Comparisons

• HISET Testing Center (BPS Site)

• Massachusetts Official HSE Test Centers

• Accommodations for Test Takers with Disabilities or Health-related Needs

Phoenix Charter Academy also operates three high schools across Massachusetts, geared towards students who would like to finish high school. The closest school to Boston is in Chelsea.

If your child has an IEP, and you are entering school for the first time, you have several options. If you wish to enroll your child in Boston Public Schools (BPS), a team will be assigned to you to help place your student in a school, according to their IEP needs. 

If you’d like to explore charter schools, you should talk to individual schools to discuss how they will be able to service the IEP. 

For additional information and guidance, visit our special education resource guide. 

All public schools are required to provide education to students regardless of the language they speak. If you do not speak English, your child will need an assessment to understand their needs prior to being assigned to a school. If needed, they will be placed in a program that supports their language and educational needs. Refer to our ELL (English Language Learners) resources to learn more.