6 Boston Suburbs with The Best Public Schools
Is the strength of the school system one of your biggest concerns when it comes to purchasing a new home in the Boston suburbs? It’s certainly a factor which can have a big impact on your child’s future.
Fortunately, the Boston Metro area has lots of great options to choose from. Check out these neighborhoods first. There may be better school districts in the State itself, but you won’t find better in the Boston area!
Needham
Needham may seem a bit weaker than the other offerings on this list, but in truth the neighborhood has a lot going for it. With 13:1 student-teacher ratio and a 97% high school graduation rate parents can feel safe about placing their kids in this school district while enjoying everything else that makes Needham so livable.
By the numbers:
- Boston Magazine ranks Needham as the #22 school system in the State.
- Needham’s Greatschools ranking is 8 out of 10.
- US News & World Report ranks Needham High School at #16 in the State of Massachusetts, #324 in the nation.
Schools:
- Newman (K-5)
- Mitchell (K-5)
- Hillside (K-5)
- Elliot (K-5)
- Broadmeadow (K-5)
- High Rock (6-8)
- Pollard Middle (6-8)
- Needham High (9-12)
Brookline
Brookline is a great neighborhood to begin with, given its beautiful homes, stunning streets, convenient location and beautiful parks. It also boasts a low student-teacher ratio (11:1) and a 96% graduation rate with strong school rankings, making it a popular choice for families.
By the numbers:
- Boston Magazine ranks Brookline as the #20 school system in the State.
- Brookline’s Greatschools rating is a high 9/10.
- US News and World Report ranks Brookline High School at #22 in the state, and #404 in the nation.
Schools:
- Runkle School (K-8)
- Pierce (K-8)
- Lincoln (K-8)
- Lawrence (K-8)
- Heath (K-8)
- Driscoll (K-8)
- Devotion (K-8)
- Baker (K-8)
- Brookline High School (9-12)
Arlington
With its small-town feel and academic character, Arlington is perfect for families who feel most comfortable in an erudite environment. Its schools are as strong as you might expect. It has a 16:1 student teacher ratio and a 94% graduation rate.
By the numbers:
- Boston Magazine ranks Arlington as the #37 school district in the state.
- Arlington has a Greatschools ranking of 9/10.
- US News and World Report lists Arlington High as the #19 school in the state and #388 in the nation.
Schools:
- Thompson (K-5)
- Stratton (K-5)
- Pierce (K-5)
- Hardy (K-5)
- Cyrus E. Dallan (K-5)
- Brackett (K-5)
- Bishop (K-5)
- Ottosan Middle (6-8)
- Minutemen High (9-12)
- Arlington High (9-12)
Newton
Newton is an awesome neighborhood, but its school record is a bit mixed. Newton South High and Newton North High have vastly different US News and World Report rankings, for example (Newton Central was unrated). Still, the student-teacher ratio is outstanding at 11:1, and the district continues to enjoy high rankings as a whole, as well as a 96% graduation rate.
By the numbers:
- Boston Magazine ranks Newton as the #10 school district in the state.
- Newton’s Greatschools ranking is 8/10.
- US News & World Report ranks Newton South as #12 in the state and #256 in the country.
- US News and World Report ranks Newton North as #38 in the state and #856 in the country.
Schools:
- Angier (K-5)
- Bowen (K-5)
- Burr (K-5)
- Cabot (K-5)
- Countryside (K-5)
- Franklin (K-5)
- Horace Mann (K-5)
- Lincoln-Elliot (K-5)
- Mason-Rice (K-5)
- Memorial Spaulding (K-5)
- Pierce (K-5)
- Underwood (K-5)
- Ward (K-5)
- Williams (K-5)
- Zevlin (K-5)
- Bigelow (6-8)
- Brown (6-8)
- A. Day (6-8)
- Oak Hill (6-8)
- Newton Central (9-12)
- Newton North (9-12)
- Newton South (9-12)
Lexington
If you go by the numbers alone, Lexington stands out as the best school system in the Boston metro area. This beautiful suburban town is certainly ready to welcome you home, for it offers tons of other amenities for families as well. Here, the student-teacher ratio is 12:1 and the graduation rate is 96%.
By the numbers:
- Boston Magazine ranks Lexington as the #3 school district in the state.
- Lexington’s Greatschools ranking is 9 out of 10.
- US News and World Report ranks Lexington High School as #5 in the state and #194 in the nation.
Schools:
- Hastings (K-5)
- Herrington (K-5)
- Fiske (K-5)
- Joseph (K-5)
- Bridge (K-5)
- Bowman (K-5)
- Diamond Middle (6-8)
- Jonas Clarke Middle (6-8)
- Lexington High (9-12)
Choosing the Right School System
It’s easy to fixate on the numbers, but the numbers aren’t the whole story. You’ve got six strong neighborhood offerings to explore. Remember, each ranking website uses its own formulas for determining rankings and ratings, and many of these neighborhoods are neck-and-neck in terms of school quality. There are three more considerations a smart home buyer will take into account before making an offer on a house or condo.
The first is the other features of your neighborhood. If you hate the traffic, the commute, or the neighbors then great schools alone won’t be enough to keep you happy in your home.
The second is the home itself. That’s where your kids will be living, relaxing, and doing their homework. Don’t choose a home you hate, or that is out of your price range, for the sake of a school district.
Finally, you should take the time to explore the school itself. An artistic child who hates sports won’t thrive at a school who plasters sports team photos and trophies all over their website. Some schools may offer classes and programs that other schools don’t, or have a focus which will appeal to your children. For example, Devotion Elementary in Brookline has a strong focus on community service. Your child’s unique strengths and weaknesses may be what makes the 22nd best school in the state a better choice for him or her than the 3rd best school in the state. You might even try to get a tour of the school your child would be attending before making a final decision on a home…whether or not you feel you can develop a strong relationship with teachers and administrators matters, too.