Boston Public Schools serves 44,756 students across 109 schools in Massachusetts's largest city. The district operates with a student-teacher ratio of 10.6:1, supported by 4,311 teachers and per-pupil spending of $33,854, which exceeds the state average of $23,007 by approximately 47 percent.
Academic performance metrics indicate significant gaps relative to state benchmarks. Math proficiency stands at 28.0 percent compared to the state average of 41.8 percent, while reading proficiency is 29.0 percent against a state average of 43.3 percent. The graduation rate of 79.7 percent falls notably below the state average of 89.4 percent. Chronic absenteeism affects 25.8 percent of the student population.
The district serves a predominantly disadvantaged student base. Economically disadvantaged students comprise 68.3 percent of enrollment, while 33.6 percent are English learners and 24.2 percent have identified disabilities. Racial composition reflects the city's diversity: 44.8 percent Hispanic, 28.9 percent Black, 14.2 percent White, and 8.0 percent Asian.
Despite elevated per-pupil spending, Boston's academic outcomes remain below state standards across multiple measures. The combination of high poverty rates, significant English learner populations, and substantial special education enrollment suggests the district faces substantial resource allocation challenges in closing achievement gaps and improving attendance patterns.
This summary was generated by AI from public data sources. Last updated May 4, 2026.
This data is aggregated from state and federal public datasets. While we believe it is accurate, we always recommend confirming it on the corresponding state or federal site. See Data Notes for more.
Total Students
44,756
Schools
109
Per-Pupil Spending
$33,854
Data Sources: NCES Common Core of Data, NCES F-33 Finance Survey, EDFacts
Federal Data Year: 2024-25
State Data Year: 2024-25
Note: Some data may be unavailable for certain districts or years. Proficiency rates reflect state-specific assessment standards.
Math Proficiency
28.0%
Staff counts are Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) from NCES 2024-25 data.
MCAS Performance Levels:
SGP compares a student's growth to academically similar peers statewide.
Source: Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), 2024-25 School Year