Top Rankings
New Bedford School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Massachusetts for:
Category
Attribute
Diversity
Most diverse schools (Top 1%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2025 school year, there are 3 public high schools serving 3,158 students in New Bedford School District. This district's average high testing ranking is 1/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public high schools in Massachusetts.
Public High Schools in New Bedford School District have an average math proficiency score of 12% (versus the Massachusetts public high school average of 44%), and reading proficiency score of 18% (versus the 52% statewide average).
Public High School in New Bedford School District have a Graduation Rate of 77%, which is less than the Massachusetts average of 90%.
The school with highest graduation rate is New Bedford High School, with 79% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in Massachusetts or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 70% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the Massachusetts public high school average of 48% (majority Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (MA)
# Schools
24 Schools
414 Schools
# Students
12,488 Students
327,892 Students
# Teachers
1,031 Teachers
27,777 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
12:1
12:1
District Rank
New Bedford School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 393 school districts in Massachusetts (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 75% has increased from 59% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#361 out of 397 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)

Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
21%
41%

Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
23%
44%

Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
21%
44%

Graduation Rate
75%
90%

Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.67
0.66
# American Indian Students
41 Students
846 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
n/a
# Asian Students
101 Students
23,209 Students
% Asian Students
1%
7%
# Hispanic Students
5,603 Students
82,718 Students
% Hispanic Students
45%
25%
# Black Students
1,758 Students
37,509 Students
% Black Students
14%
12%
# White Students
4,257 Students
168,963 Students
% White Students
34%
52%
# Hawaiian Students
6 Students
298 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
708 Students
13,053 Students
% of Two or more races Students
6%
4%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
539
972
# Students in K Grade:
1,011
1,564
# Students in 1st Grade:
1,048
1,660
# Students in 2nd Grade:
1,069
1,779
# Students in 3rd Grade:
1,031
1,764
# Students in 4th Grade:
990
1,783
# Students in 5th Grade:
950
2,733
# Students in 6th Grade:
895
5,100
# Students in 7th Grade:
929
8,799
# Students in 8th Grade:
915
12,237
# Students in 9th Grade:
793
73,757
# Students in 10th Grade:
855
73,439
# Students in 11th Grade:
797
71,886
# Students in 12th Grade:
666
68,770
# Ungraded Students:
-
1,649
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $21,581 in this school district is less than the state median of $23,845. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $21,977 is less than the state median of $24,602. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$270 MM
$21,850 MM

Spending
$275 MM
$22,544 MM

Revenue / Student
$21,581
$23,845

Spending / Student
$21,977
$24,602

Best New Bedford School District Public High Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Whaling City Junior/senior High School
(Math: <50% | Reading: ≤20% )
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
455 County Street
New Bedford, MA 02740
(508) 997-4511
New Bedford, MA 02740
(508) 997-4511
Grades: 6-12
| 179 students
Rank: #22.
New Bedford High School
(Math: 12% | Reading: 19%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
230 Hathaway Blvd
New Bedford, MA 02740
(508) 997-4511
New Bedford, MA 02740
(508) 997-4511
Grades: 9-12
| 2,893 students
Rank: #33.
Trinity Day Academy
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: ≤10%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
181 Hillman Street
New Bedford, MA 02740
(508) 997-4511
New Bedford, MA 02740
(508) 997-4511
Grades: 5-12
| 86 students
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