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 10 public preschools serving 4,148 students in New Bedford School District. This district's average pre testing ranking is 2/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public pre schools in Massachusetts.
Public Preschools in New Bedford School District have an average math proficiency score of 25% (versus the Massachusetts public pre school average of 34%), and reading proficiency score of 24% (versus the 37% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 67% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the Massachusetts public preschool average of 53% (majority Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (MA)
# Schools
24 Schools
567 Schools
# Students
12,488 Students
205,303 Students
# Teachers
1,031 Teachers
17,796 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
0.68
# American Indian Students
41 Students
495 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
n/a
# Asian Students
101 Students
11,779 Students
% Asian Students
1%
6%
# Hispanic Students
5,603 Students
61,622 Students
% Hispanic Students
45%
30%
# Black Students
1,758 Students
25,280 Students
% Black Students
14%
12%
# White Students
4,257 Students
95,698 Students
% White Students
34%
47%
# Hawaiian Students
6 Students
173 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
708 Students
10,168 Students
% of Two or more races Students
6%
5%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
539
31,316
# Students in K Grade:
1,011
33,369
# Students in 1st Grade:
1,048
30,795
# Students in 2nd Grade:
1,069
28,908
# Students in 3rd Grade:
1,031
23,512
# Students in 4th Grade:
990
22,524
# Students in 5th Grade:
950
18,693
# Students in 6th Grade:
895
7,489
# Students in 7th Grade:
929
3,111
# Students in 8th Grade:
915
3,363
# Students in 9th Grade:
793
606
# Students in 10th Grade:
855
525
# Students in 11th Grade:
797
528
# Students in 12th Grade:
666
485
# Ungraded Students:
-
79
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 Preschools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
William H Taylor
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
71 Portland Street
New Bedford, MA 02744
(508) 997-4511
New Bedford, MA 02744
(508) 997-4511
Grades: PK-5
| 261 students
Rank: #22.
Casimir Pulaski
(Math: 44% | Reading: 41%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
1097 Braley Rd
New Bedford, MA 02745
(508) 997-4511
New Bedford, MA 02745
(508) 997-4511
Grades: PK-5
| 560 students
Rank: #33.
Ellen R Hathaway
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
256 Court Street
New Bedford, MA 02740
(508) 997-4511
New Bedford, MA 02740
(508) 997-4511
Grades: PK-5
| 245 students
Rank: #44.
Jireh Swift
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
2203 Acushnet Avenue
New Bedford, MA 02745
(508) 997-4511
New Bedford, MA 02745
(508) 997-4511
Grades: PK-5
| 221 students
Rank: #55.
Elwyn G Campbell
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 15-19%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
145 Essex Street
New Bedford, MA 02745
(508) 997-4511
New Bedford, MA 02745
(508) 997-4511
Grades: PK-5
| 278 students
Rank: #66.
John Avery Parker
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
705 County Street
New Bedford, MA 02740
(508) 997-4511
New Bedford, MA 02740
(508) 997-4511
Grades: PK-5
| 264 students
Rank: #77.
Sgt Wm H Carney Academy
(Math: 20% | Reading: 26%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
247 Elm Street
New Bedford, MA 02740
(508) 997-4511
New Bedford, MA 02740
(508) 997-4511
Grades: PK-5
| 613 students
Rank: #88.
Irwin M. Jacobs Elementary School
(Math: 6-9% | Reading: 15-19%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
47 Emery Street
New Bedford, MA 02744
(508) 997-4511
New Bedford, MA 02744
(508) 997-4511
Grades: PK-5
| 383 students
Rank: #99.
Alfred J Gomes
(Math: 13% | Reading: 11%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
286 S Second Street
New Bedford, MA 02740
(508) 997-4511
New Bedford, MA 02740
(508) 997-4511
Grades: PK-5
| 610 students
Rank: #1010.
Hayden/mcfadden
(Math: 10% | Reading: 11%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
361 Cedar Grove
New Bedford, MA 02746
(508) 997-4511
New Bedford, MA 02746
(508) 997-4511
Grades: PK-5
| 713 students
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