Best Public Schools in Worcester, MA

Worcester, Massachusetts has about 50 schools serving roughly 26,800 students: 36 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, 9 high schools, and 1 alternative school. Most students attend the Worcester district, whose schools share a rating of 304 of 351 statewide (13th percentile, 1 star); charter schools are rated separately. One important gap in the data: free/reduced-lunch percentages are blank for every school, so family-income context is not available here.

The city has striking differences between its schools. Flagg Street is the top elementary standout, ranking 153 of 899 (83rd percentile, 4 stars) with 55.2% ELA and 67.73% math proficiency — well above the state's 40.03% and 41.11%. West Tatnuck, Lake View, and Worcester Arts Magnet School also beat state averages in most subjects. At the other end, Woodland Academy (860 of 899) has 8.3% ELA, and Quinsigamond (850 of 899) has 11.98% ELA. All four middle schools fall below state averages in every subject.

At the high school level, Abby Kelley Foster Charter Public School is the academic standout, with 10th-grade ELA, math, science, and biology all above state averages and 100% graduation. Worcester Technical High (96.7% graduation, 1.6% dropout) and University Pk Campus School (95.1% graduation, 0.0% dropout) also finish strong despite low MCAS scores. North High and Claremont Academy post the lowest graduation and highest dropout rates. Spending and class size show no simple relationship to results: Flagg Street has one of the highest student/teacher ratios (18.2) yet ranks highest, while Worcester Dual Language Magnet School spends the most ($20,444) and ranks 807 of 899.