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Whaling City Junior/Senior High School

Q: Is Whaling City Junior/Senior High School a good school?

Whaling City Junior/Senior High School ranks in the bottom 0.0% of Massachusetts high schools.

Q: How many students attend Whaling City Junior/Senior High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 200 students attended Whaling City Junior/Senior High School.

Q: What is the racial makeup of Whaling City Junior/Senior High School?

Students at Whaling City Junior/Senior High School are 51% Hispanic, 24% White, 16% African American, 10% Two or more races.

Public Grades 6-12

353^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 353 Massachusetts High Schools

Better than 0% of Massachusetts high schools

Summary

Whaling City Junior/Senior High School is a small public school at 455 County Street in New Bedford, MA, serving about 200 students in grades 6–12 as part of the New Bedford district. In 2025–2026 it ranked 353 of 353 Massachusetts schools (0th percentile, 0 stars), and this is not a one-year result: it ranked 350 of 354 in 2014–2015 and 344 of 344 in 2012–2013. The district itself ranks 327 of 351 districts statewide (7th percentile), so Whaling City is an outlier even within a low-performing district, and it performs below district averages on graduation, dropout, and most test scores.

Recent outcomes are the clearest differentiators. The 2024–2025 graduation rate is 50.6% with a 29.9% dropout rate, compared with 79.9% and 13.7% for the district, 84.8% and 11.4% at New Bedford High, and 93–100% graduation at most nearby high schools. In 2025–2026 MCAS Next Generation results, the school reports 0% proficient in English Language Arts, 0% in Mathematics, and 10% in Science; the state reports about 40–41% in ELA and Math, while Apponequet Regional High and Old Rochester Regional High score around 50–60%. Whaling City also spent $27,576 per student in 2020–2021—the highest among nearby schools—with a mid-range student-teacher ratio of 11.4 in 2024–2025.

Because enrollment is only 200 students, year-to-year rates are volatile. The graduation rate moved from 22.2% in 2020–2021 to 70.8% in 2022–2023, 36.9% in 2023–2024, and 50.6% in 2024–2025, while dropout rates went from 59.3% to 18.8% to 16.9% to 29.9%. The most recent graduation rate improved over the prior year, but the dropout rate worsened, so no consistent positive trend is evident. High per-student spending alongside the lowest outcomes in the region raises questions about resource allocation and student needs, though the data do not establish cause. Spending figures end at 2020–2021, test scores are 2025–2026, graduation and dropout data are 2024–2025, and free/reduced-price lunch percentages were not reported.

200

Students ?

11.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

$29,157

Per pupil spending ?

88.0%

Directly certified for free meals (2024-25) ?

All students in Massachusetts receive free school meals.

455 County Street
New Bedford, MA 02740

(508) 997-4511

District: New Bedford

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

51.0%

White:

23.5%

African American:

15.5%

See top rated Massachusetts high schools

Compare Whaling City Junior/Senior High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — <1st percentile in 2013 → <1st in 2026

Strengths

✓Small classes — about 11 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Massachusetts average (2% vs 40% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (<1st percentile)

!Mathematics scores 41 pts below the Massachusetts average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school2%

District avg18%

Massachusetts avg40%

353^rd of 353

Massachusetts public high schools ?

Bottom 1%

See the entire ranking list of Massachusetts High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

2^nd of 2High Schools in the New Bedford

327^th of 351New Bedford among Massachusetts districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2026	3.1	353 of 353	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2015	0.2	350 of 354	1.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2013	0.0	344 of 344	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2026	6.0	260 of 260	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2026	4.2	340 of 340	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2026	3.2	344 of 344	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)<1st percentile~ school

Male (2026)<1st percentile~ school

Hispanic (2026)<1st percentile~ school

By subject vs Massachusetts (2025-2026) ?

Science10%-31 vs state

English Language Arts0%-40 vs state

Mathematics0%-41 vs state

Biology0%-38 vs state

★

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Schools Near Whaling City Junior/Senior High School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				MCAS Next Generation English Language Arts (2026)						MCAS Next Generation Mathematics (2026)						MCAS Next Generation Science (2026)				MCAS Next Generation Biology (2026)	MCAS Next Generation Physics (2026)	MCAS Next Generation Civics (2026)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Directly certified (2024-25)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	MCAS Next Generation English Language Arts 5th Grade	MCAS Next Generation English Language Arts 6th Grade	MCAS Next Generation English Language Arts 7th Grade	MCAS Next Generation English Language Arts 8th Grade	MCAS Next Generation English Language Arts 10th Grade	MCAS Next Generation English Language Arts All Grades	MCAS Next Generation Mathematics 5th Grade	MCAS Next Generation Mathematics 6th Grade	MCAS Next Generation Mathematics 7th Grade	MCAS Next Generation Mathematics 8th Grade	MCAS Next Generation Mathematics 10th Grade	MCAS Next Generation Mathematics All Grades	MCAS Next Generation Science 5th Grade	MCAS Next Generation Science 8th Grade	MCAS Next Generation Science 10th Grade	MCAS Next Generation Science All Grades	MCAS Next Generation Biology End of Course	MCAS Next Generation Physics End of Course	MCAS Next Generation Civics 8th Grade	Total
Whaling City Junior/Senior High School	Public	6-12	455 County Street	New Bedford	02740	Bristol County	New Bedford	No	No	No	Yes	(508) 997-4511	200	17	11.4	88.0%	47 (23.5%)	31 (15.5%)	102 (51.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (10.0%)	3.1	353^rd of 353 public high schools	0.0%					(n/a)					0.0	0.0				0.0	0.0	0.0		10.0		10.0	0.0			$29,157
New Bedford High	Public	9-12	230 Hathaway Blvd	New Bedford	02740	Bristol County	New Bedford	No	No	No	Yes	(508) 997-4511	2,878	213	13.5	78.8%	826 (28.7%)	479 (16.6%)	1,386 (48.2%)	15 (0.5%)	8 (0.3%)	3 (0.1%)	155 (5.4%)	11.3	319^th of 353 public high schools	9.6%		12.6	315^th of 349 public high schools	9.7%	4					18.6						14.6				11.7		9.7			$23,307
Fairhaven High	Public	9-12	12 Huttleston Avenue	Fairhaven	02719	Bristol County	Fairhaven	No	No	No	No	(508) 979-4052	568	50	11.3	29.9%	462 (81.3%)	13 (2.3%)	56 (9.9%)	12 (2.1%)	3 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (3.9%)	45.7	190^th of 353 public high schools	46.2%		39.7	219^th of 349 public high schools	37.2%	29					41.8						43.0				33.9		31.4			$18,877
Global Learning Charter Public School	Public, Charter	5-12	101 Nye St.	New Bedford	02746	Bristol County	Global Learning Charter Public (District)	Yes	No	No	Yes	(508) 991-4105	508	48	10.5	72.0%	162 (31.9%)	69 (13.6%)	253 (49.8%)	5 (1.0%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (3.3%)	19.2	295^th of 353 public high schools	16.4%		30.1	247^th of 349 public high schools	29.2%	48	12.8	16.3	17.3	9.8	20.5	14.0	6.4	11.0	14.8	1.2	10.0	8.3	21.8	8.5	15.0	15.0	29.8		8.4	$19,283
Dartmouth High	Public	9-12	555 Bakerville Road	Dartmouth	02748	Bristol County	Dartmouth	No	No	No	No	(508) 961-2700	902	76	11.9	29.2%	713 (79.0%)	23 (2.5%)	70 (7.8%)	14 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.3%)	78 (8.6%)	54.8	147^th of 353 public high schools	58.4%		65.5	122^nd of 349 public high schools	65.0%	25					43.1						40.1				41.6		44.8			$20,403
Gr New Bedford Vocational Technical	Public	9-12	1121 Ashley Blvd	New Bedford	02745	Bristol County	Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical	No	No	No	Yes	(508) 998-3321	2,151	191	11.2	50.3%	1,113 (51.7%)	210 (9.8%)	674 (31.3%)	11 (0.5%)	4 (0.2%)	1 (0.0%)	137 (6.4%)	23	280^th of 353 public high schools	20.7%		25.5	263^rd of 349 public high schools	24.6%	17					25.4						26.1				22.1		22.2			$29,979
Westport Middle-High School	Public	5-12	400 Old County Road	Westport	02790	Bristol County	Westport	No	No	No	Yes	(508) 636-1050	889	78	11.4	33.6%	797 (89.7%)	9 (1.0%)	42 (4.7%)	7 (0.8%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	30 (3.4%)	56.9	141^st of 353 public high schools	60.1%		50.8	179^th of 349 public high schools	48.7%	38	26.1	23.3	32.6	33.6	47.5	29.0	24.8	19.5	42.0	27.8	43.0	29.0	48.2	40.0	45.4	44.1	39.4		31.3	$19,225
Old Rochester Regional High	Public	9-12	135 Marion Rd	Mattapoisett	02739	Plymouth County	Old Rochester	No	No	No	No	(508) 758-3745	643	51	12.5	21.5%	563 (87.6%)	22 (3.4%)	15 (2.3%)	10 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	32 (5.0%)	72.9	93^rd of 353 public high schools	73.7%		65.3	123^rd of 349 public high schools	64.8%	30					62.6						56.4				47.8		46.5			$22,778
Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical	Public	9-12	476 North Avenue	Rochester	02770	Plymouth County	Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical	No	No	No	Yes	(508) 763-8011	554	61	9.0	21.1%	491 (88.6%)	6 (1.1%)	20 (3.6%)	5 (0.9%)	3 (0.5%)	1 (0.2%)	22 (4.0%)	26.5	262^nd of 353 public high schools	25.8%		54.8	161^st of 349 public high schools	53.9%	101					30.8						30.3				20.9					$27,337
Diman Regional Vocational Technical High	Public	9-12	251 Stonehaven Rd	Fall River	02723	Bristol County	Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical	No	No	No	Yes	(508) 678-2891	1,463	142	10.2	43.5%	997 (68.1%)	66 (4.5%)	255 (17.4%)	39 (2.7%)	3 (0.2%)	1 (0.1%)	90 (6.2%)	32.2	235^th of 353 public high schools	33.4%		25.2	266^th of 349 public high schools	23.8%	31					36.7						30.2				18.4		37.7	7.1		$26,645

Frequently Asked Questions about Whaling City Junior/Senior High School

How many students attend Whaling City Junior/Senior High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 200 students attended Whaling City Junior/Senior High School.

Is Whaling City Junior/Senior High School a good school?

Whaling City Junior/Senior High School ranks in the bottom 0.0% of Massachusetts high schools.

What district is Whaling City Junior/Senior High School in?

New Bedford

What is the racial makeup of Whaling City Junior/Senior High School?

Students at Whaling City Junior/Senior High School are 51% Hispanic, 24% White, 16% African American, 10% Two or more races.

Rate Whaling City Junior/Senior High School!

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Latest Massachusetts data All new data »

2024–25 school spending dataNewNov 1, 2026

2020–21 through 2023–24 school spending data (updated)NewNov 1, 2026

2023–24 through 2024–25 teacher salary dataNewNov 1, 2026

2020–21 through 2022–23 teacher salary data (updated)NewNov 1, 2026

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.