Massachusetts Secondary Schools

Massachusetts secondary schools have a lot to offer students. The state's schools provide a wide selection of team sports, academic coursework, classroom sizes and student clubs. Many schools have details on their websites so you can be fully informed about the school.

Boarding Schools

Boarding schools allow students to live and learn in a community. Due to their costly tuitions, boarding schools provide an array of academic and extracurricular programs that may not be available at students' local schools. Deerfield Academy has an extremely low teacher-to-student ratio of 1 to 5. Its athletic program includes alpine skiing and water polo. The Groton School also has the same teacher-to-student ratio as Deerfield and many sports to choose from. Both schools have a large percentage of students who attend Ivy League schools like Princeton.

Public Schools

Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education publishes report cards on the public schools in the state. The most recent report card measures changes in student achievement, enrollment size and other facts. Some of the highest performing secondary schools are located in the Acton-Boxborough, Acton and Advanced Math and Science Academy Charter School districts, which all received scores of "very high" in overall performance.

Private Schools

There are many private high schools that will fit the needs of just about any student. Most of the schools have no religious affiliation but some schools are religious. St. Mark's School is a coed Episcopal school in Worcester County. The Al-Noor Academy in Mansfield is a coed Muslim school that was founded in 2001. Each school has different features and programs. The Stoneleigh-Burnham School is an all-girls secular school that believes girls learn better when they are separated from boys. The F.L. Chamberlain School has clinical therapists on campus to support students with ADHD and learning disabilities. The school's mission is to offer as many therapy options as possible to help students reach their full potential.

Alternative Schools

Alternative schools are available throughout the state. The ABCD University High School in Boston lets students with a variety of challenges earn their diplomas. The schools offer a supportive environment for students who have been expelled, suspended or are otherwise facing difficulty in traditional schools.

Charter Schools

According to the Massachusetts Charter Public School Association, charter schools provide families with more choices and have to meet special standards created by the state. The association has an online charter school directory and information on forming a charter school. There are over 100 charter schools in the state. Many charter schools work with local schools so the kids can participate in extracurricular activities.