Policies on how students are assigned to schools within a school district are set by the school committee. To find out more about the school assignment policies in your home district, you should contact your district's parent information center or superintendent's office.
Charter schools are public schools that operate independently of local school districts. Any Massachusetts resident student may apply to a Commonwealth charter school, but students who resident with in the charter school's region receive enrollment preference.
For information about a particular charter school, or to apply for admission, contact the school directly. Most schools conduct their enrollment lotteries during January or February, so early applications are advised. For more information about the charter schools, please contact charterschools@doe.mass.edu or 781-338-3227.
In Region: Applicants may receive preference for admission based on residency address.
Out of Region: Applicants will not receive preference admission based on residency address.
The inter-district school choice program allows a parent to enroll his or her child in a school district that is not the child's home district. If you are interested in having your child attend school in another district under this program and that district is accepting students, you should contact the superintendent's office in the district in which you want to enroll your child. For additional general information about the inter-district school choice program, contact the Department's school finance office at 781-338-6585.
In Grades 9–12, students may participate in vocational technical education programs in preparation for a future career. There are different admission rules, depending on the school. For further details, please contact the superintendent's office of the district where you wish to enroll your child. For more information go to the Vocational Technical Education website, or contact CCTE@mass.gov.
In Region: Applicants may receive preference for admission based on residency address.
Out of Region: Applicants will not receive preference admission based on residency address.
Massachusetts supports several school options that are available to students statewide. These include: Commonwealth Virtual Schools, in which all instruction is delivered online; Agricultural high schools provide a unique academic and agricultural vocational experience. Recovery High Schools, where students can earn a high school diploma and are supported in their recovery from alcohol and drug use; and Massachusetts Academy of Math and Science, a free, co-educational, public school of excellence that enrolls approximately 100 academically accelerated 11th and 12th grade students from Massachusetts.
Approved Special Education Schools are private day or residential school programs approved by the Department to provide special education services to students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). Students are typically referred by the responsible public school district after the IEP team determines that the student requires more intensive or specialized services than the district is able to provide. These school programs are monitored by the Office of Approved Special Education Schools (OASES). For more information go to the Approved Special Education Schools website.
For information about a particular charter school, or to apply for admission, contact the school directly. Most schools conduct their enrollment lotteries during January or February, so early applications are advised. For more information about the charter schools, please contact charterschools@doe.mass.edu or 781-338-3227.
Massachusetts supports several school options that are available to students statewide. These include: Commonwealth Virtual Schools, in which all instruction is delivered online; Agricultural high schools provide a unique academic and agricultural vocational experience. Recovery High Schools, where students can earn a high school diploma and are supported in their recovery from alcohol and drug use; and Massachusetts Academy of Math and Science, a free, co-educational, public school of excellence that enrolls approximately 100 academically accelerated 11th and 12th grade students from Massachusetts.
Private Schools are independent schools that are privately funded and approved by the local school committee in order to enroll children of compulsory school age (6-16). The Department doesn't not have oversight on these schools. Private schools charge tuition, although some may offer scholarships and other financial assistance.
Agricultural high schools provide a unique academic and agricultural vocational experience.
A Commonwealth of Massachusetts Virtual School (CMVS) is a public school where teachers primarily teach from a remote location using the Internet or other computer-based methods and students are not required to be located at the physical premises of the school. Any student in the state can apply for admission to a virtual school. For information about a particular CMVS, or to apply for admission, contact the school directly. For general information about virtual schools, please contact ldelorenzo@doe.mass.edu or 781-338-3227.
Massachusetts Academy of Math and Science, a free, co-educational, public school of excellence that enrolls approximately 100 academically accelerated 11th and 12th grade students from Massachusetts.
Recovery High School programs provide a structured plan of recovery for students diagnosed with substance use disorder or dependency and offer the student a comprehensive four-year high school education.
Pathway/Program allows to search schools that support work-based learning and other career development education activities for high school students.
The METCO program provides opportunities for students in the Boston or Springfield districts to attend school in one of the suburban school districts. Students are assigned to a district and are provided with transportation and a range of services to help them adjust to their new district. For more information and to apply for the Boston area program, parents should contact Metco, Inc. For more information and to apply for the Springfield area program, contact the Springfield Public Schools.