Skip to content
ProPublica Donate
ProPublica Donate

Private Schools in
Massachusetts

  • White
  • Black
  • Hisp.
  • Asian Am.
  • Am. Ind. / Ala. Nat.
  • Haw. / Pac. Isl.
  • Multi.
  • Not spec.
Private Schools
Public Schools

Source: Private School Survey, Common Core of Data (2021–22)

Religious Orientation

Religious orientation reflects a school’s religious orientation or affiliation.

Religious Orientation Count
Nonsectarian 284
Roman Catholic 168
Christian 31
Jewish 20
Seventh-Day Adventist 12

School Type

School type reflects a private school’s classification, which can indicate specific approaches or academic focus.

Private Schools in Massachusetts

There are 545 private schools in Massachusetts that have responded to at least one of the past three Private School Surveys.

School Grades Religion Enrollment Mostly … Racial Difference* Teachers Founded Type
St. Johns Preparatory School 6th–12th Roman Catholic 1,446 White -1% 176 1907 Regular elementary or secondary
Buckingham Browne & Nichols School PK–12th Nonsectarian 1,407 White 51% 144 1973 Regular elementary or secondary
Phillips Academy 9th–12th Nonsectarian 1,187 White -18% 196 1778 Regular elementary or secondary
Central Catholic High School 9th–12th Roman Catholic 1,181 White 74% 83 1935 Regular elementary or secondary
Bishop Feehan 9th–12th Roman Catholic 1,093 White 21% 91 1961 Regular elementary or secondary
Xaverian Brothers High School 7th–12th Roman Catholic 955 White 8% 71 1963 Regular elementary or secondary
St. John’s High School 9th–12th Roman Catholic 872 White 31% 55 1898 Regular elementary or secondary
Austin Preparatory School 6th–12th Roman Catholic 775 White 0% 66 1961 Regular elementary or secondary
Malden Catholic High School 9th–12th Roman Catholic 762 White 31% 59 1932 Regular elementary or secondary
St. John Paul II Catholic Acad.-Regional Office PK–8th Roman Catholic 762 Black 15% 58 1904 Regular elementary or secondary
Thayer Academy 5th–12th Nonsectarian 709 White 2% 111 1877 Regular elementary or secondary
Archbishop Williams High School 7th–12th Roman Catholic 673 White 17% 57 1949 Regular elementary or secondary
Northfield Mount Hermon School 9th–12th Nonsectarian 645 White -30% 100 1879 Regular elementary or secondary
Catholic Memorial 7th–12th Roman Catholic 627 White 61% 50 1957 Regular elementary or secondary
Noble and Greenough School 7th–12th Nonsectarian 621 White -4% 121 1866 Regular elementary or secondary
Whitinsville Christian School PK–12th Calvinist 572 White 2% 49 1928 Regular elementary or secondary
Tabor Academy 9th–12th Nonsectarian 536 White -11% 80 1876 Regular elementary or secondary
The Park School KG–8th Nonsectarian 535 White 14% 36 1888 Regular elementary or secondary
Bishop Stang High School 9th–12th Roman Catholic 528 White -2% 36 1959 Regular elementary or secondary
St. Marys High School 6th–12th Roman Catholic 524 White 34% 45 1881 Regular elementary or secondary
The Williston Northampton School 7th–12th Nonsectarian 520 White -10% 62 1841 Regular elementary or secondary
International School of Boston PK–12th Nonsectarian 519 Asian American 39% 97 Special program emphasis
The Rivers School 6th–12th Nonsectarian 515 White 18% 91 1915 Regular elementary or secondary
Worcester Academy 6th–12th Nonsectarian 508 White 22% 82 1834 Regular elementary or secondary
Beaver Country Day School 6th–12th Nonsectarian 504 White 22% 100 Regular elementary or secondary

* About racial difference

School Districts in Massachusetts (304)

District Grades Private Schools Private School Students Racial Difference *
Boston School District PK–12th 53 8,614 38%
Worcester School District PK–12th 15 2,571 32%
Newton School District PK–12th 15 2,555 18%
Springfield School District PK–12th 12 1,345 49%
Cambridge School District PK–12th 12 2,863 36%
Fall River School District PK–12th 12 1,123 24%
Beverly School District PK–12th 11 1,887 4%
Brookline School District PK–12th 9 2,247 28%
Framingham School District PK–12th 9 575 21%
Holyoke School District PK–12th 8 594 55%
Lexington School District PK–12th 8 688 18%
Braintree School District PK–12th 8 1,818 -2%
Lowell School District PK–12th 7 959 29%
New Bedford School District PK–12th 7 765 27%
Barnstable School District PK–12th 7 1,145 22%
Hingham School District PK–12th 7 1,141 0%
Berkshire Hills School District PK–12th 6 399 8%
Northampton School District PK–12th 6 289 5%
Methuen School District PK–12th 6 734 2%
Milton School District PK–12th 6 878 -14%
Waltham School District PK–12th 5 874 47%
Fitchburg School District PK–12th 5 595 30%
Attleboro School District PK–12th 5 1,498 22%
Watertown School District PK–12th 5 553 20%
Needham School District PK–12th 5 522 10%

* About racial difference

About This Data

Where is this data from?

Most of the data we use comes from the National Center for Education Statistics’ Private School Universe Survey, which has aimed to gather information about U.S. private schools every other year since 1989. Because the regulation of private schools is handled differently by state, there is no comprehensive list of every private school in the country. The PSS attempts to approximate such a list using various sources, including state education departments, private school associations and religious organizations, and, in some areas, online yellow pages and local government offices.

What schools are included?

Why are private schools listed under public school districts?

What changes has ProPublica made?

More from Education

Read the latest education investigations from ProPublica.

Do you have information about private schools? Send us a tip.

Current site Current page