SAT is the average total score of test takers. Graduation is the four-year rate. College is the share of graduates who report plans to attend a 2- or 4-year college.
Chelsea is a small, densely populated city located directly across the Mystic River from Boston, just 2 miles northeast of downtown. One of the most diverse communities in Massachusetts, Chelsea has a rich immigrant history dating back to the 19th century and today is home to a predominantly Latino population. The city underwent a major urban renewal in recent decades after becoming the first Massachusetts municipality to be placed in state receivership in 1991, leading to significant improvements in its schools and infrastructure.
How it compares
What stands out
+Best of its categories: College plans, in the bottom 36% statewide. 73% of graduates plan to attend a 2- or 4-year college, vs 72% statewide.
!Area to watch: ELA MCAS ranks in the bottom 6% statewide.
↑Trend: The average SAT score is up 95 points since 2022 (946 to 1041).
↑Trend: The share of graduates planning on college has risen from 63.3% in 2022 to 72.5% in 2025.
Where it stands among 335 Massachusetts high schools
Bottom of MATop of MA
Overall
Below averagebottom 16% · #284
SAT
Below averagebottom 24% · #256
ELA MCAS
Well below averagebottom 6% · #312
Math MCAS
Well below averagebottom 8% · #303
AP results
Below averagebottom 15% · #273
Graduation
Below averagebottom 13% · #292
College plans
Below averagebottom 36% · #216
The overall rank weighs SAT (30%), MCAS (25%), AP results (20%), and graduates' college plans (25%). Categories rank only the schools with data for them. How we rank
SAT
Average total score1041in 2025 · MA avg 1091
50 points below the MA avg
By section (out of 800)
Reading & writingWorse than average
This school
523
MA avg
556
MathWorse than average
This school
518
MA avg
535
96 students took the SAT.
"MA avg" is the average of the 335 high schools we rank. Only students who choose to take the SAT are counted.
MCAS (10th grade)
Share of 10th graders meeting or exceeding expectations. Statewide results dropped after 2024, when passing the MCAS stopped being a graduation requirement. There was no test in 2020.
English Language Arts16%in 2026 · state 45%
29 points below the state
Math15%in 2026 · state 44%
29 points below the state
Biologyhigh school science, 2026Worse than average
This school
11%
State
38%
Detailed scores
Average scaled score, ELA · Math · Science (500+ = meeting expectations)479 · 479 · 472
Achievement percentile vs. MA schools (ELA · Math)11th · 13th
Student growth percentile, ELA · Math (50 = typical growth)46 · 48
346 students took 596 AP exams. A 3 or higher can earn college credit.
Completed an advanced coursegrades 11–12About average
This school
65%
MA avg
71.4%
9th graders passing all coursesWorse than average
This school
42.9%
MA avg
82.6%
After high school
Four-year graduation rate82%in 2024 · MA avg 92%
9 points below the MA avg
Dropped outof the four-year classWorse than average
This school
9.2%
MA avg
4.3%
6.1% of the class were still in school after four years.
Plan to attend college73%in 2025 · state 72%
Same as the state
Graduates' plans · 328 graduates
2-year public college
38.7%
Work
21.3%
4-year public college
17.4%
4-year private college
15.2%
Other post-secondary
2.7%
Military
1.5%
2-year private college
1.2%
Apprenticeship
0.9%
Other / unknown
0.9%
Students
Who attends
Hispanic/Latino
88.6%
White
5.2%
Black/African American
4.4%
Asian
0.9%
Multi-Race
0.8%
American Indian/Alaska Native
0.1%
45.5% female · 54.3% male · 0.2% nonbinary
Student needs
High needslow income, English learner, or disabilityHigher than average
This school
86.2%
MA avg
50.7%
Low incomeHigher than average
This school
75.9%
MA avg
39%
English learnersHigher than average
This school
31.8%
MA avg
8.6%
Teachers
Licensed teachersAbout average
This school
98.7%
MA avg
95.9%
Experienced teachersWorse than average
This school
42.8%
MA avg
73.4%
Teaching in their fieldAbout average
This school
78.6%
MA avg
84.6%
Students per teacher
13.1MA avg 11.8
125.7 full-time-equivalent teachers
Attendance & safety
Attendance rateWorse than average
This school
84.6%
MA avg
92.3%
Chronically absentmissed 10%+ of daysWorse than average
This school
48.1%
MA avg
22.3%
25.7 days absent per student (MA avg 13.2) · Suspensions: 5.5% out-of-school, 5.8% in-school (MA high school avg 4% / 2.2%) · 0.2% school-based arrests
Town figures are FY2026 averages for single-family homes from the Massachusetts Department of Revenue. Assessed values usually run below recent sale prices. "MA median" is the median of the state's 351 towns.
Similar schools elsewhere
Schools with similar test results, demographics, and college plans.