Massachusetts public high school

New Bedford High School

New Bedford school district

C-

overall grade

Ranks #286 of 335 Massachusetts high schools.

Overall rank

#286

of 335 schools

Average SAT

1056

MA average 1091

Graduation rate

82%

MA average 92%

Plan on college

45%

MA average 72%

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.

New Bedford is a historic coastal city in southeastern Massachusetts on Buzzards Bay, once known as the world's whaling capital in the 19th century. Today, it remains one of the nation's top commercial fishing ports and is home to the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park, which preserves its maritime heritage. The city is the largest in the South Coast region and features a diverse, working-class population with strong Portuguese and Cape Verdean communities.

How it compares

What stands out

Best of its categories: AP results, in the bottom 42% statewide. 66% of AP exams in 2025 scored 3 or higher, vs 66% at the typical MA high school.
Area to watch: College plans rank in the bottom 4% statewide.
Trend: Chronic absence has fallen from 69.7% in 2022 to 42.1% in 2025.
Trend: The average SAT score is up 67 points since 2022 (989 to 1056).

Where it stands among 335 Massachusetts high schools

Bottom of MATop of MA

Overall

Below averagebottom 15% · #286

SAT

Below averagebottom 28% · #244

ELA MCAS

Well below averagebottom 8% · #305

Math MCAS

Well below averagebottom 9% · #301

AP results

Averagebottom 42% · #186

Graduation

Below averagebottom 13% · #289

College plans

Well below averagebottom 4% · #321

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 score1056in 2025 · MA avg 1091

35 points below the MA avg

By section (out of 800)

Reading & writingAbout average

This school

549

MA avg

556

MathWorse than average

This school

507

MA avg

535

123 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 Arts19%in 2026 · state 45%

26 points below the state

Math15%in 2026 · state 44%

29 points below the state

Biologyhigh school science, 2026Worse than average

This school

10%

State

38%

Detailed scores

Average scaled score, ELA · Math · Science (500+ = meeting expectations)478 · 478 · 470

Achievement percentile vs. MA schools (ELA · Math)10th · 11th

Student growth percentile, ELA · Math (50 = typical growth)43 · 40

AP & advanced courses

AP exams scored 3+66%in 2025 · MA avg 66%

Same as the MA avg

Score breakdown

Score 5: 8%Score 4: 24%Score 3: 34%Score 2: 22%Score 1: 12%

405 students took 891 AP exams. A 3 or higher can earn college credit.

Completed an advanced coursegrades 11–12Worse than average

This school

45%

MA avg

71.4%

9th graders passing all coursesWorse than average

This school

43.8%

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

12.1%

MA avg

4.3%

4.3% of the class were still in school after four years.

Plan to attend college45%in 2025 · state 72%

27 points below the state

Graduates' plans · 644 graduates

Work

34.8%

2-year public college

22.8%

4-year public college

16%

Other / unknown

13.3%

4-year private college

6.2%

Students

Who attends

Hispanic/Latino

48.2%

White

28.8%

Black/African American

16.7%

Multi-Race

5.4%

Asian

0.5%

American Indian/Alaska Native

0.3%

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0.1%

47.1% female · 52.7% male · 0.2% nonbinary

Student needs

High needslow income, English learner, or disabilityHigher than average

This school

83.3%

MA avg

50.7%

Low incomeHigher than average

This school

76.7%

MA avg

39%

English learnersHigher than average

This school

24.6%

MA avg

8.6%

Teachers

Licensed teachersAbout average

This school

95.8%

MA avg

95.9%

Experienced teachersWorse than average

This school

55.2%

MA avg

73.4%

Teaching in their fieldAbout average

This school

80.7%

MA avg

84.6%

Students per teacher

13.5MA avg 11.8

212.7 full-time-equivalent teachers

Attendance & safety

Attendance rateWorse than average

This school

88.2%

MA avg

92.3%

Chronically absentmissed 10%+ of daysWorse than average

This school

42.1%

MA avg

22.3%

19.9 days absent per student (MA avg 13.2) · Suspensions: 7.3% out-of-school, 0% in-school (MA high school avg 4% / 2.2%)

About New Bedford

Bristol County · South Coast & Cape Cod

Avg single-family home value$425KMA median $588K

Avg property tax bill$4,653MA median $6,814

Tax rate$11.00 per $1,000MA median $12.40

Income per person$22,531MA median $47,872

Local kids in public school93.8%

Town bond ratingAA-

Free cash reserves1.9% of budget

New Bedford district profile · What could you afford here? · All towns A–Z

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.

Chicopee High

Chicopee

C-

#289 in MASAT 1086Graduation 83%91% match

South High Community

Worcester

#238 in MASAT 1126Graduation 86%89% match

North High

Worcester

C-

#303 in MASAT 989Graduation 83%89% match

Revere High

Revere

#278 in MASAT 1056Graduation 80%87% match