FAQ - Page | Boston School Finder

What is your organization’s mission? How does it help me?

Does Boston School Finder rate schools?

No, Boston School Finder does not rate schools. Boston School Finder simply takes publicly available data, previously dispersed across a number of different sites or organizations, and centralizes it in one location so that it’s easy to find and use. We provide accurate and publicly available data from all school sectors so each family can decide what school is the best fit for their child.

Is your site translated into different languages?

How do I get more involved?

How can I follow you on social media?

How do I sign up for your newsletter? What type of information does your newsletter give and how often?

You can sign up for our newsletter by texting BSF to 345345, by submitting this form or by emailing contact@bostonschoolfinder.org.

Our newsletter provides parents, families and community partners with information to help them navigate the school registration process, including school registration tips and resources, upcoming school preview dates, school-related deadlines and events, local education news, and more. We will never share or sell your information.

Depending on the season, our newsletter comes out weekly to every other week.

Am I eligible for transportation?

For students attending Boston Public Schools (BPS):

Students in grades PreK-5 are assigned to a traditional yellow school bus if they live more than 1 mile from their school.
Students in grade 6 are assigned to a traditional yellow school bus if they live more than 1.5 miles from their school.
Students in grades 7 and 8 are issued a free T-pass if they live more than 1.5 miles from their school.
Students in grades 9-12 receive a free T-pass if they live more than 2 miles from their school.

You can find more transportation information about BPS here.

Other schools (charter, private) may have other transportation options. Check with individual schools for more information.

What is Advanced Work Class (AWC)?

Advanced Work Class (AWC) is an option in many Boston Public Schools (BPS). An accelerated or advanced academic curriculum is available in some BPS schools to students in grades 4-6. Students are accepted into AWC classes based on scores on a test called TerraNova (all students are given the TerraNova). Students in AWC are grouped together in classes. Some schools have transitioned to Excellence for All, allowing all students in grades 4-6 to have access to the AWC curriculum, regardless of their test score.

What is BPS?

What is an exam school and how do I apply?

Boston Public Schools (BPS) has three exam schools that serve students in grades 7th through 12th: Boston Latin School (BLS), Boston Latin Academy (BLA), and the John D. O'Bryant (O’Bryant) School. Students currently enrolled in grades 6, 8 or 9 can apply and are admitted based on academic qualifications, including grade point average and test scores on the ISEE (Independent School Entrance Exam), a national exam. Interested students can take the ISEE and submit the exam schools on their list of preferences when registering for BPS in January.

If you want to take the ISEE for entrance into the exam schools, it is given in the Fall of the previous enrollment year. For example, if you are going to be enrolling in 7th grade in 2020, the student must take the ISEE in the Fall of 2019.

You can find out more details about BPS exam schools on our resources page or by visiting the BPS Exam Schools page.

What is a public charter school and how do I apply?

Charter schools are public schools not affiliated with BPS. Located across the city, charter schools serve approximately 11,000 students in all grades, are free to attend, and admit students through an open lottery. Entering the lottery does not mean that you must choose that school if you gain admission - it simply becomes another option to accept or decline.

Boston charter schools allow you to enter the lottery for all schools (except Bridge Boston) through a single system. You can create a login and enter the lottery by clicking here.

You can also learn more about charter schools on our resources page.

What is a parochial school and how do I apply?

A parochial school is a private school affiliated with a church or religious organization. Boston has many parochial schools across the city, the majority of which are Catholic. Most parochial schools charge tuition, but many offer financial aid to families. You can learn more about parochial schools and how to apply on our resources page, or by visiting the Boston Catholic Schools Directory website.

What is an independent school and how do I apply?

What is METCO and how do I apply?

METCO (the Metropolitan Council for Educational Opportunity) is a program that began in 1966 during the Civil Rights era. METCO refers Boston students to more than 30 public school districts outside of Boston. Enrollment in the METCO program is by lottery online. Apply to the METCO Lottery here online. To learn more about the METCO program, visit the METCO website and read through our How to Apply to METCO resource guide.

What high schools in Boston are available to me?

All Boston Public Schools (BPS) high schools are available to every student, no matter what part of the city you live in. Some high schools in BPS may require a special application process. You can find out more about BPS high schools and their application/exam requirements here. BPS does use an address-based assignment system for grades K-8, so the BPS schools available to you will vary based on your address and any specialized services your family is eligible for. See our FAQ about Home-Based Assignment system to learn more.

Charter, parochial and private schools also are open to all residents. The Boston Charter School application can be found here.

How does the Home-Based Assignment (HBAP) system work in BPS?

When a family wishes to enroll in BPS, the Home-Based Assignment system assigns each family a customized list of schools to choose from, based on where a family lives. You can go to Discover BPS to get your applicable school list.

In order to have the most choices, it is recommended that families register during the earliest possible deadline for BPS.

A family’s list includes every school located within a one-mile radius of a family’s home. The list includes at least two top performing BPS schools and at least four schools that are in the top half of district performance.

If the schools within a one-mile radius do not meet these qualifications, the home-base system includes the nearest high performing schools on a family’s list.

Families rank their school options, and then are assigned by a lottery. Visit BPS to learn more about Home-Based Assignment System.

What is a BPS pathway? Where and when do I find out about pathways?

What is DESE?

The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is responsible for implementing laws and regulations for all Massachusetts public schools. This includes funding, curriculum, standardized tests, teacher licenses and evaluations, special education and more. DESE is also responsible for identifying and supporting low-performing schools and school districts. DESE is led by Commissioner Jeff Riley and the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (whose members are appointed by the Governor).

What types of school require tuition? Is there financial aid available?

What types of schools should I/my student apply to?

We advise families to apply to as many different types of schools that might be a good fit for their family, including BPS, charter, parochial and independent options. Please see “How to Choose a School” for more advice. Remember: applying to a school does not mean that you must attend if you gain admission - it simply increases the number of options you have for your child to decline or accept.

What are the deadlines I need to know for BPS/charter/parochial/private?

Boston does not have a single registration process for all of its school options, so you need to register for each type of school based on their individual processes. This one-pager offers an overview of the different registration processes for BPS, charter and private/independent schools.

Each of Boston’s different types of schools has different registration and application deadlines.

For the 2019-2020 school year, registration and application deadlines are as follows:

Boston Public Schools (BPS):

January 3 - February 1: K0 &K1 (Pre-K) and 6th, 7th and 9th grades. Visit DiscoverBPS to register your child.
February 11 - March 22: K2 (Kindergarten) and all other grades. Visit DiscoverBPS to register your child.

Boston Charter Lottery (except Bridge Boston):

February 28: All grades. Visit Boston Charter Public Schools to sign up.
February 27: Bridge Boston Charter School Lottery. Visit here to learn more and sign up.

Private & Independent: Check each school’s website for information on registration process and deadline. School website links can also be found at:

Do I need to visit a school?

Why can’t I apply to all the schools at once?

Who can help me with the application process? What resources are available?

For schools that require tuition payments, is there financial aid available? How do I apply?

Many schools offer financial aid when requiring tuition. However, each school has its own financial aid policy. Please use the “Apply Now” link on each school’s profile to find out more about their financial aid options, visit the school website directly, or call the school admissions office for support. School contact information can be found on each school page on Boston School Finder.

What are some things I should consider when choosing a school for my child?

How else does Boston School Finder partner with organizations?

Our dedicated team of Parent Ambassadors works closely with community partners across the city to provide resources and information directly to the students, parents and families that they serve. By setting up a table in your office or at an event, our Parent Ambassadors can equip your families with information on their school options and the registration process, and help them to pre-register or register for school on-site. If you’d like to coordinate a tabling opportunity with one of our Parent Ambassadors, please contact Shellina at parentambassadors@bostonschoolfinder.org.

How can I support the families I work with in choosing a school? Do you have resources for me?

We are always looking for support from community partners to spread the word about Boston School Finder and to share school registration resources with the students, parents and families that they serve. The one-pagers linked below (based on the age group(s) that you serve) offer information on how we can partner with you to support your families. Please contact Boston School Finder at contact@bostonschoolfinder.org if you are interested in learning more.

Here are some resources that might give you a start.

What does accountability for schools mean? Why does it matter?

An accountability system measures school and district performance. It helps schools improve the performance of all students, and helps communities and the state decide how to allocate resources. Accountability results answer two questions: How is the school doing? and What kind of support does the school need?

The Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education (DESE) collects data each year on schools to improve teaching and learning, as well as ensure that schools are meeting the standards set by the state. This data informs the accountability system, and gives information on how well schools are performing - how well it is teaching students based on the measures set by the state. This data is publicly available to anyone who wishes to find it, but can often be difficult to find and decipher.

Boston School Finder makes some data available on our school pages - use our search bar to search for Boston schools.

You can find out more about accountability by visiting the DESE Accountability site.

What are other measures of school quality I should look for?

I do not have a permanent address in Boston. Can I register my child for school?

I am undocumented. Can I still register my child for school?

Any child whose family lives in the City of Boston is guaranteed access to a free public education in the Boston Public Schools. No family will be denied access to school because of their immigration status. Undocumented immigrant families living with friends or relatives may be considered “homeless." For more information, please read this document from BPS: Suggestions and resources for supported students who may be undocumented or visit the BPS Residency Policy website.

I did not finish high school. Does Boston School Finder have any resources for me so I can get a high school diploma?

The Re-Engagement Center (REC) is the only Boston Public Schools program that specifically supports people who have not completed their high school degree. A partnership between BPS and the PIC, the REC provides one central location in a caring environment for students to access the resources and counseling that they need to re-enroll in school and get back on track to graduation.

GED/ HISET

If you would like to take the GED/HISET to get your high school equivalency, resources can be found it the links below:

Phoenix Charter Academy also operates three high schools across Massachusetts, geared towards students who would like to finish high school. The closest school to Boston is in Chelsea.

My child needs special education services - what do I need to do to enroll my student?

If your child has an IEP, and you are entering school for the first time, you have several options. If you wish to enroll your child in Boston Public Schools (BPS), a team will be assigned to you to help place your student in a school, according to their IEP needs.

If you’d like to explore charter schools, you should talk to individual schools to discuss how they will be able to service the IEP.

For additional information and guidance, visit our special education resource guide.

We speak a language besides English at home. What do I need to do to enroll my student?

Frequently Asked Questions