High Schools

Boston Public Schools offers a number of different high school options, each of which includes a wide variety of programs. Most of our high schools serve grades 7 through 12, and all BPS high schools are city-wide, which means that every student living in Boston is eligible to apply for any BPS high school. Please note, however, that some schools do have special admission requirements. Below is more information on how to find schools that are a good fit for you and how to apply to those schools.

Where can I learn about each of these schools?

For information about BPS Secondary Schools, also known as High Schools, please visit the GUIDE TO HIGH SCHOOL CHOICE This is an excellent tool to learn about the types of offerings available to students. Or, to learn more about your options:

Go to DiscoverBPS.org and sort your school options by the programs and school features that best fit your needs.
Explore each school’s website - BPS School Directory.
Visit each school in person or remotely during School Preview Times, or contact each school directly by phone or email to schedule other tour times.

How many schools should I list on my registration form?

More is better. At a minimum, we suggest you list five schools in the order in which you would like to attend, but we encourage you to rank as many schools as possible. Listing more schools does not harm your chances of getting into your first choice school.

Our assignment process works to provide your child with a seat at the school of your highest ranking, if there is an available seat.

However, selections are done in random order, so it is important to list all the schools for which you are interested, in case there are no open seats at your top choices.

What does “Additional Application Requirements” or “Special Admissions” mean?

Certain schools require students to submit an extra application to be considered for admission. These applications can sometimes include an essay, teacher recommendations, and/or an audition. Contact the school directly to learn about their application process, or explore more information DiscoverBPS.org. Note: I f you do not submit a separate application to these schools, you will not be considered for admission.

Schools requiring special application processes include:

Boston Arts Academy
Boston Day and Evening Academy
Boston Green Academy
Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers
Fenway High School
New Mission High School
Madison Park Technical Vocational High School

The Special Application Schools for the 2025-2026 School Year contains the specific requirements for each school and their application deadlines for the 2024-2025 school year. The second page contains the link to the school's online application.

How is the choice process different for schools with additional requirements?

Although each of these schools has its own application, families must also rank them on their BPS School Choice form, along with their other choices in the order of preference.

Boston Public Schools assignment process works to provide students and families with their highest ranked option to which seats are available; however, because we cannot guarantee a specific assignment, it will always benefit you to rank your choices honestly.

It is important to note that there is no advantage to ranking special admissions schools last. It will actually put at risk any possible assignment to a school at which you were accepted.

This is because our system aims to place students in their highest ranked schools – and then confirm their acceptance to any special admission schools - before finalizing the assignment.

What about the exam schools?

What about charter schools?

There are three in-district charter schools that serve students in grades 9-12: Boston Day and Evening Academy, Boston Green Academy, and Edwards M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers. These schools are shown on your choice list but also require an additional application to each school.

There are additional charter schools in and around Boston that will not appear on your choice list. These schools are not part of Boston Public Schools and have their own enrollment processes. If you are interested in one of these schools, please visit applybostoncharterschools.org.

When will I be informed of my assigned school?

Students entering grade 9 that participate in the priority registration period and submit their school choices by the beginning of February will receive their school assignment by the end of March. Students that are entering grades 7, 10, 11, and 12 or students that miss out on the priority registration period for grade 9 will be part of the second registration period and will find out their school assignment by the end of May.

Please note that if your child requires a full inclusion or substantially separate placement, some of this information may not apply. Please contact the Office of Special Education at 617 635-8599 if you have any questions.