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Average

#1184 of 1,793 schools in MA

New Bedford High

High School · New Bedford

230 Hathaway Blvd, New Bedford, MA 02740

Enrollment

2,893

Student-Teacher

14.4:1

Score

5.5

Grades

9th – 12th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Massachusetts schools

#1,184 of 1,793

In New Bedford

#10 of 27

public schools

In district

#9 of 24

New Bedford

Academic growth

8.7 / 10

Excellent

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New Bedford High

5.5/10

High School in New Bedford · grades 9th – 12th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Keith Middle School

6.8/10

0.2 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Elizabeth Carter Brooks

6.9/10

0.4 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About New Bedford High

New Bedford High is a public high school in New Bedford, MA, part of New Bedford. New Bedford High serves approximately 2,893 students, and covers grades 9th-12th, and has a 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio. New Bedford High has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.5 out of 10 and ranks #1,184 of 1,793 schools in MA.

Structured state assessment records for New Bedford High show 28% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 42% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

What's said publicly about New Bedford High

Sources: Wikipedia

Synthesized from public, attributable sources. Updated April 2026.

New Bedford High School (NBHS) is a public high school located at 230 Hathaway Boulevard in the West End of New Bedford, Massachusetts 2 . Established in 1827, the school serves students from New Bedford as well as those from Acushnet, Massachusetts 2 .
Sources (1)
  1. en.wikipedia.org
Generated by AI from public sources. Every claim is grounded in a cited source. Report inaccuracy
How it comparesOn par with district
  • This school 5.5 · Average
  • District avg 5.3
  • MA avg 6.4

What Parents Should Know

New Bedford High is a large school: 2,893 students. Size usually brings more course choices and activities than a smaller school can staff, but kids can also blend into the crowd. Ask how the school keeps students known and supported.

60% of students at New Bedford High were chronically absent in the 2022-23 school year, above the national average. Chronic absenteeism means missing 15 or more school days, and at high rates it drags on classroom pacing for everyone. Ask what the school does to help families get kids to class consistently.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress8.7Excellent25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data17
Annual Change-0.35 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendStable
Academics5.1Average25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency14% (2025 MCAS)
Reading/ELA Proficiency25% (2025 MCAS)
Math vs. State Avg-31.9 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-27 pts
Overall Proficiency20% (2025 MCAS, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)17% (model expectation from 2025 MCAS)
vs. Expected+2.9 pts
Adjusted Percentile33th
College Readiness5.6Average30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
4-Year Graduation Rate90%
AP Participation11.6%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment1.7Needs Improvement20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio14.4:1
Per-Pupil Spending$23,022
Chronic Absenteeism59.7%

New Bedford High — Students at New Bedford High score 20% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 17%).

How we calculate scores →

Test Scores MA MCAS (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 28.1% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
52.0% (multi-year state average, 2019-2025)
ELA Proficiency 41.9% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
59.6% (multi-year state average, 2019-2025)

Based on 44 test records from MA state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
42%
ELA
47%
2010
Math
43%
ELA
58%
2011
Math
43%
ELA
65%
2012
Math
47%
ELA
75%
2013
Math
41%
ELA
67%
2014
Math
43%
ELA
69%
2015
Math
39%
ELA
67%
2016
Math
47%
ELA
64%
2017
Math
46%
ELA
62%
2018
Math
21%
ELA
25%
2019
Math
21%
ELA
25%
2020*
Math
13%
ELA
25%
2021*
Math
13%
ELA
25%
2022
Math
12%
ELA
19%
2023
Math
15%
ELA
26%
2024
Math
16%
ELA
25%
2025
Math
14%
ELA
25%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 8.7/10.

How New Bedford High Compares

See how New Bedford High performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
5.5/10
34th percentile in MA
Academic
5.1/10
Average
Growth
8.7/10
Excellent
Environment
1.7/10
Needs Improvement
AP Courses
4
State avg: 2.9
Sports
17
9 boys' · 8 girls'
Advanced STEM
4/5
Subjects offered

Funding & Resources

Teaching Staff
14:1 student-teacher ratio
201 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
59.7%

Programs & Offerings

AP/IB Programs4 AP courses offered
11.6% participation·State avg: 2.9 AP courses·CRDC 2021-22
Athletics17sports offered
9 boys'·8 girls'·34 teams (incl. JV)·CRDC 2021-22
Advanced STEM Courses4 of 5 advanced subjects offered
Algebra II, Advanced Math, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics·CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

230 Hathaway Blvd, New Bedford, MA 02740

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering New Bedford High may also want to explore other high schools in the area. Trinity Day Academy (rated 5.7/10, 0.6 miles away), with a very similar rating. Another option is Whaling City Junior/Senior High School (rated 4.6/10, 1.0 miles away), with a comparable rating. Additionally, Global Learning Charter Public School (rated 4.6/10, 1.4 miles away), with a comparable rating. For more schools in New Bedford, see our New Bedford schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.5 mi
School Distance Rating
Keith Middle School New Bedford 0.2 mi 6.8
Elizabeth Carter Brooks New Bedford 0.4 mi 6.9
Thomas R Rodman New Bedford 0.6 mi 3.2
Trinity Day Academy New Bedford 0.6 mi 5.7
Ellen R Hathaway New Bedford 0.8 mi 4.8
Carlos Pacheco New Bedford 0.9 mi 4.5
John Avery Parker New Bedford 0.7 mi 4.4
HOLY FAMILY HOLY NAME SCHOOL New Bedford 0.8 mi 5.8
Sgt Wm H Carney Academy New Bedford 0.9 mi 3.1
Whaling City Junior/Senior High School New Bedford 1.0 mi 4.6
Hayden/McFadden New Bedford 1.0 mi 4.9
OUR SISTERS' SCHOOL New Bedford 1.2 mi 7.9
Betsey B Winslow New Bedford 1.3 mi 4.4
NAZARENE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY New Bedford 1.1 mi 6.3
NATIVITY PREPARATORY SCHOOL NEW BEDFORD New Bedford 1.2 mi 7.0
James M. Quinn School Dartmouth 1.4 mi 7.4
ST JAMES - ST JOHN SCHOOL New Bedford 1.4 mi 5.1
Global Learning Charter Public School New Bedford 1.4 mi 4.6
BISHOP STANG HIGH SCHOOL North Dartmouth 1.3 mi 4.3
Dartmouth Middle North Dartmouth 1.5 mi 8.0

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 02740 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$54,563

Median Home Value

$303,400

Median Rent

$1,052/mo

Population

46,336

College Educated

18.1%

Homeownership

37.9%

Avg Commute

24.1 min

Poverty Rate

19.6%

Median Age

37

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Brockton High Brockton, MA 5.6
B M C Durfee High Fall River, MA 5.3
Waltham Sr High Waltham, MA 5.7
Gr New Bedford Vocational Technical New Bedford, MA 5.9
Weymouth High School Weymouth, MA 6.0
Attleboro High Attleboro, MA 6.2

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about New Bedford High

What grades does New Bedford High serve?

New Bedford High serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend New Bedford High?

New Bedford High has an enrollment of approximately 2,893 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at New Bedford High?

The student-teacher ratio at New Bedford High is 14.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does New Bedford High rank in MA?

New Bedford High ranks #1,184 of 1,793 schools in MA.

What is New Bedford High's MySchoolScout rating?

New Bedford High has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.5 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at New Bedford High?

Based on loaded state assessment records, New Bedford High has 28% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 42% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is New Bedford High a charter school?

No, New Bedford High is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is New Bedford High a Title I school?

No, New Bedford High is not currently a Title I school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
55 Somewhat Walkable
Transit Score
29 Some Transit
Bike Score
52 Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
2,893
Student-Teacher Ratio
14.4:1
Teachers (FTE)
201
Type
regular
Setting
Midsize Suburb
County
Bristol County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
59.7%
4-Year Graduation
90.0%

District

New Bedford
District Enrollment
12,488
Schools in District
24
Per-Pupil Spending
$23,022
District Rank
#9 of 24

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