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ENROLLMENT TRENDS · MASSACHUSETTS

Massachusetts schools in decline

Massachusetts public schools with the largest enrollment loss from 2017-18 to 2024-25.

Schools in this report
50
steepest declines in state
Largest drop
-100%
John F Kennedy Elementary
Range
-100% to -33%
2017-18 → 2024-25
TOP 50 MA PUBLIC SCHOOLS BY ENROLLMENT LOSS · 2017-18 → 2024-25
SchoolCityDistrict2017-182024-25% change ↑
John F Kennedy ElementaryBLACKSTONEBlackstone-Millville2960-100%
A F MaloneyBLACKSTONEBlackstone-Millville2990-100%
City on a Hill Charter Public SchoolROXBURYCity on a Hill Charter Public School28378-72.4%
CenterPEABODYPeabody394123-68.8%
Melvin H. King South End AcademyBOSTONBoston355125-64.8%
Forest Park MiddleSPRINGFIELDSpringfield712282-60.4%
Frederick Pilot Middle SchoolDORCHESTERBoston494215-56.5%
Hawlemont RegionalCHARLEMONTHawlemont16371-56.4%
Alice A MacomberWESTPORTWestport373163-56.3%
Cohasset High SchoolCOHASSETCohasset846381-55.0%
Early Childhood CenterLYNNLynn299135-54.8%
Webster SchoolEVERETTEverett738351-52.4%
AtkinsonNORTH ANDOVERNorth Andover568274-51.8%
The Bromfield High SchoolHARVARDHarvard655328-49.9%
Amesbury MiddleAMESBURYAmesbury677364-46.2%
Northbridge MiddleWHITINSVILLENorthbridge723394-45.5%
CrosbyPITTSFIELDPittsfield446249-44.2%
Perley ElementaryGEORGETOWNGeorgetown12168-43.8%
Condon K-8 SchoolSOUTH BOSTONBoston905518-42.8%
Smith AcademyHATFIELDHatfield189109-42.3%
Bourne Middle SchoolBOURNEBourne683394-42.3%
Wales ElementaryWALESWales16193-42.2%
Palmer HighPALMERPalmer713416-41.7%
Margaret C EllsSPRINGFIELDSpringfield240141-41.3%
Wareham MiddleWAREHAMWareham726432-40.5%
John WardNEWTON CENTRENewton309186-39.8%
BridgeLEXINGTONLexington572345-39.7%
Chatham Elementary SchoolCHATHAMMonomoy Regional School District242146-39.7%
Excel High SchoolSOUTH BOSTONBoston491301-38.7%
L F DewingTEWKSBURYTewksbury606372-38.6%
Winn BrookBELMONTBelmont490304-38.0%
Mason-RiceNEWTON CENTRENewton512321-37.3%
Mario Umana AcademyEAST BOSTONBoston1,004634-36.9%
John AshleyWEST SPRINGFIELDWest Springfield234148-36.8%
Mary Lee BurbankBELMONTBelmont374238-36.4%
Donald RossBRAINTREEBraintree285182-36.1%
FiskeLEXINGTONLexington502324-35.5%
TeaticketEAST FALMOUTHFalmouth365236-35.3%
Van Sickle AcademySPRINGFIELDSpringfield403262-35.0%
Lincoln StreetWORCESTERWorcester270177-34.4%
Millis MiddleMILLISMillis407267-34.4%
Andrew B. Cushman SchoolDARTMOUTHDartmouth14092-34.3%
George F. WillettNORWOODNorwood389256-34.2%
Head StartWORCESTERWorcester529349-34.0%
West Zone Early Learning CenterJAMAICA PLAINBoston11576-33.9%
Ellen R HathawayNEW BEDFORDNew Bedford303201-33.7%
Pioneer Valley RegionalNORTHFIELDPioneer Valley360239-33.6%
Orleans ElementaryORLEANSOrleans223149-33.2%
Georgetown High SchoolGEORGETOWNGeorgetown401268-33.2%
Trotter Elementary SchoolDORCHESTERBoston525352-33.0%
50 of 50 rows · Brick-and-mortar only. Virtual, online, and cyber schools excluded. Schools must have had ≥100 students in 2017-18 and be open in both school years.↓ Download schools-in-decline-by-state-ma.csv

How this list was built

Every Massachusetts public school that reported total enrollment in both the NCES SY 2017-18 and SY 2024-25 vintages was scored on percent change in enrollment. Schools needed at least 100 students in 2017-18 to qualify, and must have been open in both school years. Schools that closed entirely are tracked in the separate school closures report. Virtual academies, cyber charters, and online schools are excluded so the list reflects neighborhood schools that families have moved away from rather than program-design changes.

Enrollment loss is not a verdict on a school. Schools shrink because catchment populations shrink, because new schools open nearby, because a magnet program elsewhere pulls transfers, because districts redraw boundaries, or because the building physically aged out. Use this list as a starting point for understanding which Massachusetts schools are operating with substantially fewer students than they were seven years ago.

Source data

NCES Common Core of Data, EDGE_ADMINDATA_PUBLICSCH MapServer, vintages 2017-18 and 2024-25. Refreshed yearly when NCES publishes a new admin-data release. School names, slugs, and current district affiliation come from the 2024-25 snapshot.

HOW TO CITE THIS REPORT

Anyone is welcome to cite or republish these findings. Please credit allk12.com and link back to this page so readers can verify the underlying data.

allk12 (2026). "Massachusetts schools in decline: enrollment loss 2017–2024." Retrieved from https://allk12.com/reports/in-decline/massachusetts
For interview requests or custom data pulls: [email protected]
DOWNLOAD THE DATA
↓ schools-in-decline-by-state-ma.csv
RELATED
Massachusetts schools on the rise · All Massachusetts schools · Best Massachusetts schools · All states
DATA NOTICE

allk12 is independent and not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by NCES, the US Census Bureau, any state education agency or assessment program, or any other government agency. Source data is compiled from public records and provided "as is," without warranty of accuracy or completeness. You rely on it, and any analysis derived from it, at your own risk. See the full disclaimer.