School Basics | Choosing a School | Eligibility
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Answers to Common Questions About Schools

SCHOOL BASICS

What schools are available in the Boston area?

All families have the option of sending their children to public school in the city or town in which they live, at no charge, from the age of approximately five years to the age of approximately eighteen, or whenever the child finishes high school. (See the Eligibility section.)

In addition, families have the option of sending their children to parochial and independent schools, which carry tuition fees ranging from approximately $2000 to $25,000 per year. The Center can provide you with a list of sample tuition figures for local schools.

Private schools and programs are also available for children who are too young for regular school, as well as for children who have completed high school. (See the Eligibility section.)

What are the differences among public, parochial, and independent schools?

A key difference among the three school options is cost.

Public schools - Public schools are provided at no charge by each city and town in the area.

Parochial or religious schools - Parochial schools are supported by religious institutions. They charge a tuition fee, but the amount varies, depending on the degree of subsidy provided by the religious institution with which the school is affiliated. Some of the schools supported by the Catholic Church carry tuition fees as low as approximately $2000, while others are significantly higher.

Independent schools - Independent schools are privately supported. Their tuition fees tend to be higher, ranging from approximately $4000 to $22,000 per year for day students who commute from home, higher for schools that specialize in children with special needs and for schools where students live on campus (boarding students) rather than commuting from home (day students).

When does the school year begin and end?

In Massachusetts, the school year runs from early September through approximately mid-June. Specific dates are set by each town, for public schools, and by each individual school, for private and parochial schools. September starting dates are available by contacting the web site or the office of the Superintendent of Schools for the specific town. The Center has a list of school-related web sites.

What hours will my child be in school?

Exact hours vary by school, but the school day typically starts at about 8:00 AM and ends between 2:00 and 3:00 PM. Some schools have shorter hours for kindergarten students.

How will my child get to school?

For public schools, most towns have elementary and middle schools that are in the local neighborhood, so that children can walk to school. In Cambridge and Boston, and in other cases where children may attend schools at a distance, the town provides bus transportation at no charge. For private and parochial schools, parents generally provide transportation, but car pooling and/or shuttle buses are sometimes available, and towns may offer bus transportation to private schools and other services within the town.

How can I arrange for care for my child during the hours after school ends?

Lists of after-school and other school-age child care programs in Massachusetts are available on the web at http://www.eec.state.ma.us/.