Quincy Upper School headlines most-improved Boston public high schools

Quincy Upper School headlines most-improved Boston public high schoolsPhoto: Unsplash
Hoodline
Published on August 13, 2019

How do the public high schools in Boston stack up?

We analyzed newly released data from Niche.com, which incorporates comprehensive report cards, rankings and reviews to help you choose the right school, to find out how schools in your area are performing and which have made the biggest leaps over the past year.

Quincy Upper School's overall rating improved the most among its peers in Boston, rising from a C+ to a B, according to data from Niche.

For the 2019-2020 school year, the school, located at 152 Arlington St., enrolls 498 students. Quincy Upper School serves a diverse population: 52% of students identify as Asian, 21% identify as black and 20% identify as Hispanic. Niche gave the school mixed grades: B- on an A-D scale for academics, B for administration and C+ for clubs and activities.

The overall ranking comes from Niche's proprietary algorithms. A school's ranking might change due to many factors, including the relative rankings of similar schools and whether a school gained or lost peers due to openings or closings. Other numbers come from current public data from the U.S. government.

Academically, 44% of Quincy Upper School's students scored as proficient or above in math, and 45% did so in reading. That's compared to city averages of 63% in math and 79% in reading. The school's improved rating is notable since it serves a less-affluent population, with 64% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch.

It's not the only school that's climbed Niche's rankings this year. Margarita Muniz Academy saw its overall rating increase from a C to a C+. The school is located at 20 Child St. and is a bit smaller, currently serving 284 students, of whom 93% identify as Hispanic.

Niche gave Margarita Muniz Academy mixed grades: C on an A-D scale for academics, B+ for administration and C- for clubs and activities. Its latest math proficiency was at 57%, and reading proficiency was 77%.

While some public high schools are moving up the ranks, others are consistently top-rated overall, including:

  • Boston Latin School, with an overall rating of A+.
  • Boston Arts Academy, with a B rating overall.
  • Muriel S. Snowden International School, rated B- overall.

This story was created automatically using data from Niche.com, then reviewed by an editor before publication. Click here for more about how and why Hoodline is automating local news. Got thoughts about what we're doing? Go here to share your feedback.