Top Rankings
New Bedford School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Massachusetts for:
Category
Attribute
Diversity
Most diverse schools (Top 1%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2025-26 school year, there are 10 public preschools serving 4,148 students in New Bedford School District. This district's average pre testing ranking is 2/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public pre schools in Massachusetts.
Public Preschools in New Bedford School District have an average math proficiency score of 27% (versus the Massachusetts public pre school average of 36%), and reading proficiency score of 24% (versus the 37% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 67% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the Massachusetts public preschool average of 53% (majority Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (MA)
# Schools
24 Schools
566 Schools
# Students
12,488 Students
205,222 Students
# Teachers
1,031 Teachers
17,788 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
12:1
12:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
New Bedford School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 393 school districts in Massachusetts (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 80% has increased from 59% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#359 out of 395 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
22%
42%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
23%
44%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
21%
44%
Graduation Rate
80%
90%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.67
0.68
% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
1%
6%
% Hispanic
45%
30%
% Black
14%
12%
% White
34%
47%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
6%
5%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $21,581 in this school district is less than the state median of $23,847. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $21,977 is less than the state median of $24,604. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$270 MM
$21,850 MM
Spending
$275 MM
$22,544 MM
Revenue / Student
$21,581
$23,847
Spending / Student
$21,977
$24,604
Best New Bedford School District Public Preschools (2025-26)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
William H Taylor
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
71 Portland Street
New Bedford, MA 02744
(508) 997-4511
New Bedford, MA 02744
(508) 997-4511
Gr: PK-5 | 261 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 42%
Rank: #22.
Casimir Pulaski
(Math: 48% | Reading: 41%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
1097 Braley Rd
New Bedford, MA 02745
(508) 997-4511
New Bedford, MA 02745
(508) 997-4511
Gr: PK-5 | 560 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 37%
Rank: #33.
Elwyn G Campbell
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 15-19%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
145 Essex Street
New Bedford, MA 02745
(508) 997-4511
New Bedford, MA 02745
(508) 997-4511
Gr: PK-5 | 278 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 57%
Rank: #44.
Ellen R Hathaway
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
256 Court Street
New Bedford, MA 02740
(508) 997-4511
New Bedford, MA 02740
(508) 997-4511
Gr: PK-5 | 245 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 65%
Rank: #5 - 65. - 6.
Jireh Swift
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
2203 Acushnet Avenue
New Bedford, MA 02745
(508) 997-4511
New Bedford, MA 02745
(508) 997-4511
Gr: PK-5 | 221 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 48%
Rank: #5 - 65. - 6.
John Avery Parker
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
705 County Street
New Bedford, MA 02740
(508) 997-4511
New Bedford, MA 02740
(508) 997-4511
Gr: PK-5 | 264 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 72%
Rank: #77.
Sgt Wm H Carney Academy
(Math: 12% | Reading: 26%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
247 Elm Street
New Bedford, MA 02740
(508) 997-4511
New Bedford, MA 02740
(508) 997-4511
Gr: PK-5 | 613 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 72%
Rank: #88.
Alfred J Gomes
(Math: 22% | Reading: 11%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
286 S Second Street
New Bedford, MA 02740
(508) 997-4511
New Bedford, MA 02740
(508) 997-4511
Gr: PK-5 | 610 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 88%
Rank: #99.
Hayden/mcfadden
(Math: 16% | Reading: 11%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
361 Cedar Grove
New Bedford, MA 02746
(508) 997-4511
New Bedford, MA 02746
(508) 997-4511
Gr: PK-5 | 713 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 84%
Rank: #1010.
Irwin M. Jacobs Elementary School
(Math: 6-9% | Reading: 15-19%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
47 Emery Street
New Bedford, MA 02744
(508) 997-4511
New Bedford, MA 02744
(508) 997-4511
Gr: PK-5 | 383 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 75%
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