Massachusetts Snapshot
1,855
Public Schools in Massachusetts
145
Colleges in Massachusetts
63.6%
Avg Completion Rate
How Massachusetts compares
Massachusetts
63.60%
National Average
56.52%
Massachusetts's avg completion rate is 12.5% higher than the national average.
Massachusetts Education Laws
Compulsory attendance, homeschool regulation, school choice programs, and per-pupil spending for Massachusetts — verified against ECS, HSLDA, Ballotpedia, and NCES.
Compulsory Ages
10 years of required schooling (national avg 11.0)
Kindergarten
Entry age: 5 by Sep 1
Homeschool Regulation
Approval, testing, and curriculum oversight
School Choice
No statewide private-school choice program
Per-Pupil Spending
36% above national avg ($15,305)
Student-Teacher Ratio
13% below national avg (14.5)
Compulsory Education in Massachusetts
Massachusetts requires school attendance from age 6 through age 16 — a total of 10 years of required schooling. Kindergarten attendance is optional in Massachusetts, though most districts offer K with entry age 5 by Sep 1.
Homeschool Laws in Massachusetts
Massachusetts falls in the high regulation tier (HSLDA classification). Approval, testing, and curriculum oversight.
- Notice to authorities required: Yes
- Standardized testing required: Yes
- Specific subjects mandated: Yes
Prior approval from superintendent required
School Choice in Massachusetts
Massachusetts does not currently operate a statewide private-school choice program (voucher, ESA, or tax credit scholarship).
School Spending & Class Size in Massachusetts
Massachusetts spends $20,857 per K-12 student annually (NCES, FY2022). 36% above national avg ($15,305). The average student-to-teacher ratio is 12.6:1. 13% below national avg (14.5).
How Massachusetts compares to other states
Quick policy snapshot for every other state. Click any state to view its full policy page.
| State | Ages | Homeschool | Choice | Per-Pupil $ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 6–17 | Low | Universal | $11,314 |
| Alaska | 7–16 | None | None | $20,403 |
| Arizona | 6–16 | Low | Universal | $10,003 |
| Arkansas | 5–18 | Low | Universal | $12,520 |
| California | 6–18 | Moderate | None | $17,078 |
| Colorado | 6–17 | Low | None | $13,572 |
| Connecticut | 5–18 | Low | None | $22,769 |
| Delaware | 5–16 | Moderate | Limited | $17,277 |
| District of Columbia | 5–18 | Moderate | Limited | $28,100 |
| Florida | 6–16 | Moderate | Universal | $11,763 |
| Georgia | 6–16 | Moderate | Limited | $12,350 |
| Hawaii | 6–18 | Moderate | None | $16,597 |
| Idaho | 7–16 | None | Universal | $9,557 |
| Illinois | 7–17 | None | None | $17,889 |
| Indiana | 7–18 | Low | Universal | $11,413 |
| Iowa | 6–16 | Moderate | Universal | $13,549 |
| Kansas | 7–18 | None | Limited | $13,768 |
| Kentucky | 6–18 | Low | None | $12,702 |
| Louisiana | 7–18 | Moderate | Universal | $12,477 |
| Maine | 7–17 | Moderate | None | $18,046 |
| Maryland | 5–18 | Moderate | Limited | $16,018 |
| Michigan | 6–16 | None | None | $13,715 |
| Minnesota | 7–17 | Moderate | Limited | $14,873 |
| Mississippi | 6–17 | Low | Universal | $10,030 |
| Missouri | 7–17 | None | None | $12,915 |
| Montana | 7–16 | Moderate | Limited | $13,432 |
| Nebraska | 6–18 | Moderate | None | $14,950 |
| Nevada | 7–18 | Moderate | Limited | $12,646 |
| New Hampshire | 6–18 | Moderate | Universal | $19,753 |
| New Jersey | 6–16 | None | Limited | $23,046 |
| New Mexico | 5–18 | Moderate | None | $12,915 |
| New York | 6–16 | High | None | $28,760 |
| North Carolina | 7–16 | Moderate | Universal | $10,413 |
| North Dakota | 7–16 | Moderate | None | $16,385 |
| Ohio | 6–18 | Moderate | Limited | $15,204 |
| Oklahoma | 5–18 | None | Universal | $10,430 |
| Oregon | 7–18 | Moderate | None | $14,521 |
| Pennsylvania | 8–17 | High | Limited | $19,188 |
| Rhode Island | 5–18 | High | Limited | $20,546 |
| South Carolina | 5–17 | Moderate | Limited | $12,516 |
| South Dakota | 6–18 | Low | None | $12,649 |
| Tennessee | 6–18 | Moderate | Universal | $11,554 |
| Texas | 6–18 | None | Universal | $11,675 |
| Utah | 6–18 | Moderate | Limited | $9,140 |
| Vermont | 6–16 | High | Limited | $21,656 |
| Virginia | 5–18 | Moderate | Limited | $14,202 |
| Washington | 8–18 | Moderate | None | $15,420 |
| West Virginia | 6–17 | Moderate | Universal | $14,308 |
| Wisconsin | 6–18 | Low | Limited | $14,914 |
| Wyoming | 7–16 | Low | Universal | $18,763 |
More about Massachusetts
Explore other state-specific topics to get the full picture of living in Massachusetts.
FAQ
How many ZIP codes does Mubboo track in Massachusetts?
Mubboo tracks 539 ZIP codes in Massachusetts via the U.S. Census ZCTA basemap. Use the search box above to look up data for any specific ZIP.
How does Massachusetts's average college completion rate compare nationally?
Massachusetts's average college completion rate is higher the national average. See the "How Massachusetts compares" callout above for the precise side-by-side comparison.
How fresh is this data?
Mubboo refreshes each data source on its native cadence — HUD Fair Market Rents annually (October), Tax Foundation tables annually, and federal datasets per their published schedules. Each page caches for 24 hours via ISR. See our methodology page for details.
Data sources: NCES Common Core of Data, College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education). Mubboo refreshes each source on its native cadence (HUD annually, Tax Foundation annually, etc.). See our full methodology →