Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives

New Bedford

Massachusetts · Public School District
25
Schools
12,522
Students
$23,947
Per-Pupil Spend
+67% nat'l
Free Lunch Rate
75.2%
Graduation Rate
-11.3pp vs nat'l
District Overview

New Bedford is a public school district in Massachusetts serving 12,522 students across 25 schools. It includes 19 elementary, 3 middle, 3 high schools. Its graduation rate of 75.2% is below the national average of 86.5%. Per-pupil spending of $23,947 is above average for a US public school district. Opportunity scores across its schools are moderate, with a district median of 48/100.

⇄ Compare with another district
All Schools (25)
Elementary Schools19 schools
Middle Schools3 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
Keith Middle School06–08870
Normandin Middle School06–081,051
Roosevelt Middle School06–08778
High Schools3 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
New Bedford High09–122,898
Trinity Day Academy05–1283
Whaling City Junior/Senior High School07–12135
District Finances
Per-Pupil Expenditure$23,947+67% nat'l avg
National avg $14,347
Revenue Sources
83%
State
82.7%
Local (property tax)
1.9%
Federal
15.4%

State funding accounts for 83% of the budget — this district relies more on state aid than local tax revenue.

Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey. District-level data.
District Snapshot
25
Schools
12,522
Students
Free Lunch
$24K
Per-Pupil
Graduation Rate75.2%
Opportunity Score48/100
Strengths & Considerations
High per-student investment
Spends $23,947 per pupil — 67% above the national average of $14,347.
Range of school options
With 25 schools, families have meaningful choice across programs and grade levels.
Below-average graduation rate
At 75.2%, graduation is 11.3 points below the national average of 86.5%.
Location
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in New Bedford?
New Bedford has 25 public schools, serving a total of 12,522 students.
What is the graduation rate for New Bedford?
The graduation rate is 75.2%, which is below the national average of 86.5%.
How much does New Bedford spend per student?
New Bedford spends $23,947 per pupil — 67% above the national average of $14,347.
Are there charter schools in New Bedford?
No, New Bedford does not currently include any charter schools.
What grade levels does New Bedford serve?
New Bedford serves grades PK through 12, covering elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the opportunity score for New Bedford?
The median opportunity score across schools in New Bedford is 48/100. The national median is 50/100. Opportunity scores reflect long-term economic mobility prospects for children who grow up in these communities.
About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.