Compulsory Attendance

Your child’s age is your first indicator of his or her eligibility for beginning school. Students may start kindergarten if they turn five on or before September 1st. A child does not have to enroll in school at age five, but must be enrolled in 1st grade if he or she is six on or before December 31.  see more >

Required Documentation

Massachusetts school districts set the requirements for what documentation is required prior to enrolling a student in their district. To get that information, contact the district directly.  

Some legal documents are required for Massachusetts students to attend school:

• Certified Birth Certificate/proof of identity
• Official copy of records/transcripts from the previous school the child most recently attended
• A shot immunization record (or proof that immunization is not required for the child)
• Click here to view the immunization requirements 
• Proof of home address (for example, a rental agreement or tax statement)

What are Charter Schools?

Charter Schools are tuition-free public schools operated by independent, non-profit governing bodies.

Parents, teachers, and community leaders sign a “charter” or contract with a school district or state agency to create a charter school and give students more educational options than their assigned school. Charter schools have flexibility over classroom hours, curriculum, and employment policies, but are subject to periodic reviews based on student performance. In Massachusetts, public charter school students are measured against the same academic standards as students in other public schools. Local boards of education monitor the academic and financial performance of charter schools, and, can revoke  or refuse to renew a school’s charter.

Massachusetts Charter Schools

A full list of Massachusetts Charter Schools can be found here.

What makes a school “private”?

Private schools charge tuition, and many have a religious mission. Some private schools offer families assistance to make tuition payments. Click below for the complete list of over 650 private schools across the state.

Private School Review offers free, detailed information on U.S. private schools combined with useful community data (e.g., housing costs) and maps of the surrounding areas.

*Information on non-public school admission requirements should be obtained from the school directly.

George Washington University Online High School is an online college preparatory academy for motivated students who are willing to be challenged to become the best students and persons they can be. Combining award-winning curriculum with small class sizes and intensive college counseling, students receive a flexible, individualized education attuned to their own needs and goals.

International Academy is a K12, Inc accredited, online private school for grades K–12. Students earn a U.S. high school diploma while using award-winning K¹² curriculum

They offer extensive, individualized academic and counseling support keep students on track. The flexibility allows students to explore their passions. Full-time and part-time options are available.

Your options

In Massachusetts, parents have three options when it comes to educating their children at home. These options are: homeschool with a church school, with a private school, or using a private tutor. Parents in Massachusetts may choose to homeschool their own children in grades K – 12. Below are the requirements for homeschooling in MA.  learn more >

1. Submit an annual Notice of Intent to the school district
2. Teach the required subjects
3. Keep good records
4. Test or evaluate your child as required

Commonwealth Dual Enrollment Partnership (CDEP)

CDEP is a discretionary state grant program that allows public two- and four-year institutions to apply for funds to allow students to complete dual enrollment courses at nominal to no cost. To be eligible for CDEP funding, a campus must develop dual enrollment programming that:

• Provides a variety of college-level courses in multiple disciplines. Campuses are encouraged to enroll students in courses that fall within the MassTransfer block to increase likelihood of transfer.
• Focuses efforts to enroll qualified students with particular emphasis on first-generation college-goers, low-income students, students of color, and students interested in high demand career areas. (Students who are not first-generation college students, students of color, low-income students, or interested in STEM fields are also eligible to participate.)
• Connects opportunities for college preparation, access and success with academic components, with emphasis on providing information on college admissions, application of dual enrollment credit, accessing student support services and financial aid. If courses are taught at the high school, IHEs must provide college tours.
• Includes as many qualified students as possible based on available state funding and in-kind contributions.