Information on Schools

When evaluating different schools, it is important to consider educational philosophy, age of admittance, class size, teacher-to-child ratios, parent participation, special-needs programs, bilingual programs, and deadlines for application and registration.

Public schools
Private schools
After-school programs

Public schools

All cities and towns in Massachusetts are required to provide public education starting with kindergarten, and each city and town has its own public school system. These public schools are funded in large part by their own communities and are governed for the most part by local school committees. Because of this local authority, there can be significant differences among school systems.

The age for admittance to kindergarten varies among communities. For the 2006–2007 school year in the following towns, a child must be five years old (except where otherwise noted) by:

• Arlington
  8/31/06
  781-316-3501
• Belmont
  9/1/06
  617-484-2642
• Boston
  3 years old by 9/1/06 for K–0 (limited enrollment)
  4 years old by 9/1/06 for K–1 (limited enrollment)
  5 years old by 9/1/06 for K–2
  617-635-9000
• Brookline
  9/01/06 (Parents can make an early-exception request for children turning 5 years old between 9/1/06 and 10/15/06). May be tested for early entrance.
  617-730-2403
• Cambridge
  4 years old by 3/31/06
  617-349-6551
• Newton
  8/31/06
  617-559-6100
• Somerville
  8/31/06
  617-625-6600
• Watertown
  9/7/06
  617-926-7700

For other school systems, call the town or city’s school superintendent’s office.

Information, including school profiles, is also available from the Massachusetts Department of Education at 800-297-0002 and www.doe.mass.edu.

Charter schools

Charter Schools were created in 1993, when the Education Reform Act was signed into law. Charter schools were designed to serve as centers of innovative and educational leadership; they are established by parents, teachers, or, in some cases, corporate or nonprofit organizations. They remain separate administratively and are financially independent from any school district and are free and accessible to all school-age children on a space-available basis.

Massachusetts School Choice Program
The Massachusetts School Choice Program is available in selected communities. It allows parents to choose a school outside of their immediate school district. This program is free of charge. More information is available online at finance1.doe.mass.edu/schoice/.

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Private schools

Independent schools are private schools that determine their own mission and curriculum. Some of the secondary schools have boarding students. They charge tuition (and room and board for boarding students); financial aid is often available.

To receive information and a map showing the private and boarding schools that are members of the Association of Independent Schools in Massachusetts (independent schools are not required to be members of the association), contact:

Association of Independent Schools in New England (AISNE)
600 Longwater Drive
Suite 208
Norwell, MA 02061
781-982-8600
info@aisne.org
www.aisne.org

Parochial and other religious schools

Parochial and other religious schools provide some religious instruction in addition to a secular curriculum. They are not funded by local communities, and therefore charge tuition.

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After-school programs

The following resources can help with your search:

• For employees: A dependent-care resource and referral service is available through Harvard’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP). Call 877-327-4278 and ask for the child care referral service. EAP staff will conduct an individualized search for after-school programs with openings.
• For graduate students: A dependent-care resource and referral service is available through Harvard’s Graduate Student Assistance Program (GSAP).
• The Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care provides lists of licensed after-school programs.

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