The Worcester charter school ranks 25th in Massachusetts and 557th nationally, while several other Worcester County schools also landed among the state’s stronger performers

BY

Charlene Arsenault

Abby Kelley Foster Charter Public School emerged as Worcester’s strongest performer in the latest U.S. News & World Report’s high school rankings, placing 25th among public high schools in Massachusetts and 557th nationally.

The Worcester charter school also ranked second among high schools in the Worcester metropolitan area and 111th nationally among charter high schools, according to U.S. News’s 2026-27 Best High Schools rankings.

Charter schools such as Abby Kelley are included in the overall public high school rankings because they are publicly funded. U.S. News then separately ranks charter schools as a subset of the broader public-school list.

Abby Kelley earned an overall score of 96.9 out of 100 in the rankings. U.S. News reported a 100% graduation rate, with 68% of students taking at least one International Baccalaureate exam and 56% passing at least one.

The school also posted proficiency rates of 64% in mathematics, 75% in reading and 65% in science.

“We are so proud of the dedication our staff and students bring every day,” Acting Executive Director Grace Howard-Donlin said in a statement. “This ranking simply reflects what our community knows—AKFCS is an outstanding choice for families across Central Massachusetts.”

Howard-Donlin credited the school’s academic expectations and staff for the result.

Abby Kelley is the only Worcester school to place among Massachusetts’ top 25 public high schools in the new rankings. Other strong performers from Worcester County include schools in communities such as Westborough, Shrewsbury and Northborough, although their precise 2026-27 positions vary across the state and metro listings.

The rankings cover more than 27,000 public high schools nationwide, with nearly 18,000 receiving numerical rankings. U.S. News evaluates schools using six weighted measures: college readiness, state assessment proficiency, state assessment performance, underserved student performance, college curriculum breadth and graduation rate.

College readiness carries the greatest weight, at 30%, followed by state assessment proficiency and state assessment performance at 20% each. Underserved student performance, curriculum breadth and graduation rate each account for 10%.

The rankings rely heavily on 2023-24 academic-year data, including state assessments, graduation rates and Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate participation and performance.

U.S. News said schools scoring highest were those whose students performed above expectations on state assessments, participated successfully in college-level coursework and graduated at high rates.

Abby Kelley’s strongest showing came in graduation rate, where it tied for first nationally and statewide with a 100% rate. The school also ranked seventh in Massachusetts for state assessment performance.

Its college readiness index was 59.2 out of 100, placing it 50th in Massachusetts in that category.

The school serves 321 students in grades 9 through 12 and has an 11-to-1 student-teacher ratio, according to U.S. News.

Abby Kelley has offered the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme for more than a decade. The school said the program is designed to expose students to rigorous coursework while encouraging global awareness and independent learning.

The school, founded in 1998, serves students from kindergarten through grade 12 and is named for Worcester abolitionist and women’s rights activist Abby Kelley Foster.

Massachusetts as a whole performed strongly in the new rankings. U.S. News reported that the state had the largest share of high schools in the top 25% nationally, at 47%, ahead of New Jersey and Maryland.

Boston Latin School ranked first in Massachusetts and 44th nationally, according to the published state results.

Have a story tip, community concern, or insight to share? Email Editor Charlene Arsenault at [email protected].  

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A Note from the Abby Kelley Nursing Department

Please be sure that all medical documentation is up to date with the school nurse. This includes Physical Exams, Immunization records, and any changes to medical conditions. 

As a reminder, medications cannot be transported by students and do need to be delivered to the nurse by the parent/guardian/designated adult. If the medication is an emergency medication, these medications are required to have a medication order and an action plan. Medication orders and action plans are required by DPH (Department of Public Health) to be renewed at the beginning of each academic year. Medications must be unopened and in the original packaging with a pharmacy label. Medications will not be accepted until all required documentation is received. 

Please see the link for clarification. Please contact your school nurse for any questions that you may have. https://www.mass.gov/regulations/105-CMR-21000-the-administration-of-prescription-medications-in-public-and-private

Injuries or illness outside of school hours:

Injuries or illness that take place outside of school hours are the responsibility of families. If your student does become injured or ill outside of school hours, please DO NOT send them to school to be diagnosed by the Nurse. Nurses legally cannot diagnose illnesses/injuries.

Your student will be encouraged to stay in class. 

Families should seek medical attention from their primary care doctor or urgent care. Abby Kelley does not have a school-based health center and is unable to diagnose. 

Now that Spring seasonal allergies are on the rise, there is no real “cure” for seasonal allergies, but it is possible to relieve some of the symptoms using at home interventions. 

Some symptoms of seasonal allergies include:   

• Sneezing 
• Stuffy and/ or runny nose   
• Scratchy and/ or sore throat 
• Dry cough  
• Itchy and watery eyes, gritty feeling in eyes or feelings of sand in eyes, redness, puffy eyelids, and dark circles under eyes   
• Itchy skin

What you can do about seasonal allergies:

When we are outside, pollen circulates through the air and lands on our bodies. It can be in our hair, skin, eyes, mouth and nose. Have your child wash their hands and face or shower and change clothes after being outside.  

Treatment for Itchy, Watery, Red and Burning Eyes:  

Splash eyes with water and apply wet cloth to their eyes.  

Check with your child’s doctor regarding appropriate oral allergy medications and allergy eye drops for these symptoms to be given at home.  

Treatment for Itchy Skin: 

The skin can respond to pollen with symptoms of small, fine bumps, itching, redness, and hives. Check with your child’s doctor regarding appropriate oral and topical allergy medications for these symptoms to be given at home.  

Asthma and Seasonal Allergies Symptoms:  Check with your child’s doctor regarding treatment.  

It is recommended that 24 hour medications like Zytec are given prior to bed, as this would assist your student waking up with minimal allergy symptoms versus having to try to catch up with the existing symptoms in the morning. Benadryl is not recommended prior to starting the school day as it would make for a drowsy/ sleepy day.

Please remember that some of the classrooms will have their windows open when the temperatures allow. Students do go outside for recess and as well as PE.
The Nursing department does not have the ability to treat or administer seasonal allergy or cough medications, so it is very important that if needed, these medications are being given at home. 

If seasonal allergies are bothersome throughout the school day, students will be encouraged to remain in class. They will also be encouraged to wash their face and hands, blow their nose, hydrate and can be offered cool wet paper towels for comfort if needed.

As always, please feel free to reach out if you have any questions. 

Respectfully, 

Nurse Melissa

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