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Home > Living in Boston > Childcare & School > School

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School

Who Must Attend School


Non-adult children at least 6 years old who are visa dependents of J-1s, H-1Bs, H-1B1s, TNs and E-3s must attend school. The school year normally begins in early September and continues through June, with several weeks of school vacations.

Childrens' Ages and Grades/Levels

  • Elementary school usually includes kindergarten until 4th, 5th, or 6th grade. Kindergarten, which begins at 5 years old, is a common optional educational program to assist your child's transition to a more structured school environment.  All children are required to attend school at the age of 6, which starts with 1st grade.
  • Middle school usually begins at 5th or 6th grade through 8th grade (approximately ages 11-13).
  • Secondary school, known as “high school” in the United States, usually includes 9th grade until 12th grades (approximately ages 14-18).

Selecting a School


You may select a public or private school:

  1. Public schools are managed by the government, are free from kindergarten (age 5) until the completion of high school in the 12th grade (approximately age 18).   The location of your residence in the U.S. determines which public school your child will attend.
  2. Private schools are managed by a company and charge a fee for each student.  You will be responsible for the costs.

Please see http://profiles.doe.mass.edu for a listing of public and private schools in Massachusetts. Ask about the school requirements for your child‘s immunization records, verification of date of birth, and prior academic records.

Community and After-School Programs

  • Community programs and after-school programs allow children to remain at school for an extended period of time after the regular school classes end each day. Various planned and supervised activities are offered.
  •  Parents usually must provide transportation from the after-school program to their home.
  • These programs are available in many public school districts for reasonable costs.   When selecting the school your child will attend, ask the school about these programs.
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