Massachusetts Home to 28 of 100 Oldest High Schools in America

Since most of the first European settlers in the New World settled in what is now New England, it is not surprising that many of the nation's oldest public high schools are here.

WorldAtlas.com says, "The oldest high school in America is Boston Latin in Boston, Massachusetts." Boston Latin High School was established in 1635.

According to the site, five of the 10 oldest public high schools still in use are in Massachusetts. This list is about the school itself, and not necessarily the building, as buildings have been replaced over the years.

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The second-oldest still operating public high school is Hartford Public High School in Hartford, Connecticut, established in 1638. Cambridge Rindge and Latin in Cambridge, Massachusetts, opened in 1648. Hopkins Academy in Hadley, Massachusetts, came to be in 1664. Opening in 1778, Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts is the fifth-oldest public high school still in use.

The other Massachusetts school in the top 10 is Westford Academy in Westford, Massachusetts. Established in 1792, it is the ninth-oldest high school.

New Bedford High School opened in 1827, making it the 25th-oldest public high school still in use. Taunton High School, the 43rd-oldest public high school in America, opened in 1838. Fall River's B.M.C. Durfee High School opened in 1849, making it the 69th-oldest public high school.

The only public high school in Rhode Island to make the list of the 100 oldest high schools in America is Classical High School in Providence. It opened in 1843, making it the 52nd-oldest.

Twenty-eight of the oldest 100 public high schools still in use are in Massachusetts. Some of the schools included on the list may have been private at one time but are currently public schools.

Wikipedia lists the 108 oldest public schools and the year they were established.