METCO: America's Longest-Running School Integration Program Still Shapes Boston Real Estate
Why 3,200 Boston students commute to 33 suburban districts—and what it reveals about housing, schools, and the $317,600 exclusion premium
Newton hosts 431 METCO students. Winchester hosts zero. That difference isn't about school capacity—it's about choices made in the 1970s that still determine who lives where today. As METCO celebrates its 60th anniversary, here's what homebuyers need to know about the program that exposes the connection between school integration and housing segregation.
# METCO: America's Longest-Running School Integration Program Still Shapes Boston Real Estate
Why 3,200 Boston students commute to 33 suburban districts—and what it reveals about housing, schools, and the $317,600 exclusion premium
---
The Tale of Two Suburbs
Every school day, at dawn, roughly 3,200 Boston students—predominantly Black and Latino—board buses for a journey that can take up to two hours each way. Their destination: 33 suburban school districts across Greater Boston that participate in METCO (Metropolitan Council for Educational Opportunity), America's largest and longest-running voluntary school integration program.
Newton Public Schools welcomes 431 METCO students across its 21 schools, making up about 3.4% of total enrollment. The district has participated since METCO's founding in 1966.
Winchester Public Schools hosts zero. Despite being directly adjacent to diverse communities and having debated METCO participation in the 1970s, Winchester explicitly rejected the program and has never enrolled a METCO student.
That difference—one town saying "yes" and another saying "no"—has compounding effects that shape every aspect of the Boston real estate market today:
- •Median home price in Newton: $990,000 (as of November 2025)
- •Median home price in Winchester: $1,085,000
- •Student demographics in Newton: 48% white, 25% Asian, 12% multiracial, 7% Hispanic, 5% Black
- •Student demographics in Winchester: 71% white, 19% Asian, 4% multiracial, 3% Hispanic, 2% Black
This isn't just a story about schools. It's a story about property values, zoning policy, and the invisible walls that still divide Greater Boston by race and class.
---
What Is METCO? A 60-Year Experiment in School Integration
The Origins: 1966 and the Peak of the Civil Rights Movement
METCO was founded in 1966—two years after the Civil Rights Act, 12 years after Brown v. Board of Education—by Boston activists who recognized that school segregation persisted not because of law, but because of geography and housing patterns.
The problem was clear: Boston's public schools were overwhelmingly Black and under-resourced, while surrounding suburban districts were predominantly white and well-funded. Court-ordered busing within Boston wouldn't solve this imbalance—the real opportunity divide was between city and suburb.
METCO's solution was voluntary cross-district busing: suburban districts would agree to enroll Boston students, and the state would provide funding for transportation and support services. In exchange, suburban children would benefit from diverse classrooms, and Boston students would gain access to smaller class sizes, better resources, and higher-performing schools.
How METCO Works Today
- •Eligibility: Any Boston resident student in grades K-12 can apply through METCO Inc.
- •Application: Families apply through a lottery system (October-January for Boston; February-April for Springfield)
- •Transportation: Free busing provided by the state, typically 1-2 hours each way
- •Duration: Once placed, students remain in their METCO district through graduation
- •Funding: The state provides ~$6,000-$8,000 per student to receiving districts, plus transportation costs
- •Scale: 3,200 Boston students across 33 districts (plus 4 districts serving Springfield: East Longmeadow, Hampden-Wilbraham, Longmeadow, Southwick-Tolland)
METCO is not a lottery to get into elite private schools. It's a state-funded public program that integrates public school districts. Every METCO student attends regular classes, takes the same MCAS tests, and graduates with the same diploma as resident students.
---
The METCO Map: Which Suburbs Said Yes (And Which Said No)
Here's the complete list of Greater Boston's METCO-participating districts, ranked by the size of their METCO cohort:
The "Big Five" METCO Districts (150+ students)
- •Newton – 431 students (~3.4% of enrollment) | Median home: $990K | Participating since 1966
- •Brookline – 308 students (~3.6%) | Median home: $1.25M | Participating since 1966
- •Lexington – 238 students (~3.0%) | Median home: $1.675M | Participating since 1966
- •Needham – 194 students (~3.1%) | Median home: $1.2M | Participating since 1966
- •Weston – 167 students (~7.3%) | Median home: $1.975M | Participating since 1966
These five districts alone serve 1,338 METCO students—nearly half of all Boston METCO enrollment. They're also among the highest-performing, most expensive districts in Massachusetts.
Mid-Size METCO Districts (100-150 students)
- •Wellesley – 150 students (~3.0%) | Median home: $1.675M
- •Wayland – 135 students (~5.0%) | Median home: $1.325M
- •Melrose – 130 students (~3.1%) | Median home: $825K
- •Belmont – 100 students (~2.2%) | Median home: $1.45M
Smaller METCO Districts (50-100 students)
- •Lincoln – 100 students (~7.0%) | Lincoln-Sudbury Regional HS – 89 students (~5.0%)
- •Concord – 90 students (~3.6%) | Concord-Carlisle RHS – 60 students (~4.1%)
- •Arlington – 80 students (~1.3%)
- •Sudbury (K-8) – 75 students (~2.5%)
- •Wakefield – 75 students (~2.1%)
- •Reading – 70 students (~1.6%)
- •Marblehead – 65 students (~2.0%)
- •Sharon – 65 students (~1.8%)
- •Scituate – 60 students (~2.0%)
- •Swampscott – 60 students (~2.3%)
Smaller Commitments (25-50 students)
- •Cohasset (45), Hingham (45), Bedford (100), Westwood (50), Natick (50), Braintree (39), Walpole (40), Foxborough (35), Lynnfield (35), Dover-Sherborn (25 combined)
The "Not Welcome" List: Towns That Rejected METCO
Several of Boston's wealthiest, highest-performing school districts explicitly do not participate in METCO:
- •Winchester – Rejected in 1970s, never participated | 1.5% Black enrollment (would be near-zero without a handful of resident families)
- •Milton – Never participated | 8% Black enrollment
- •Framingham – Ended participation decades ago
- •Andover – Never participated
- •Hamilton-Wenham – Never participated
Related Reading: The $317,600 Housing Wealth Gap: How Boston's Busing Crisis Became Suburban Segregation explains how Winchester's rejection of METCO contributed to a measurable, persistent wealth gap.
---
The MCAS Question: Do METCO Students "Bring Down" Test Scores?
This is the question whispered at open houses, implied in Zillow reviews, and coded into real estate listings that emphasize "local" students.
The short answer: The impact is small—typically 2-5 percentage points in proficiency rates, not 20+.
How MCAS Reporting Works with METCO
- •METCO students are fully included in their receiving district's MCAS scores, accountability ratings, and graduation rates
- •There is no separate "METCO" category on state report cards—they're counted as part of the district's overall results
- •Subgroup data provides visibility: METCO students disproportionately fall into "Black," "Hispanic," "Economically Disadvantaged," and "High Needs" subgroups
- •"Residents only" figures are not officially published by DESE, though some districts calculate them internally
The Data: Real Impact on District Averages
Let's look at real numbers from high-performing METCO districts (2017-2019 pre-pandemic baseline, grades 3-8 combined):
| District | METCO Students | All Students ELA Proficient | Black Students ELA Proficient | White Students ELA Proficient | Achievement Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weston | 167 (~7.3%) | ~80% | ~60% | ~85% | 25 points |
| Lexington | 238 (~3%) | ~85% | ~60% | ~88% | 28 points |
| Newton | 431 (~3.4%) | ~78% | ~55% | ~85% | 30 points |
| Melrose | 130 (~3.1%) | ~65% | ~40% | ~70% | 30 points |
| State Average | — | 50% | 33% | 57% | 24 points |
What About "Residents Only" Scores?
If you removed METCO students from the calculation, Newton's 78% might rise to ~81%, Lexington's 85% might reach ~87%, and Weston's 80% might climb to ~82%.
This is not a 20-point swing. It's a 2-4 point difference.
Meanwhile, Winchester—which has no METCO students—scores around 85% in ELA. That's excellent. It's also essentially the same as Lexington (with 238 METCO students) and only slightly higher than Newton (with 431 METCO students).
---
What METCO Actually Reveals: Achievement Gaps Within Wealthy Districts
The more important story isn't whether METCO lowers averages by a few points. It's that METCO makes visible the achievement gaps that exist in America's most advantaged school systems.
The Uncomfortable Truth About "Top Schools"
In the 50 wealthiest Massachusetts communities (which include most METCO towns), data from 2017-2022 shows:
- •~60% of Black students in grades 3-8 failed to meet MCAS proficiency in reading, compared to 28% of white students
- •~55% of Latino students fell below proficiency, compared to 28% of white students
- •More than half of low-income students were not proficient, compared to ~26% of non-low-income students
These gaps are wider than the statewide gaps, even though all students in these districts have access to well-funded schools, small classes, and experienced teachers.
METCO Students Make Substantial Progress—But Gaps Persist
Research by Tufts economist Elizabeth Setren (2024) found that METCO participation leads to:
- •50% reduction in the Math achievement gap by 10th grade (relative to staying in BPS)
- •66% reduction in the ELA achievement gap by 10th grade
- •100% pass rate on 10th grade MCAS graduation requirements (vs. lower rates in BPS)
- •15 percentage points higher SAT scores (6-10 points more likely to score above 1000)
- •17% higher enrollment in four-year colleges
- •6 percentage points higher college graduation rates
- •Higher earnings in adulthood: Tracking students into ages 25-35, METCO participants show increased employment rates and higher wages in the Massachusetts labor market
- •Reduced incarceration rates: The study found decreased incarceration rates for male METCO students compared to the control group
In other words, METCO works. Students gain substantial academic ground compared to staying in Boston—but they may not fully close the gap with their affluent suburban peers by 8th grade.
---
The Real Estate Connection: METCO, Zoning, and the $317,600 Premium
Why does METCO exist at all? Because housing segregation creates school segregation—and in Massachusetts, school district boundaries follow town lines.
The Geography of Exclusion
Look at median home prices in METCO-participating vs. non-participating suburbs:
| METCO Status | Example Towns | Median Home Price (2025) | % White Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy METCO participation | Newton, Brookline, Lexington, Weston, Wellesley | $817,600 avg | 48-75% |
| Rejected METCO | Winchester, Milton | $917,800 avg | 71-85% |
| "Gateway suburbs" (where rejected families moved) | Randolph, Brockton | $500,000 avg | 20-30% |
| The Exclusion Premium | Difference between METCO-rejecting towns and gateway suburbs | $317,600 | — |
This isn't coincidence. It's the direct result of exclusionary zoning policies enacted during the 1970s school desegregation crisis:
- •Large-lot zoning (1-2 acre minimums) that make land prohibitively expensive
- •Single-family-only districts that ban apartments and multifamily housing
- •"Rural character" and "environmental protection" language used to justify exclusion
- •Limited or no affordable housing (many towns are nowhere near the 10% threshold required by Chapter 40B)
The result: If you're a Black or Latino family of modest means, you cannot afford to live in Winchester, Dover, Weston, or Lincoln. METCO provides access to their schools without requiring you to buy a $1.5M+ home.
Why Towns That Rejected METCO Are More Expensive
Towns that rejected METCO send a clear message: "We don't want Boston students here—even if it costs us state funding and makes our classrooms less diverse."
That message resonates with homebuyers who prioritize racial and class homogeneity. The result:
- •Winchester (no METCO): $1,085,000 median, 2% Black students
- •Newton (431 METCO students): $990,000 median, 5% Black students
- •Difference: $95,000 premium for a town with 60% fewer Black students
Some of that premium is explainable by other factors (Winchester is smaller, has less multifamily housing, etc.). But research consistently shows that whiter suburbs command higher prices, even controlling for school quality, crime, and amenities.
---
METCO's 60th Anniversary: What's Next?
Current Status and Recent Developments
- •New leadership: Dr. Kandice Sumner was named METCO's new President and CEO in 2025
- •Applications open for 2026-27: Boston families can apply now through METCO Inc.
- •Waitlist reality: With ~3,200 seats and tens of thousands of eligible students, only about 6% of applicants get placed annually
- •Funding increases: The Massachusetts legislature has modestly increased METCO funding in recent budgets, allowing some districts to expand seats
- •60th Anniversary Gala: March 24, 2026, at Artists for Humanity Epicenter (early bird tickets available with $100 discount)
Upcoming Events
- •Pathways & Job Fair – December 12, 2025, 5:00-8:00 PM at The Pearl at South Bay (20B District Ave., Dorchester). For high school METCO students to explore internships, jobs, and career pathways.
- •60th Anniversary Gala – March 24, 2026, at Artists for Humanity Epicenter. Dinner, dancing, and celebration of 60 years of educational equity. Early bird tickets on sale now.
For more information and to apply: metcoinc.org
The Broader Housing Context: MBTA Communities Act
Massachusetts recently passed the MBTA Communities Act (2021), requiring 175 towns served by transit to zone for multifamily housing. Many METCO suburbs—including Newton, Lexington, Brookline, and others—are now required to allow apartments near T stations.
The goal: Break down exclusionary zoning so that families of diverse incomes can live in high-opportunity suburbs, reducing the need for 2-hour bus commutes.
The resistance: Some wealthy suburbs (including Milton, which rejected METCO decades ago) have pushed back hard, with some refusing to comply and risking state penalties.
Related Reading: The $317,600 Housing Wealth Gap: How Boston's Busing Crisis Became Suburban Segregation
METCO 2.0: From Desegregation to Active Anti-Racism
Under new leadership following the racial reckonings of 2020, METCO Inc. has articulated a strategic shift called "METCO 2.0"—a framework arguing that mere physical presence in white spaces is not true integration.
The shift: Moving from passive desegregation (placing Black and Brown students in suburban classrooms) to active anti-racism (fundamentally restructuring how districts support and value those students).
- •Systemic audits: Districts are encouraged to audit policies, discipline data, and hiring practices for implicit bias—examining why METCO students might be disproportionately disciplined or underrepresented in advanced tracks.
- •Curricular reform: Centering curricula that reflect the diverse history and cultures of the METCO student body, rather than exclusively Eurocentric narratives.
- •Restorative justice: Implementing restorative discipline practices to replace punitive models that historically target students of color.
- •Equity-centered leadership: Demanding that district leaders (Superintendents, School Committees) take public, unwavering stances against racism—treating METCO as central to the district's mission, not a side program.
- •Teacher diversity: Actively recruiting and retaining teachers of color so METCO students see themselves reflected in positions of authority and expertise.
---
What Homebuyers and Families Should Know About METCO
1. METCO Participation Signals a District's Values
A town that welcomes METCO students is making a statement: "We believe diversity strengthens our community, and we're willing to invest in integration."
That commitment often extends to:
- •Anti-racism and DEI initiatives in schools
- •Cultural competency training for teachers and staff
- •Support for affordable housing and inclusionary zoning
- •Engagement with diverse families through METCO parent groups and events
For families raising children, this matters. Kids who grow up in diverse classrooms develop better communication skills, reduced prejudice, and stronger preparation for diverse workplaces and colleges.
2. METCO Does Not Mean "Lower Quality Schools"
The data is clear: Districts with substantial METCO enrollment (Newton, Brookline, Lexington, Weston, Wellesley, Wayland) consistently rank among the state's top performers.
- •Weston (167 METCO students, 7.3% of enrollment) is routinely ranked #1 in Boston Magazine's school rankings
- •Lexington (238 METCO students, 3% of enrollment) has a 99% graduation rate and median SAT of 1340
- •Newton (431 METCO students, 3.4% of enrollment) is ranked #2 by Niche.com among Boston-area districts
If METCO participation "ruined" school quality, these districts wouldn't dominate the top of every ranking. The evidence overwhelmingly contradicts the "METCO lowers scores" narrative.
3. Look at Subgroup Data, Not Just Overall Averages
When evaluating schools, don't just look at the overall MCAS proficiency rate. Check the achievement gaps between subgroups:
- •How do Black, Hispanic, and low-income students perform?
- •Is the gap narrowing or widening over time?
- •What is the Student Growth Percentile (SGP) for high-needs students?
A district with an 80% overall proficiency rate but a 35-point achievement gap is not serving all students well. A district with a 75% overall rate but only a 15-point gap may be doing better work on equity.
4. METCO Adds Resources, Not Just Students
Each METCO student brings state funding (~$6,000-$8,000) plus transportation support. Many districts use this funding to hire:
- •METCO directors/coordinators (full-time staff dedicated to supporting Boston students)
- •Additional reading specialists, counselors, or tutors (who also serve resident students)
- •Diversity programming, guest speakers, and cultural events (enriching the experience for everyone)
Rather than "taking away" from local students, METCO often brings additional capacity that benefits the whole district.
5. Understand the Trade-Offs for METCO Families
METCO students and families face real burdens:
The "Time Tax": METCO students lose 10-15 hours per week in transit—time that could be spent on homework, sleep, or building neighborhood friendships. Wake-up times of 5:00-5:30 AM are standard, affecting sleep cycles and school alertness. Students return home after dark, leading to a sense of being "commuters" in their own lives.
- •Difficulty participating in after-school activities: Sports practices, clubs, theater rehearsals that end after late buses leave (typically 4:30-6:00 PM). Without late bus funding, integration becomes limited to classroom hours only.
- •Community disconnection: Spending all day in a suburb means missing out on neighborhood friendships and activities in Boston. METCO students often describe feeling like they don't fully belong in either place.
- •Limited parent involvement: PTO meetings, parent-teacher conferences, and school events are often scheduled during work hours—and require Boston parents to travel an hour each way to attend.
The Psychological Labor of "Code-Switching"
METCO students frequently describe the exhausting work of navigating two worlds:
- •Double consciousness: Students often feel they must act, speak, and dress one way to fit in socially in the white suburb, and another way to avoid being seen as "acting white" back home in Boston.
- •The "Oreo" stigma: Some students face ridicule in their home neighborhoods, accused of being "Oreos" (Black on the outside, white on the inside), while simultaneously being viewed as "the other" or "the urban kid" by suburban peers.
- •Identity navigation: This requires a sophisticated but exhausting navigation of racial identity, akin to W.E.B. Du Bois's concept of "double consciousness."
- •Microaggressions and isolation: Students report hearing racial slurs, being followed by security in local stores, facing low expectations from teachers, or being the only Black student in AP classes (creating a "spotlight effect" where they feel pressure to represent their entire race).
These challenges don't negate METCO's benefits, but they remind us that cross-district busing is a Band-Aid, not a cure. The real solution is integrated housing so that families of all backgrounds can live in the same communities.
6. Winchester vs. Newton: A Case Study in Values
If you're choosing between two similar suburbs—one with METCO, one without—consider what that difference reveals:
Winchester (no METCO, 1.5% Black students, $1,085K median):
- •Excellent schools (85%+ MCAS proficiency)
- •Minimal racial/ethnic diversity
- •Higher price premium (possibly driven in part by homogeneity)
- •Historical rejection of integration efforts
Newton (431 METCO students, 5% Black, 12% Hispanic, $990K median):
- •Equally excellent schools (78-85% MCAS proficiency across 13 villages)
- •Meaningful racial/ethnic diversity
- •Slightly lower prices (though still very expensive)
- •60-year commitment to integration and equity
The question: Do you want your children educated in a place that actively pursues integration, or one that has rejected it? The academic quality is comparable—the values are not.
---
How to Talk About METCO Without Being Racist
Let's be blunt: The "METCO brings down scores" narrative is often coded racism. Here's how to engage with METCO thoughtfully:
❌ Don't Say:
- •"The scores would be higher without METCO kids"
- •"I want my kids with local students" (code for "white and wealthy")
- •"METCO takes resources away from our kids"
- •"Those students don't belong here"
✅ Do Say:
- •"I appreciate that this district values diversity and integration"
- •"METCO students are part of the school community and deserve the same support as everyone"
- •"What is the district doing to close achievement gaps for all struggling students?"
- •"My kids will benefit from learning alongside peers from different backgrounds"
---
The "Brain Drain" Debate: An Internal Critique
Within the Black community and among urban education advocates, METCO faces a persistent critique that deserves acknowledgment:
This critique is rooted in a fundamental tension:
- •Individual opportunity vs. collective liberation: METCO provides immediate, life-changing opportunity for individual students. But does it delay systemic change by offering a "safety valve" that reduces pressure on Boston to fix its own schools?
- •Resource allocation: The state METCO budget (~$33 million annually) could fund hundreds of additional BPS teachers, counselors, or facility upgrades if redirected.
- •Political power: When high-achieving families leave for the suburbs, BPS loses vocal, engaged parents who might otherwise organize for change within the city.
The counterargument: METCO supporters argue that families cannot be asked to sacrifice their children's present for a future systemic turnaround that may never come. As one METCO parent put it: "I can't tell my daughter to wait for Boston to fix itself. She has one shot at elementary school, one shot at high school. METCO gives her that chance now."
Both perspectives are valid. The existence of this debate underscores that METCO is a compromise born of inequality—not a celebration of it. The goal should be a future where METCO is unnecessary because all schools, in every ZIP code, provide excellent, culturally affirming education.
---
The Bottom Line: METCO Reveals Who We Are
Sixty years after METCO's founding, the program remains necessary because housing segregation persists. As long as exclusionary zoning keeps low-income families of color out of high-opportunity suburbs, programs like METCO will be essential to provide even limited access.
But METCO also reveals something deeper: which communities chose integration, and which chose exclusion.
- •Newton, Brookline, Lexington, Weston, Wellesley, Wayland—these towns said "yes" to METCO 60 years ago and have maintained that commitment.
- •Winchester, Milton, and others said "no"—and their demographics today reflect that choice.
- •The $317,600 wealth gap between METCO-participating suburbs and the gateway towns where rejected families moved is the measurable cost of exclusion.
METCO isn't perfect. It's a Band-Aid on a housing segregation problem that requires zoning reform, affordable housing mandates, and political will to solve. But for 60 years, it has provided real opportunity to thousands of students—and revealed which suburbs are serious about integration.
The buses still roll every morning at dawn. The question is: whose town will they stop in?
---
Take Action
If You're a Boston Family Interested in METCO:
- •Apply now for 2026-27: metcoinc.org
- •Explore participating districts: Use METCO Inc.'s district profiles to research schools
- •Attend an info session: METCO hosts sessions for prospective families throughout the year
- •Connect with current families: Many districts have METCO parent groups on social media
If You're a Suburban Resident in a METCO Town:
- •Support METCO funding at town meetings and school committee hearings
- •Join "Friends of METCO" groups or volunteer as a host family
- •Advocate for late buses so METCO students can participate in after-school activities
- •Push back on racist narratives about METCO students "bringing down scores"
- •Support affordable housing initiatives so that integration doesn't require 2-hour bus rides
The Host Family Model: Some districts (like Winchester) utilize a "host family" program, pairing METCO students with local resident families. These families provide a physical "home base" between school dismissal and evening activities, a place to rest if a student feels ill, or simply a welcoming space for homework and snacks. This structure creates deep social bonds between urban and suburban families and is often cited as one of the most effective integration tools in the program.
If You're a Homebuyer Evaluating Districts:
- •Use the Boston Property Navigator comparison tool to compare METCO participation, demographics, and school data across towns
- •Read district METCO pages (most have them on their websites) to see how the program is integrated
- •Check subgroup data on DESE profiles (profiles.doe.mass.edu) to understand achievement gaps
- •Ask real estate agents direct questions: "Does this district participate in METCO? How many students? What is the district doing to support them?"
If You Want to Support METCO Broadly:
- •Donate to METCO Inc. at metcoinc.org
- •Attend the 60th Anniversary Gala (March 24, 2026) to celebrate and fundraise
- •Contact your state legislators to support increased METCO funding in the state budget
- •Share this article with friends, neighbors, and on social media
---
Related Reading
- •The $317,600 Housing Wealth Gap: How Boston's Busing Crisis Became Suburban Segregation
- •Newton's 13 Villages: The Complete Buyer's Guide
- •Winchester, MA: The Complete Buyer's Guide
- •School Ratings Decoded: What MCAS Really Tells You
- •MBTA Communities Act: The Housing Revolution Coming to Boston Suburbs
- •Explore All Towns
---
Sources & Methodology
- •[1] METCO Inc. official website and district enrollment data (2018-2025): metcoinc.org
- •[2] Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) school profiles and MCAS data: profiles.doe.mass.edu
- •[3] Elizabeth Setren (Tufts University), "Busing to Opportunity? The Impacts of METCO on Academic Achievement and Long-term Outcomes" (MIT Blueprint Labs, January 2024)
- •[4] Boston Globe, "The Great Divide" series on achievement gaps in wealthy Massachusetts towns (2024)
- •[5] METCO FY2023 Legislative Report, Massachusetts Legislature (December 2024)
- •[6] Housing price data: Zillow, Redfin, and Boston Property Navigator internal sales database (November 2025)
- •[7] Demographic data: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (2019-2023) and DESE enrollment reports
- •[8] Historical METCO analysis: The Century Foundation, "The Walls of Exclusion in Massachusetts" (2020)
- •[9] District-specific METCO pages: Newton Public Schools, Brookline Public Schools, Weston Public Schools, Lexington Public Schools, and others (2023-2025)
---
This analysis is part of the Boston Property Navigator project, using data and research to illuminate how housing policy shapes opportunity in Greater Boston. We believe accurate information and honest conversation are essential to dismantling exclusion.
Questions or comments? Contact us
Need Custom Analysis?
Want deeper insights for a specific property or neighborhood? Get a custom research report tailored to your needs—from individual property analysis to comprehensive market overviews.
Request Custom Analysis