~6,700
Students, PK–12
A factual overview of one of the highest-ranked public school districts in Massachusetts — its published rankings and data, and its programs for students with dyslexia and other special learning needs. Prepared for a prospective tenant considering a home directly across from Harrington Elementary School.
Lexington Public Schools (LPS) serves roughly 6,700 students from preschool through grade 12 across six elementary schools, two middle schools, and Lexington High School.5 In independent third-party rankings it places among the top public school districts in Massachusetts and nationally, as detailed below.12
| Source & Year | Recognition |
|---|---|
| Niche, 2026 | #3 Best School District in Massachusetts — behind only Brookline and Weston.1 |
| Niche, 2025 | Ranked #82 of 10,561 districts nationally (top 1%); #4 in Massachusetts.2 |
| U.S. News, 2025 | Lexington High School ranked #3 in Massachusetts and #118 nationally — the top-ranked traditional public high school in the state.3 |
| U.S. News, 2025 | #1 in Massachusetts for assessment proficiency; 81% Advanced Placement participation rate.3 |
At the high school level, performance climbs further: 88% of students are proficient in math and 85% in reading on state assessments, well above state averages.4 The district maintains a low student-to-teacher ratio of roughly 10 to 1, supporting individualized attention.5
Harrington Elementary is a K–5 school of about 396 students. SchoolDigger awards it a 5-star rating and ranks it 44th of 916 Massachusetts public elementary schools — ahead of roughly 95% of schools statewide — with per-student spending near $19,771 and a ratio of about 10.2 students per teacher.6
The LPS Special Education Department provides a full continuum of services for students with disabilities. Its stated goal is to give each student the skills needed to access the general curriculum while participating fully in school life.7
An Individualized Education Program is a written, legally binding plan of goals, services, and accommodations created for each eligible student.8
The Least Restrictive Environment principle calls for students with disabilities to learn alongside peers without disabilities as much as is appropriate for each child.8
A continuous obligation to locate, identify, and evaluate any child who may need services — families can request an evaluation at any time.7
Rather than duplicating every specialized program at every building, LPS concentrates specific district-wide programs in particular elementary schools, so each can offer deeper, more intensive support. Students are assigned to the program that best fits their needs.9
| School | District-Wide Focus |
|---|---|
| Harrington | Developmental Learning Program — supports students whose needs involve substantial developmental, intellectual, or neurological factors.9 |
| Bowman | For students with strong cognitive ability who experience meaningful language-based learning differences — the focus area most closely tied to dyslexia.9 |
| Hastings & Fiske | Programming centered on students on the autism spectrum.9 |
| Bridge & Estabrook | Support for students whose challenges affect self-regulation.9 |
Every elementary school — Harrington included — staffs a reading specialist who delivers explicit, structured reading instruction in small groups, along with related services such as speech and language, occupational, and physical therapy as a student's plan calls for.9 When an evaluation indicates a child would benefit from the more intensive language-based program, the district works with the family to coordinate the right placement. The continuum extends upward: the Intensive Learning Program at Diamond Middle School supports students with autism using Applied Behavior Analysis principles, and Lexington High School runs a Therapeutic Learning Program and a post-graduation Transition Program.9
Dyslexia is the most frequently occurring learning difference, estimated to affect roughly 15–20% of people.10 LPS has built a structured, evidence-based system to catch reading difficulties early and respond with proven interventions.
The foundational multisensory, structured approach to teaching reading to students with dyslexia.
An intensive, research-based program for students who need a highly structured decoding and spelling curriculum.
A more concentrated dose of the district's core phonics program for students needing additional reinforcement.
These efforts sit within a Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) and are guided by a district Dyslexia Task Force, first formed in 2016 and reconvened to align practice with the Massachusetts Dyslexia Guidelines.12 The district has also added teacher training in dyslexia indicators for middle- and high-school staff.11
A short, practical orientation for a family arriving with a child who has dyslexia or other special learning needs.
Under Child Find, any parent can ask the district to evaluate their child at any time; early requests matter most.7
Lexington's Special Education Parent Advisory Council, required under Massachusetts law (Ch. 71B), advises the district and supports families through the process.8
A sub-group of LexSEPTA that meets monthly and is open to any LPS parent navigating dyslexia.10
Lexington pairs top-tier academics with a genuine commitment to every kind of learner: universal early screening, structured evidence-based reading instruction, a full continuum of special education programs, and an active, well-organized parent community. Families who connect with the district early — and keep written records of their requests — tend to find the support process clear and collaborative.
DISCLOSURE — This guide is a friendly orientation compiled from publicly available third-party sources, not legal, educational, financial, or real-estate advice. The information may contain errors, omissions, or details that have changed since publication, and rankings reflect the methodologies of the organizations that produce them. Program availability, school assignments, and special education placements are determined solely by Lexington Public Schools and can change at any time. The prospective tenant should independently verify all information and conduct their own due diligence by contacting Lexington Public Schools and relevant authorities directly before making any leasing or enrollment decision.
All figures and rankings in this guide are attributed inline to the numbered third-party sources below. Sources were retrieved July 1, 2026; rankings reflect each organization’s own methodology and are subject to change at any time. Readers should verify current figures directly with the source and with Lexington Public Schools.