New Bedford Public Schools

What New Bedford Public Schools does

New Bedford Public Schools (NBPS) is a public K-12 school district operated by the City of New Bedford, Massachusetts, serving approximately 13,100 enrolled students across 25 schools — 3 high schools, 4 middle schools, and 18 elementary schools — supported by 1,299 educators and additional administrative and operational staff. The district delivers standard public education from pre-kindergarten through grade 12, augmented by differentiated programs including Early College (enabling up to 21 college credits through partnerships with Bristol Community College, UMass Dartmouth, and Bridgewater State University), Career & Technical Education with NAF-accredited academies in Health Sciences, Information Technology, Engineering, Finance, and Hospitality/Tourism, a Spanish-English Dual Language Education program, and MyCAP career and academic planning starting in grade 6. NBPS also operates Adult/Continuing Education and Sea Lab Marine Science Education programs.

The district's technology stack is built around commodity K-12 SaaS platforms rather than proprietary systems: Aspen for student information management with a Family Portal, ParentSquare for district-wide communication and emergency alerts, ClassLink for single sign-on across educational applications, MEFA Pathway for college and career readiness planning, SchoolCafé for meal program management, and ML Schedules for facility rental booking. A district-wide Technology Action Plan governs Curriculum/Instruction/Assessment, Data and Privacy, Budget/Resources, and Infrastructure, and the Empowered Digital Use Policy is published in English, Portuguese, and Spanish to serve the multilingual community. WCAG 2.0-2.1 A/AA accessibility compliance is maintained under Section 504 and Title II of the Rehabilitation Act.

NBPS is funded through local property tax appropriations, Massachusetts Chapter 70 state education aid, and federal categorical grants (Title I, IDEA, and competitive programs). Facility rental to external community groups generates a small transaction-fee revenue stream under published pricing schedules. The district is governed by an elected School Committee and led by a Superintendent with a cabinet including the Assistant Superintendent of Finance & Operations and the Assistant Superintendent of Technology and Learning. As a government entity, NBPS does not have shareholders, venture funding, or M&A activity; its expansion is driven by capital projects (such as the July 2025 opening of a $14.7M Culinary and Nutrition Center and the January 2027 opening of the consolidated Congdon-DeValles Elementary School), programmatic partnerships, and recognition such as the 2026 Technology Innovation and LEAD Awards from the Center for Digital Education and NSBA.

Name

New Bedford Public Schools

Legal name

New Bedford Public Schools

Website

https://newbedfordschools.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

New Bedford Public Schools is a Massachusetts K-12 public school district operated by the City of New Bedford, serving approximately 13,100 students across 25 schools with Early College, CTE, and Dual Language programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-12 Public Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public School Districts (K–12) (EDADABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public K–12 Combined Schools (EDAJAAAE), Public Special Education Schools & Programs (EDAJAAAH)

Keywords

• K-12 public education
• Early college programs
• Career technical education
• Special education services
• School nutrition programs

Headquarters

HQ city

New Bedford

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: Public school district funded primarily through local, state, and federal government appropriations. Local property taxes, state education funding (Chapter 70), and federal Title I, IDEA, and other categorical program funds support district operations.
2. Federal Education Programs: Funding through federal programs including Title I (disadvantaged students), IDEA (special education), and other competitive grants.
3. Facility Use Fees: Community rental of school facilities generates modest revenue through facility use fees, with pricing based on group type (non-profit vs. commercial) and custodial requirements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

New Bedford Public Schools is a K-12 public school district serving approximately 13,100 enrolled students through 25 schools, providing free public education from pre-kindergarten through high school. The district offers core academic instruction, Career & Technical Education academies, Early College programming (up to 21 college credits), Special Education services, English Learner Education, Spanish-English Dual Language Education, Food and Nutrition Services, Transportation, and Technology Services.

Product overview

New Bedford Public Schools is a K-12 public school district serving approximately 13,100 enrolled students with 1,299 educators across 25 schools. The district operates as a unified educational platform offering multiple interconnected services: core academic programs through traditional elementary, middle, and high schools; career-focused pathways through Career & Technical Education and NAF Academies; post-secondary readiness via Early College (earning up to 21 college credits) and MyCAP planning; and operational services including Food and Nutrition, Transportation, and Technology Services. Digital engagement is facilitated through ParentSquare (communication), Aspen (student information), and ClassLink (single sign-on), while the district supports multilingual learners through a Spanish-English Dual Language Education Program. The district partners with Bristol Community College, UMass Dartmouth, and Bridgewater State University for Early College programming.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Career & Technical Education Career-focused educational programs for high school students including academies in Health Sciences, Information Technology, Engineering, Finance, Hospitality and Tourism, plus Business Technology and Radio/Television Broadcasting.
• Early College Program Partnership program with Bristol Community College, UMass Dartmouth, and Bridgewater State University allowing students to earn up to 21 college credits during high school. Nearly 9 out of 10 Early College graduates enroll in college after graduation.
• Food and Nutrition Services District meal programs including School Breakfast, National School Lunch, Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, After School Snack and Supper Programs, and Summer Food Service. Culinary and Nutrition Center opened July 2025.
• Spanish-English Dual Language Education Program Bilingual education program developing academic proficiency in both Spanish and English, promoting bilingualism, biliteracy, and cross-cultural understanding for district students.
• MyCAP (My Career and Academic Plan) Multi-year student-centered planning process for academic, personal/social, and career success, starting as early as grade 6 through high school graduation.
• Transportation Services Student transportation services including bus services and support for homeless students through McKinney-Vento transportation assistance.
• Technology Services District technology infrastructure and services including the Technology Action Plan covering curriculum, instruction and assessment, data and privacy, budget and resources, and robust infrastructure.
• New Bedford High School Primary high school offering comprehensive academic programs, Early College opportunities, Career & Technical Education academies, and college counseling services.

Quantifiable outcome

• 82% graduation rate
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• ELECT SouthCoastminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 June 2026Partnership for Parent & Caregiver Leadership Initiative cohort for 2026-27 school year. Participants receive stipends, up to $3,000 in project funding, and coaching to build leadership skills and strengthen school communities.
• Global Learning Charter Public School (GLCPS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 November 2025GLCPS partnered with NBPS to provide meals for students using the new Culinary and Nutrition Center in New Bedford that opened in July 2025 with a budget of $14.7 million. The initiative improved meal quality and menu variety for students across the city and other local schools.
• Bristol Community CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEarly College partner allowing NBHS students to earn college credits during high school. College classes taught at New Bedford High School by college faculty. Students can earn up to 21 college credits.
• University of Massachusetts DartmouthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEarly College partner for students to earn college credits. Beginning Fall 2026, some courses will take place on UMass Dartmouth campus. Also partner for Commonwealth Collegiate Academy with Visual Arts programs.
• Bridgewater State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEarly College partner allowing NBHS students to earn college credits during high school as part of the Massachusetts Early College Initiative.
• OneGoalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollege and career planning partner enrolled with Early College students. Designed to help students navigate exploration, application, and enrollment process. Students continue to receive support through first year after high school.
• Greater New Bedford Youth AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership of over 50 youth-serving organizations dedicated to creating a seamless system and network of youth services. NBPS is a member organization working on advocacy, data, executive, marketing, professional development, quality, resource development, and transportation committees.
• Massachusetts Early College InitiativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide initiative bringing access to college completion and career success, especially for students traditionally underrepresented in higher education. NBHS participates as part of this initiative.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Fall River Public Schools: Neighboring SouthCoast MA district; comparable in regional labor market, Portuguese/Cape Verdean ELL demographics, and post-industrial economic profile to New Bedford.

Direct peers

• Cambridge Public Schools: MA urban district operating under the same state funding/regulatory regime; useful as a higher-resource urban comparator to benchmark NBPS outcomes and program breadth.
• Springfield Public Schools (MA): Urban MA district with similarly elevated multilingual learner and poverty rates; comparable in operating scale (~25,000 students) and reliance on state/federal compensatory funding.
• Worcester Public Schools: Second-largest MA urban district with comparable ELL, low-income, and special education demographics; shares the same Chapter 70 funding mechanism and DESE accountability structure as NBPS.
• Brockton Public Schools: Southeastern MA urban district with very similar multilingual learner mix (Portuguese/Cape Verde Creole/Spanish/Haitian Creole) and high-need student profile; serves as a close demographic peer.
• Lawrence Public Schools: Urban MA district historically under state receivership; comparable as a high-ELL, high-poverty district operating under heightened DESE oversight and turnaround frameworks.
• Boston Public Schools: Massachusetts' largest urban public school district; comparable to NBPS as a state-level urban K-12 system serving high-need, multilingual populations with similar state funding (Chapter 70) and accountability frameworks.
• Chelsea Public Schools: Small urban MA district with one of the highest ELL percentages in the state; comparable in wraparound services and family engagement programming orientation.
• Lynn Public Schools: Northeastern MA urban district with comparable multilingual learner demographics and reliance on Title I/IDEA compensatory funding streams.
• Holyoke Public Schools: Urban MA district that has operated under state receivership; comparable as a turnaround-context peer with similar demographic challenges and DESE oversight profile.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NBPublicSchools
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nb-public-schools

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries26 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about New Bedford Public Schools