Malden High School still the #1 most diverse high school in Mass.

NICHE Rankings also deem Malden High in top 15% of Best College Prep Public High Schools in Mass., #48 of 353

By Steve Freker

If you drive down at the western end of Salem Street today and you see a group of teenaged students standing in front of Malden High School celebrating something and loudly proclaiming, “We’re Number One!” it’s for an important reason. Malden High School is one of the top public high schools in Massachusetts for a lot of reasons and for much of the past decade has been ranked the #1 Most Diverse Public High School in the state. Niche School Rankings for 2025 have once again bestowed that honor on Malden High School for this school year. The diversity is measured in the sheer numbers of cultures and languages spoken – at last count, over 70 – that are either spoken by MHS students or in students’ homes.

Not only is Malden High the #1 Most Diverse Public High School in Mass., out of 387 total high schools, Malden High is also the #57 Most Diverse Public High School in the nation! That includes 22,364 public high schools from coast-to-coast.

In addition to this honor, it was announced in Friday’s NICHE Rankings that Malden High School has soared higher in other ranking areas as well, most notably in “Best College Prep Public High Schools.” NICHE this year ranks Malden High School #48 of 353 public high schools in Mass. for Best College Prep. That is in the top 15 percent and its highest ranking ever in the NICHE rankings. For this prestigious ranking, in comparison, at #31 in Mass. for “Best College Prep High School” is Mystic Valley Regional Charter School, also based in Malden, #32 Somerville High School, #39 Andover High School, #49 Quincy High School and #56 Lynnfield High School.

Another positive ranking for Malden High is #122 in “Best Public High School Overall” in Massachusetts, out of 387 overall. This ranking puts Malden squarely in the top one-third of Mass. public high schools. As for nearby public high schools, Somerville was #62 overall; Mystic Valley Charter, #66; Quincy High School, #102; Danvers, #113; Beverly, #127; and Tewksbury, #140.

According to information available at niche.com, “The 2025 Best Public High Schools ranking is based on rigorous analysis of key statistics and millions of reviews from students and parents using data from the U.S. Department of Education.

“Ranking factors include state test scores, college readiness, graduation rates, teacher quality, and high school ratings.”

Malden High School eighth-year Principal Chris Mastrangelo said he is still studying the NICHE report and rankings, but that he is “always pleased when Malden High School is held with esteem in such reports as NICHE.”

“I already know Malden High School is a great school and so do its students, educators and administrators,” Mastrangelo said. “When others take a closer look and come to the same conclusion, it really resonates with what we are all working to accomplish here.”

“Our top priority is to create a safe, positive and supportive environment where students can learn and be successful in many ways,” Mastrangelo said. “It is great to get recognition that we are achieving that goal.”