Boston Public Schools (BPS) is known for its complex structure among public school districts in major U.S. cities.

BPS operates a choice-based assignment system rather than a residency-based one, where parents rank the schools their children wish to attend, and assignments are made through an algorithm. In other words, in Boston, the choice of school and the assignment process is a more significant factor than the neighborhood in which one lives.

Within BPS, top-rated schools according to GreatSchools include the John D. O'Bryant School of Mathematics and Science (9 points) and Boston Latin School (GreatSchools 10 points). Boston Latin School is the oldest public school in the United States and requires passing an entrance exam (ISEE or a local exam) for admission. It is known to have a high percentage of Asian students, including a notable number of Korean students.

The most realistic way to choose both a school district and a residence in Boston is to move out of the city to the metro suburbs. Brookline borders Boston and operates its own independent school district (Brookline Public Schools), receiving an overall GreatSchools rating of 8-9 points and a Niche A grade.

Brookline High School has a GreatSchools rating of 9 points, placing it among the top public high schools in Massachusetts. It is one of the most popular areas chosen by Korean families in the Boston metropolitan area. The median price for single-family homes ranges from $1.5 million to $2.5 million, making it a high barrier to entry.

Newton, along with Brookline, is a key player in the prestigious school districts of the western Boston suburbs. The GreatSchools average for Newton Public Schools maintains a rating of 8-9 points, also receiving an A or higher according to Niche. Both Newton North High School and Newton South High School have GreatSchools ratings of 9 points, with the number of AP courses offered and average SAT scores ranking among the highest in the state. The median price for single-family homes in Newton ranges from $1.2 million to $1.8 million, and the percentage of Korean families living there appears to be relatively high compared to other Boston suburbs.

If budget is a concern, alternatives such as Woburn, Waltham, and Malden are often mentioned. Malden, located at the northern end of the Red Line subway, maintains a steady Korean population, and its public schools have GreatSchools ratings of 6-7 points, which are lower than Brookline and Newton but higher than lower-rated areas in Boston. The median price for single-family homes is much lower, ranging from $550,000 to $750,000, making it a choice for some Korean families settling down.

The overall level of public schools in Massachusetts ranks among the top 1-2 states in the nation according to NAEP (National Assessment of Educational Progress). Suburban districts like Brookline and Newton reflect this dual premium of being among the top districts in a top-ranking state, which is reflected in housing prices. If there is no willingness to compromise on school districts, the housing prices in these areas must be accepted as a realistic cost.

The timing for moving is concentrated between May and July before the September school year begins, due to the characteristics of the Boston metropolitan area. Applications for choice schools in BPS close in October to December of the previous year, so if considering settling in Boston, planning a year in advance is necessary. Suburban districts (Brookline and Newton) assign based on address, so checking registration deadlines within 6-8 weeks before the school year starts is a basic procedure.