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Data report · DESE figures, fiscal 2016–2025

Massachusetts school transportation costs, fiscal 2016 to 2025

Massachusetts school districts reported spending $908.9 million on in-district student transportation in fiscal year 2025, across 315 districts, up 42% from fiscal 2019, plus $272.4 million transporting students to out-of-district placements, up 73%. Together that is $1.18 billion. Here is how that spending has grown, where it is concentrated and what it costs per pupil, from the figures each district reports to the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).

In-district, FY2025

$908.9 million

Out-of-district, FY2025

$272.4 million

In-district since FY2019

+42%

Median per pupil

$961

Ten years of spending

Statewide in-district transportation spending is up 68% since fiscal 2016. It fell in fiscal years 2020 and 2021, when the pandemic closed schools and many districts taught remotely, and has risen every year since. 289 of the 311 districts that reported in both years spend more than they did in fiscal 2019.

Massachusetts school transportation spending by fiscal yearStacked bars of in-district and out-of-district transportation spending from fiscal year 2016 ($683M) to fiscal year 2025 ($1.2B).$0$300M$600M$900M$1.2BFY16FY17FY18FY19FY20FY21FY22FY23FY24FY25
Massachusetts school transportation spending by fiscal year, as reported to DESE
Fiscal yearIn-districtOut-of-district
2025$908,894,201$272,393,982
2024$842,337,296$251,760,422
2023$761,744,306$236,104,381
2022$690,790,050$199,337,980
2021$557,347,288$146,105,593
2020$583,286,981$138,324,883
2019$638,758,822$157,879,083
2018$603,403,014$153,328,000
2017$570,724,070$148,018,172
2016$540,031,043$142,945,630

Where the money goes

The ten districts that spend the most account for 31% of statewide in-district transportation spending; Boston alone accounts for 15%.

  1. 1.Boston Public Schools$134,313,71014.8%
  2. 2.Springfield Public Schools$31,678,2763.5%
  3. 3.Worcester Public Schools$21,101,4282.3%
  4. 4.Brockton Public Schools$17,968,5332.0%
  5. 5.New Bedford Public Schools$16,780,9311.8%
  6. 6.Lowell Public Schools$14,760,8801.6%
  7. 7.Fall River Public Schools$13,599,2361.5%
  8. 8.Lawrence Public Schools$12,216,8021.3%
  9. 9.Taunton Public Schools$12,088,3601.3%
  10. 10.Chicopee Public Schools$11,320,1871.2%

What it costs per pupil

The median district spent $961 per pupil on in-district transportation in fiscal 2025. Most districts fell between about $510 and $1,550. Most of the ten highest are small districts spending under $4 million a year on transportation; Boston is the exception.

  1. 1.Southern Berkshire Regional School District$3,834 per pupil$2.3 million
  2. 2.North Brookfield Public Schools$3,563 per pupil$1.5 million
  3. 3.Berkshire Hills Regional School District$3,475 per pupil$3.9 million
  4. 4.Ralph C Mahar Regional School District$2,864 per pupil$1.4 million
  5. 5.Boston Public Schools$2,853 per pupil$134.3 million
  6. 6.New Salem-Wendell Regional School District$2,557 per pupil$346,752
  7. 7.Farmington River Regional School District$2,415 per pupil$292,427
  8. 8.Quaboag Regional$2,387 per pupil$2.6 million
  9. 9.Truro Public Schools$2,355 per pupil$184,812
  10. 10.Savoy Public Schools$2,346 per pupil$91,227

Biggest increases since fiscal 2019

By percent

Districts that spent at least $500,000 in fiscal 2019.

  1. 1.Stoughton Public Schools+345%+$3.5 million
  2. 2.Revere Public Schools+284%+$6.7 million
  3. 3.Holbrook Public Schools+229%+$1.4 million
  4. 4.Northborough Public Schools+160%+$1.0 million
  5. 5.Silver Lake Regional School District+142%+$1.6 million
  6. 6.Littleton Public Schools+142%+$878,323
  7. 7.Norwood Public Schools+139%+$2.0 million
  8. 8.Salem Public Schools+136%+$2.2 million
  9. 9.Brookline Public Schools+130%+$2.0 million
  10. 10.Chelsea Public Schools+119%+$2.5 million

By dollars

Change in in-district transportation spending, fiscal 2019 to 2025.

  1. 1.Boston Public Schools+$29.6 million+28%
  2. 2.Brockton Public Schools+$9.4 million+110%
  3. 3.Revere Public Schools+$6.7 million+284%
  4. 4.New Bedford Public Schools+$6.3 million+60%
  5. 5.Springfield Public Schools+$6.2 million+25%
  6. 6.Fall River Public Schools+$6.1 million+81%
  7. 7.Lowell Public Schools+$4.9 million+50%
  8. 8.Newton Public Schools+$4.7 million+73%
  9. 9.Worcester Public Schools+$4.6 million+28%
  10. 10.Lynn Public Schools+$4.5 million+103%

A large jump in one district can reflect a change in how it classifies costs, such as moving special education transportation between budget lines, as well as real growth in routes or prices.

Out-of-district transportation

Out-of-district transportation carries students a district educates elsewhere: in other districts, collaboratives and private special education schools. Statewide it reached $272.4 million in fiscal 2025, up 73% since fiscal 2019. Open special education transportation bids

  1. 1.Boston Public Schools$35,409,773
  2. 2.Springfield Public Schools$8,950,941
  3. 3.Worcester Public Schools$6,992,390
  4. 4.Lynn Public Schools$6,584,037
  5. 5.Cambridge Public Schools$5,199,900
  6. 6.Quincy Public Schools$5,156,904
  7. 7.Peabody Public Schools$4,578,792
  8. 8.Holyoke Public Schools$4,487,513
  9. 9.Fitchburg Public Schools$3,633,694
  10. 10.Everett Public Schools$3,461,645

How much competition there is

In its February 23, 2026 Special Education Transportation Study, the state Inspector General surveyed districts: 67% reported receiving zero or one bid in their most recent general education transportation procurement, and 53% in special education. The Inspector General also found no central repository of school transportation bids and contracts, and recommended that DESE create one (read the study).

RouteReady collects Massachusetts school transportation bids in one place today: see what is open now, or look up any district's ten-year figures and tracked bids in spending by district.

About the data

  • Figures are what each district reported to DESE in its End of Year Financial Report (District Expenditures by Function Code). In-district transportation is function 3300; out-of-district transportation is DESE's total for that category.
  • Dollars are as reported, not adjusted for inflation. Per-pupil figures are DESE's.
  • "Districts" are the local education agencies that report to DESE, including regional, vocational and charter districts; the count changes slightly from year to year.
  • Retrieved October 15, 2026. DESE publishes each fiscal year's figures the following year.

Download the district-level data (CSV): every district and fiscal year, with a link to each district's RouteReady page.

Frequently asked questions

How much do Massachusetts school districts spend on transportation?

Massachusetts districts reported $908.9 million in in-district student transportation spending in fiscal year 2025, across 315 districts, plus $272.4 million for out-of-district transportation: about $1.18 billion in all, according to the figures districts report to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).

Which Massachusetts district spends the most on school transportation?

Boston, with $134,313,710 in in-district transportation spending in fiscal year 2025, 15% of the statewide total. Springfield ($31,678,276) and Worcester ($21,101,428) follow.

How much does school transportation cost per pupil in Massachusetts?

The median district spent $961 per pupil on in-district transportation in fiscal year 2025. Most districts fell between about $510 and $1,550 per pupil.

How much competition is there for Massachusetts school transportation contracts?

Very little, according to the state Inspector General's February 23, 2026 Special Education Transportation Study: 67% of districts reported receiving zero or one bid in their most recent general education transportation procurement, and 53% in special education.

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