State aid favors rich schools, report finds

Higher-income and suburban school districts in Massachusetts have been receiving more state building aid than needed, according to a new report. Over the past decade, the share of school buildings rated as good condition increased, partly due to school closures and repairs funded by state aid. However, the distribution of this aid has been uneven.

From 2007 to 2023, majority-white districts received significantly more per pupil for school projects than districts with predominantly students of color. While reimbursement rates vary based on a district's ability to pay, urban districts are disadvantaged by the agency's practice of accepting only one project annually per district. A 2025 report by MassINC and the Worcester Regional Research Bureau also found this disparity, noting that the maximum contribution rate has not kept pace with rising construction costs.

The report also highlights the impact of declining enrollment, which has led to school closures and widespread under-capacity. Many schools remain under-capacity, particularly in urban and rural districts. The school building authority acknowledges that its current pace of construction is insufficient to maintain the state's schools adequately, necessitating a prioritization of the neediest students to address the opportunity gap.