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School district comparison · MCAS 2026 · other data 2024-25

Acton-Boxborough vs Nashoba Schools

How the two districts, about 6 miles apart, compare on test scores, high school results, classrooms, spending and housing.

Acton-Boxborough
#56 of 328 districts
B+
Serves Acton and Boxborough
1 high school · 6 elementary schools
Full district profile →
vs
Nashoba
#67 of 328 districts
B+
Serves Bolton, Lancaster and Stow
1 high school · 3 elementary schools
Full district profile →

The short answer

  • Overall: Acton-Boxborough ranks higher, #56 to Nashoba's #67 of 328 Massachusetts districts.
  • MCAS 2026: Acton-Boxborough students score higher: ELA 67% vs 57%, Math 70% vs 59% met expectations. Statewide: 41% and 41%.
  • SAT: Acton-Boxborough averages 130 points higher (1334 vs 1204).
  • Spending: Similar: $22,300 per student in Acton-Boxborough and $21,722 in Nashoba.
  • Homes: Homes cost more in Acton-Boxborough: single-family homes average $936K vs $737K. The average tax bill is $14,796 in Acton-Boxborough and $13,043 in Nashoba.
  • Class size: Smaller in Nashoba: 17.1 students on average vs 20.6.

MCAS results, 2026

Share of students meeting or exceeding expectations, all tested grades combined. Both districts test grades 3–10; "State" is the statewide figure for the same grades.

English Language ArtsActon-Boxborough ahead
Acton-Boxborough
67%
Nashoba
57%
State
41%
MathActon-Boxborough ahead
Acton-Boxborough
70%
Nashoba
59%
State
41%
ELA by year
YearActon-BoxboroughNashobaState
202667%57%41%
202569%59%43%
202467%58%42%
202370%65%45%
202269%64%44%
202172%68%49%
Math by year
YearActon-BoxboroughNashobaState
202670%59%41%
202571%60%41%
202471%60%42%
202371%61%42%
202272%61%41%
202169%56%36%

No test in 2020. Statewide 10th-grade results dropped after 2024, when passing the MCAS stopped being a graduation requirement.

High school results

Average SATActon-Boxborough ahead
Acton-Boxborough
1334
Nashoba
1204
MA avg
1113
AP exams scored 3+Acton-Boxborough ahead
Acton-Boxborough
95.5%
Nashoba
86.8%
MA avg
69.1%
Four-year graduation rateActon-Boxborough ahead
Acton-Boxborough
98.3%
Nashoba
96.8%
MA avg
92.4%

Averages of each district's ranked high schools. "MA avg" is the average of all districts with high school data.

Classrooms, teachers & spending

Average class sizeHigher in Acton-Boxborough
Acton-Boxborough
20.6
Nashoba
17.1
MA avg
17.3
Attendance rateAbout the same
Acton-Boxborough
94.8%
Nashoba
95%
MA avg
93.7%
Chronically absentmissed 10%+ of daysAbout the same
Acton-Boxborough
10.9%
Nashoba
10.1%
MA avg
16.9%
Teachers who stayedfrom last yearActon-Boxborough ahead
Acton-Boxborough
90.3%
Nashoba
87.8%
MA avg
84.7%
Spending per studentHigher in Acton-Boxborough
Acton-Boxborough
$22,300
Nashoba
$21,722
MA median
$21,765
Average teacher salaryHigher in Acton-Boxborough
Acton-Boxborough
$100,138
Nashoba
$96,175
MA median
$91,393

Spending is total per-pupil expenditure from all sources in FY2024. Class size is the average across all classes in the district.

Students

Acton-BoxboroughNashoba
Students in classes5,1052,994
English learners7%2.8%
Students with disabilities16.9%20%
White49%78.8%
Asian31.9%4.1%
Hispanic/Latino9.5%9.9%
Black/African American3.3%1.6%
Multi-race6.2%5.5%

Homes & taxes

Average single-family home valueHigher in Acton-Boxborough
Acton-Boxborough
$936K
Nashoba
$737K
MA median
$588K
Average property tax billHigher in Acton-Boxborough
Acton-Boxborough
$14,796
Nashoba
$13,043
MA median
$6,814
Acton
Middlesex County · Greater Boston — I-95 to I-495
Avg single-family home value$938KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$15,220MA median $6,814
Tax rate$16.20 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$88,147MA median $47,872
Local kids in public school96.1%
Town bond ratingAAA
Free cash reserves5.4% of budget
Boxborough
Middlesex County · Greater Boston — I-95 to I-495
Avg single-family home value$934KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$14,372MA median $6,814
Tax rate$15.40 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$83,725MA median $47,872
Local kids in public school96.7%
Town bond ratingAAA
Free cash reserves14.1% of budget
Bolton
Worcester County · Greater Boston — I-95 to I-495
Avg single-family home value$866KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$15,643MA median $6,814
Tax rate$18.10 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$90,752MA median $47,872
Town bond ratingAAA
Free cash reserves7.3% of budget
Lancaster
Worcester County · Central Massachusetts
Avg single-family home value$555KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$9,373MA median $6,814
Tax rate$16.90 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$45,231MA median $47,872
Free cash reserves6.1% of budget
Stow
Middlesex County · Greater Boston — I-95 to I-495
Avg single-family home value$790KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$14,113MA median $6,814
Tax rate$17.90 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$99,668MA median $47,872
Town bond ratingAAA
Free cash reserves5.3% of budget

What could you afford in either town?

FY2026 averages for single-family homes from the Massachusetts Department of Revenue; for a district with several towns, the comparison uses the average of its towns. Assessed values usually run below recent sale prices.

The schools