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

Amherst-Pelham vs Frontier Schools

How the two districts, about 10 miles apart, compare on test scores, high school results, classrooms, spending and housing.

Amherst-Pelham
#99 of 328 districts
B
Serves Amherst, Leverett, Pelham and Shutesbury
1 high school · 6 elementary schools
Full district profile →
vs
Frontier
#107 of 328 districts
B
Serves Conway, Deerfield, Sunderland and Whately
1 high school · 4 elementary schools
Full district profile →

The short answer

  • Overall: Amherst-Pelham ranks higher, #99 to Frontier's #107 of 328 Massachusetts districts.
  • MCAS 2026: Amherst-Pelham students score higher: ELA 54% vs 43%, Math 50% vs 45% met expectations. Statewide: 41% and 41%.
  • SAT: Amherst-Pelham averages 43 points higher (1269 vs 1226).
  • Spending: Amherst-Pelham spends $5,700 more per student ($28,536 vs $22,836).
  • Homes: Homes cost more in Amherst-Pelham: single-family homes average $499K vs $459K. The average tax bill is $8,446 in Amherst-Pelham and $6,104 in Frontier.
  • Class size: Smaller in Frontier: 11.1 students on average vs 13.1.

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 ArtsAmherst-Pelham ahead
Amherst-Pelham
54%
Frontier
43%
State
41%
MathAmherst-Pelham ahead
Amherst-Pelham
50%
Frontier
45%
State
41%
ELA by year
YearAmherst-PelhamFrontierState
202654%43%41%
202556%45%43%
202453%39%42%
202351%45%45%
202253%48%44%
202163%55%50%
Math by year
YearAmherst-PelhamFrontierState
202650%45%41%
202552%48%41%
202449%47%42%
202347%46%42%
202245%44%41%
202149%40%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 SATAmherst-Pelham ahead
Amherst-Pelham
1269
Frontier
1226
MA avg
1113
AP exams scored 3+Amherst-Pelham ahead
Amherst-Pelham
89.8%
Frontier
87.7%
MA avg
69.1%
Four-year graduation rateAmherst-Pelham ahead
Amherst-Pelham
92.6%
Frontier
89%
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 Amherst-Pelham
Amherst-Pelham
13.1
Frontier
11.1
MA avg
17.3
Attendance rateFrontier ahead
Amherst-Pelham
92.2%
Frontier
93.2%
MA avg
93.7%
Chronically absentmissed 10%+ of daysLower in Frontier
Amherst-Pelham
22.3%
Frontier
15.1%
MA avg
16.9%
Teachers who stayedfrom last yearFrontier ahead
Amherst-Pelham
83.1%
Frontier
94.4%
MA avg
84.7%
Spending per studentHigher in Amherst-Pelham
Amherst-Pelham
$28,536
Frontier
$22,836
MA median
$21,765
Average teacher salaryHigher in Amherst-Pelham
Amherst-Pelham
$92,296
Frontier
$78,317
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

Amherst-PelhamFrontier
Students in classes1,201592
English learners6.8%0.5%
Students with disabilities26.6%21.1%
White54.9%82.5%
Asian10.3%1.9%
Hispanic/Latino18.9%8.4%
Black/African American9.1%2%
Multi-race6.4%5.2%

Homes & taxes

Average single-family home valueHigher in Amherst-Pelham
Amherst-Pelham
$499K
Frontier
$459K
MA median
$588K
Average property tax billHigher in Amherst-Pelham
Amherst-Pelham
$8,446
Frontier
$6,104
MA median
$6,814
Amherst
Hampshire County · Western Massachusetts
Avg single-family home value$589KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$9,957MA median $6,814
Tax rate$16.90 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$21,921MA median $47,872
Local kids in public school95.8%
Town bond ratingAA+
Free cash reserves10.1% of budget
Leverett
Franklin County · Western Massachusetts
Avg single-family home value$500KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$7,852MA median $6,814
Tax rate$15.70 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$46,496MA median $47,872
Local kids in public school83.1%
Town bond ratingAA
Free cash reserves15.7% of budget
Pelham
Hampshire County · Western Massachusetts
Avg single-family home value$490KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$9,213MA median $6,814
Tax rate$18.80 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$45,933MA median $47,872
Local kids in public school78.5%
Town bond ratingAA+
Shutesbury
Franklin County · Western Massachusetts
Avg single-family home value$417KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$6,763MA median $6,814
Tax rate$16.20 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$33,308MA median $47,872
Local kids in public school92.7%
Free cash reserves13.4% of budget
Conway
Franklin County · Western Massachusetts
Avg single-family home value$444KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$6,335MA median $6,814
Tax rate$14.30 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$77,069MA median $47,872
Local kids in public school87%
Free cash reserves10.8% of budget
Deerfield
Franklin County · Western Massachusetts
Avg single-family home value$467KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$6,283MA median $6,814
Tax rate$13.50 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$49,737MA median $47,872
Local kids in public school82.9%
Free cash reserves10.9% of budget
Sunderland
Franklin County · Western Massachusetts
Avg single-family home value$478KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$5,947MA median $6,814
Tax rate$12.40 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$33,627MA median $47,872
Local kids in public school90.9%
Town bond ratingAA
Free cash reserves5% of budget
Whately
Franklin County · Western Massachusetts
Avg single-family home value$448KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$5,850MA median $6,814
Tax rate$13.10 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$24,708MA median $47,872
Local kids in public school92.8%
Free cash reserves10.6% 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