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

Amherst-Pelham vs Hatfield Schools

How the two districts, about 8 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
Hatfield
#152 of 328 districts
B-
Serves Hatfield
1 high school · 1 elementary school
Full district profile →

The short answer

  • Overall: Amherst-Pelham ranks higher, #99 to Hatfield's #152 of 328 Massachusetts districts.
  • MCAS 2026: Amherst-Pelham students score higher: ELA 54% vs 39%, Math 50% vs 32% met expectations.
  • SAT: Amherst-Pelham averages 168 points higher (1269 vs 1101).
  • Spending: Amherst-Pelham spends $6,001 more per student ($28,536 vs $22,535).
  • 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 $6,735 in Hatfield.
  • Class size: Smaller in Hatfield: 11 students on average vs 13.1.

MCAS results, 2026

Share of students meeting or exceeding expectations, all tested grades combined. The districts serve different grades (Amherst-Pelham: grades 3–10; Hatfield: grades 3–8), so the state figure isn't shown.

English Language ArtsAmherst-Pelham ahead
Amherst-Pelham
54%
Hatfield
39%
MathAmherst-Pelham ahead
Amherst-Pelham
50%
Hatfield
32%
ELA by year
YearAmherst-PelhamHatfield
202654%39%
202556%—
202453%—
202351%—
202253%—
202163%—
Math by year
YearAmherst-PelhamHatfield
202650%32%
202552%—
202449%—
202347%—
202245%—
202149%—

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
Hatfield
1101
MA avg
1113
AP exams scored 3+Amherst-Pelham ahead
Amherst-Pelham
89.8%
Hatfield
57.5%
MA avg
69.1%
Four-year graduation rateHatfield ahead
Amherst-Pelham
92.6%
Hatfield
100%
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
Hatfield
11
MA avg
17.3
Attendance rateHatfield ahead
Amherst-Pelham
92.2%
Hatfield
93.7%
MA avg
93.7%
Chronically absentmissed 10%+ of daysLower in Hatfield
Amherst-Pelham
22.3%
Hatfield
14.9%
MA avg
16.9%
Teachers who stayedfrom last yearHatfield ahead
Amherst-Pelham
83.1%
Hatfield
86.4%
MA avg
84.7%
Spending per studentHigher in Amherst-Pelham
Amherst-Pelham
$28,536
Hatfield
$22,535
MA median
$21,765
Average teacher salaryHigher in Amherst-Pelham
Amherst-Pelham
$92,296
Hatfield
$87,392
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-PelhamHatfield
Students in classes1,201310
English learners6.8%1%
Students with disabilities26.6%24.2%
White54.9%90.1%
Asian10.3%1.7%
Hispanic/Latino18.9%4.3%
Black/African American9.1%0.7%
Multi-race6.4%3.3%

Homes & taxes

Average single-family home valueHigher in Amherst-Pelham
Amherst-Pelham
$499K
Hatfield
$459K
MA median
$588K
Average property tax billHigher in Amherst-Pelham
Amherst-Pelham
$8,446
Hatfield
$6,735
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
Hatfield
Hampshire County · Western Massachusetts
Avg single-family home value$459KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$6,735MA median $6,814
Tax rate$14.70 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$45,421MA median $47,872
Local kids in public school92.2%
Town bond ratingAA
Free cash reserves7.2% 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

Hatfield
High schools · rank of 335
Smith AcademySAT 1101#125 B
Elementary schools · rank of 895
Hatfield Elementary#505 C+