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

Amherst-Pelham vs New Salem-Wendell 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
New Salem-Wendell
#269 of 328 districts
C
Serves New Salem and Wendell
1 elementary school
Full district profile →

The short answer

  • Overall: Amherst-Pelham ranks higher, #99 to New Salem-Wendell's #269 of 328 Massachusetts districts.
  • MCAS 2026: Amherst-Pelham students score higher: ELA 54% vs 28%, Math 50% vs 29% met expectations.
  • High school: New Salem-Wendell has no high school in our rankings (its students may attend a regional high school), so only Amherst-Pelham has SAT and graduation figures (SAT average 1269).
  • Spending: Amherst-Pelham spends $2,327 more per student ($28,536 vs $26,209).
  • Homes: Homes cost more in Amherst-Pelham: single-family homes average $499K vs $364K. The average tax bill is $8,446 in Amherst-Pelham and $4,951 in New Salem-Wendell.
  • Class size: Smaller in Amherst-Pelham: 13.1 students on average vs 16.9.

MCAS results, 2026

Share of students meeting or exceeding expectations, all tested grades combined. The districts serve different grades (Amherst-Pelham: grades 3–10; New Salem-Wendell: grades 3–6), so the state figure isn't shown.

English Language ArtsAmherst-Pelham ahead
Amherst-Pelham
54%
New Salem-Wendell
28%
MathAmherst-Pelham ahead
Amherst-Pelham
50%
New Salem-Wendell
29%
ELA by year
YearAmherst-PelhamNew Salem-Wendell
202654%28%
202556%29%
202453%27%
202351%27%
202253%31%
202163%47%
Math by year
YearAmherst-PelhamNew Salem-Wendell
202650%29%
202552%26%
202449%33%
202347%35%
202245%34%
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 SAT
Amherst-Pelham
1269
New Salem-Wendell: no data
MA avg
1113
AP exams scored 3+
Amherst-Pelham
89.8%
New Salem-Wendell: no data
MA avg
69.1%
Four-year graduation rate
Amherst-Pelham
92.6%
New Salem-Wendell: no data
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 New Salem-Wendell
Amherst-Pelham
13.1
New Salem-Wendell
16.9
MA avg
17.3
Attendance rateNew Salem-Wendell ahead
Amherst-Pelham
92.2%
New Salem-Wendell
93.2%
MA avg
93.7%
Chronically absentmissed 10%+ of daysLower in New Salem-Wendell
Amherst-Pelham
22.3%
New Salem-Wendell
18.2%
MA avg
16.9%
Teachers who stayedfrom last yearNew Salem-Wendell ahead
Amherst-Pelham
83.1%
New Salem-Wendell
88.2%
MA avg
84.7%
Spending per studentHigher in Amherst-Pelham
Amherst-Pelham
$28,536
New Salem-Wendell
$26,209
MA median
$21,765
Average teacher salaryHigher in Amherst-Pelham
Amherst-Pelham
$92,296
New Salem-Wendell
$65,422
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-PelhamNew Salem-Wendell
Students in classes1,201136
English learners6.8%0%
Students with disabilities26.6%23.5%
White54.9%85.7%
Asian10.3%0.7%
Hispanic/Latino18.9%5.7%
Black/African American9.1%0%
Multi-race6.4%7.9%

Homes & taxes

Average single-family home valueHigher in Amherst-Pelham
Amherst-Pelham
$499K
New Salem-Wendell
$364K
MA median
$588K
Average property tax billHigher in Amherst-Pelham
Amherst-Pelham
$8,446
New Salem-Wendell
$4,951
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
New Salem
Franklin County · Western Massachusetts
Avg single-family home value$364KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$4,951MA median $6,814
Tax rate$13.60 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$30,155MA median $47,872
Free cash reserves27% of budget
Wendell
Franklin County · Western Massachusetts
Free cash reserves5.7% 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

New Salem-Wendell
Elementary schools · rank of 895
Swift River#693 C