School district comparison · MCAS 2026 · other data 2024-25
Amherst-Pelham vs Ralph C Mahar Schools
How the two districts, about 10 miles apart, compare on test scores, high school results, classrooms, spending and housing.
The short answer
- Overall: Amherst-Pelham ranks higher, #99 to Ralph C Mahar's #264 of 328 Massachusetts districts.
- MCAS 2026: Amherst-Pelham students score higher: ELA 54% vs 26%, Math 50% vs 28% met expectations. Statewide: 41% and 41%.
- High school: Ralph C Mahar 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: Similar: $28,536 per student in Amherst-Pelham and $28,036 in Ralph C Mahar.
- Homes: Homes cost more in Amherst-Pelham: single-family homes average $499K vs $353K. The average tax bill is $8,446 in Amherst-Pelham and $5,189 in Ralph C Mahar.
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.
ELA by year
| Year | Amherst-Pelham | Ralph C Mahar | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 54% | 26% | 41% |
| 2025 | 56% | 24% | 43% |
| 2024 | 53% | 23% | 42% |
| 2023 | 51% | 28% | 45% |
| 2022 | 53% | 22% | 44% |
| 2021 | 63% | 32% | 50% |
Math by year
| Year | Amherst-Pelham | Ralph C Mahar | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 50% | 28% | 41% |
| 2025 | 52% | 24% | 41% |
| 2024 | 49% | 21% | 42% |
| 2023 | 47% | 25% | 42% |
| 2022 | 45% | 21% | 41% |
| 2021 | 49% | 19% | 36% |
No test in 2020. Statewide 10th-grade results dropped after 2024, when passing the MCAS stopped being a graduation requirement.
High school results
Averages of each district's ranked high schools. "MA avg" is the average of all districts with high school data.
Classrooms, teachers & spending
Spending is total per-pupil expenditure from all sources in FY2024. Class size is the average across all classes in the district.
Students
| Amherst-Pelham | Ralph C Mahar | |
|---|---|---|
| Students in classes | 1,201 | 517 |
| English learners | 6.8% | 3.1% |
| Students with disabilities | 26.6% | 28.2% |
| White | 54.9% | 81% |
| Asian | 10.3% | 1.3% |
| Hispanic/Latino | 18.9% | 12.2% |
| Black/African American | 9.1% | 2.2% |
| Multi-race | 6.4% | 2.9% |
Homes & taxes
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
Orange
Franklin County · Western Massachusetts
Avg single-family home value$296KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$4,910MA median $6,814
Tax rate$16.60 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$24,057MA median $47,872
Local kids in public school93.5%
Town bond ratingA+
Petersham
Worcester County · Central Massachusetts
Avg single-family home value$401KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$5,707MA median $6,814
Tax rate$14.20 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$49,307MA median $47,872
Local kids in public school97.2%
Town bond ratingAA+
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
Amherst-Pelham
High schools · rank of 335
Amherst Regional HighSAT 1269#43 A-Elementary schools · rank of 895
Pelham Elementary#139 B+Shutesbury Elementary#263 BCrocker Farm Elementary#280 BWildwood Elementary#468 B-Leverett Elementary#473 B-Amethyst Brook Elementary#501 C+