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

Ashland vs Hopkinton Schools

How the two districts, about 4 miles apart, compare on test scores, high school results, classrooms, spending and housing.

The short answer

  • Overall: Hopkinton ranks higher, #2 to Ashland's #59 of 328 Massachusetts districts.
  • MCAS 2026: Hopkinton students score higher: ELA 72% vs 54%, Math 79% vs 57% met expectations. Statewide: 41% and 41%.
  • SAT: Hopkinton averages 54 points higher (1272 vs 1218).
  • Spending: Similar: $17,922 per student in Ashland and $18,315 in Hopkinton.
  • Homes: Homes cost more in Hopkinton: single-family homes average $994K vs $737K. The average tax bill is $9,372 in Ashland and $14,021 in Hopkinton.

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 ArtsHopkinton ahead
Ashland
54%
Hopkinton
72%
State
41%
MathHopkinton ahead
Ashland
57%
Hopkinton
79%
State
41%
ELA by year
YearAshlandHopkintonState
202654%72%41%
202556%74%43%
202455%75%42%
202358%76%45%
202256%76%43%
202161%78%48%
Math by year
YearAshlandHopkintonState
202657%79%41%
202557%79%41%
202459%81%42%
202360%79%42%
202257%76%40%
202153%71%35%

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

High school results

Average SATHopkinton ahead
Ashland
1218
Hopkinton
1272
MA avg
1113
AP exams scored 3+About the same
Ashland
95.4%
Hopkinton
95.7%
MA avg
69.1%
Four-year graduation rateHopkinton ahead
Ashland
94%
Hopkinton
99.3%
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 Hopkinton
Ashland
18.1
Hopkinton
20
MA avg
17.3
Attendance rateAbout the same
Ashland
94.7%
Hopkinton
95%
MA avg
93.7%
Chronically absentmissed 10%+ of daysLower in Hopkinton
Ashland
13.4%
Hopkinton
9.9%
MA avg
16.9%
Teachers who stayedfrom last yearHopkinton ahead
Ashland
89.4%
Hopkinton
95.2%
MA avg
84.7%
Spending per studentHigher in Hopkinton
Ashland
$17,922
Hopkinton
$18,315
MA median
$21,765
Average teacher salaryHigher in Hopkinton
Ashland
$94,563
Hopkinton
$109,298
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

AshlandHopkinton
Students in classes2,9354,261
English learners8.3%5.2%
Students with disabilities19.3%14%
White52%53.9%
Asian18.8%32.2%
Hispanic/Latino21.6%5.7%
Black/African American3.4%1.1%
Multi-race3.6%6.9%

Homes & taxes

Average single-family home valueHigher in Hopkinton
Ashland
$737K
Hopkinton
$994K
MA median
$588K
Average property tax billHigher in Hopkinton
Ashland
$9,372
Hopkinton
$14,021
MA median
$6,814
Ashland
Middlesex County · Greater Boston — I-95 to I-495
Avg single-family home value$737KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$9,372MA median $6,814
Tax rate$12.70 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$64,286MA median $47,872
Local kids in public school95.8%
Town bond ratingAAA
Free cash reserves3.6% of budget
Hopkinton
Middlesex County · Greater Boston — I-95 to I-495
Avg single-family home value$994KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$14,021MA median $6,814
Tax rate$14.10 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$100,244MA median $47,872
Local kids in public school96.8%
Town bond ratingAAA
Free cash reserves13.2% 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

Ashland
High schools · rank of 335
Ashland HighSAT 1218#30 A-
Elementary schools · rank of 895
David Mindess#312 B
Hopkinton
High schools · rank of 335
Hopkinton HighSAT 1272#7 A+
Elementary schools · rank of 895
Elmwood#46 A