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

Ashland vs Medway Schools

How the two districts, about 7 miles apart, compare on test scores, high school results, classrooms, spending and housing.

The short answer

  • Overall: Neck and neck: Ashland ranks #59 and Medway #55 of 328 Massachusetts districts.
  • MCAS 2026: Medway students score higher: ELA 57% vs 54%, Math 59% vs 57% met expectations. Statewide: 41% and 41%.
  • SAT: Ashland averages 45 points higher (1218 vs 1173).
  • Spending: Similar: $17,922 per student in Ashland and $19,110 in Medway.
  • Homes: Similar: single-family homes average $737K in Ashland and $699K in Medway. The average tax bill is $9,372 in Ashland and $9,786 in Medway.

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 ArtsMedway ahead
Ashland
54%
Medway
57%
State
41%
MathMedway ahead
Ashland
57%
Medway
59%
State
41%
ELA by year
YearAshlandMedwayState
202654%57%41%
202556%59%43%
202455%57%42%
202358%57%45%
202256%57%43%
202161%65%48%
Math by year
YearAshlandMedwayState
202657%59%41%
202557%59%41%
202459%62%42%
202360%59%42%
202257%57%40%
202153%55%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 SATAshland ahead
Ashland
1218
Medway
1173
MA avg
1113
AP exams scored 3+Ashland ahead
Ashland
95.4%
Medway
79.5%
MA avg
69.1%
Four-year graduation rateMedway ahead
Ashland
94%
Medway
97.3%
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 sizeAbout the same
Ashland
18.1
Medway
17.7
MA avg
17.3
Attendance rateAbout the same
Ashland
94.7%
Medway
94.9%
MA avg
93.7%
Chronically absentmissed 10%+ of daysLower in Medway
Ashland
13.4%
Medway
9.4%
MA avg
16.9%
Teachers who stayedfrom last yearAshland ahead
Ashland
89.4%
Medway
80%
MA avg
84.7%
Spending per studentHigher in Medway
Ashland
$17,922
Medway
$19,110
MA median
$21,765
Average teacher salaryHigher in Ashland
Ashland
$94,563
Medway
$90,793
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

AshlandMedway
Students in classes2,9352,171
English learners8.3%4.7%
Students with disabilities19.3%16.9%
White52%76.7%
Asian18.8%6.4%
Hispanic/Latino21.6%10.2%
Black/African American3.4%2.7%
Multi-race3.6%3.8%

Homes & taxes

Average single-family home valueHigher in Ashland
Ashland
$737K
Medway
$699K
MA median
$588K
Average property tax billHigher in Medway
Ashland
$9,372
Medway
$9,786
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
Medway
Norfolk County · Greater Boston — I-95 to I-495
Avg single-family home value$699KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$9,786MA median $6,814
Tax rate$14.00 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$64,604MA median $47,872
Local kids in public school95.3%
Town bond ratingAAA
Free cash reserves9.7% 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

Ashland
High schools · rank of 335
Ashland HighSAT 1218#30 A-
Elementary schools · rank of 895
David Mindess#312 B
Medway
High schools · rank of 335
Medway HighSAT 1173#84 B
Elementary schools · rank of 895
Burke/Memorial Elementary School#157 B+