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

Auburn vs Dudley-Charlton Reg Schools

How the two districts, about 9 miles apart, compare on test scores, high school results, classrooms, spending and housing.

The short answer

  • Overall: Auburn ranks higher, #140 to Dudley-Charlton Reg's #206 of 328 Massachusetts districts.
  • MCAS 2026: Auburn students score higher: ELA 41% vs 32%, Math 43% vs 32% met expectations. Statewide: 41% and 41%.
  • SAT: Auburn averages 17 points higher (1105 vs 1088).
  • Spending: Similar: $17,782 per student in Auburn and $17,572 in Dudley-Charlton Reg.
  • Homes: Similar: single-family homes average $443K in Auburn and $469K in Dudley-Charlton Reg. The average tax bill is $6,307 in Auburn and $4,936 in Dudley-Charlton Reg.

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 ArtsAuburn ahead
Auburn
41%
Dudley-Charlton Reg
32%
State
41%
MathAuburn ahead
Auburn
43%
Dudley-Charlton Reg
32%
State
41%
ELA by year
YearAuburnDudley-Charlton RegState
202641%32%41%
202545%37%43%
202448%36%42%
202350%42%44%
202248%45%43%
202154%52%49%
Math by year
YearAuburnDudley-Charlton RegState
202643%32%41%
202541%32%41%
202447%34%42%
202349%40%42%
202247%38%40%
202144%34%36%

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

High school results

Average SATAuburn ahead
Auburn
1105
Dudley-Charlton Reg
1088
MA avg
1113
AP exams scored 3+Dudley-Charlton Reg ahead
Auburn
65%
Dudley-Charlton Reg
77.1%
MA avg
69.1%
Four-year graduation rateAuburn ahead
Auburn
92.6%
Dudley-Charlton Reg
90.7%
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 Dudley-Charlton Reg
Auburn
17
Dudley-Charlton Reg
18.9
MA avg
17.3
Attendance rateAbout the same
Auburn
94.5%
Dudley-Charlton Reg
94.4%
MA avg
93.7%
Chronically absentmissed 10%+ of daysAbout the same
Auburn
12.6%
Dudley-Charlton Reg
13.2%
MA avg
16.9%
Teachers who stayedfrom last yearDudley-Charlton Reg ahead
Auburn
89.1%
Dudley-Charlton Reg
91%
MA avg
84.7%
Spending per studentHigher in Auburn
Auburn
$17,782
Dudley-Charlton Reg
$17,572
MA median
$21,765
Average teacher salaryHigher in Auburn
Auburn
$86,267
Dudley-Charlton Reg
$86,012
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

AuburnDudley-Charlton Reg
Students in classes2,5083,496
English learners4.3%3.1%
Students with disabilities15.5%20.5%
White73.4%77%
Asian5.1%0.9%
Hispanic/Latino13.8%14.5%
Black/African American5.1%3.6%
Multi-race2.2%3.9%

Homes & taxes

Average single-family home valueHigher in Dudley-Charlton Reg
Auburn
$443K
Dudley-Charlton Reg
$469K
MA median
$588K
Average property tax billHigher in Auburn
Auburn
$6,307
Dudley-Charlton Reg
$4,936
MA median
$6,814
Auburn
Worcester County · Central Massachusetts
Avg single-family home value$443KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$6,307MA median $6,814
Tax rate$14.20 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$43,486MA median $47,872
Local kids in public school95.2%
Town bond ratingAA+
Free cash reserves14.9% of budget
Charlton
Worcester County · Central Massachusetts
Avg single-family home value$489KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$5,345MA median $6,814
Tax rate$10.90 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$46,950MA median $47,872
Town bond ratingAA+
Free cash reserves6.3% of budget
Dudley
Worcester County · Central Massachusetts
Avg single-family home value$450KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$4,526MA median $6,814
Tax rate$10.10 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$36,085MA median $47,872
Town bond ratingAA
Free cash reserves4.4% 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

Auburn
High schools · rank of 335
Auburn Senior HighSAT 1105#149 B-
Elementary schools · rank of 895
Swanson Road Intermediate School#387 B-
Dudley-Charlton Reg
High schools · rank of 335
Shepherd Hill Regional HighSAT 1088#194 C+
Elementary schools · rank of 895
Dudley Elementary#546 C+Heritage School#547 C+