•Overall: Neck and neck: Ayer Shirley School District ranks #136 and North Middlesex #129 of 328 Massachusetts districts.
•MCAS 2026: Ayer Shirley School District students score higher: ELA 41% vs 37%, Math 41% vs 36% met expectations. Statewide: 40% and 41%.
•SAT: Close: Ayer Shirley School District averages 1099 and North Middlesex 1097.
•Spending: North Middlesex spends $1,534 more per student ($20,548 vs $19,014).
•Homes: Homes cost more in Ayer Shirley School District: single-family homes average $548K vs $472K. The average tax bill is $6,558 in Ayer Shirley School District and $6,754 in North Middlesex.
•Class size: Smaller in Ayer Shirley School District: 18.7 students on average vs 20.7.
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 ArtsAyer Shirley School District ahead
Ayer Shirley School District
41%
North Middlesex
37%
State
40%
MathAyer Shirley School District ahead
Ayer Shirley School District
41%
North Middlesex
36%
State
41%
ELA by year
Year
Ayer Shirley School District
North Middlesex
State
2026
41%
37%
40%
2025
42%
42%
42%
2024
45%
39%
41%
2023
49%
47%
45%
2022
47%
48%
43%
2021
49%
54%
48%
Math by year
Year
Ayer Shirley School District
North Middlesex
State
2026
41%
36%
41%
2025
39%
37%
41%
2024
39%
37%
42%
2023
42%
37%
42%
2022
41%
40%
40%
2021
30%
36%
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 SATAbout the same
Ayer Shirley School District
1099
North Middlesex
1097
MA avg
1113
AP exams scored 3+Ayer Shirley School District ahead
Ayer Shirley School District
68.6%
North Middlesex
65.8%
MA avg
69.1%
Four-year graduation rateAyer Shirley School District ahead
Ayer Shirley School District
96.8%
North Middlesex
94.6%
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 North Middlesex
Ayer Shirley School District
18.7
North Middlesex
20.7
MA avg
17.3
Attendance rateAbout the same
Ayer Shirley School District
94.6%
North Middlesex
93.8%
MA avg
93.7%
Chronically absentmissed 10%+ of daysLower in Ayer Shirley School District
Ayer Shirley School District
13.1%
North Middlesex
16.1%
MA avg
16.9%
Teachers who stayedfrom last yearNorth Middlesex ahead
Ayer Shirley School District
85.3%
North Middlesex
89.3%
MA avg
84.7%
Spending per studentHigher in North Middlesex
Ayer Shirley School District
$19,014
North Middlesex
$20,548
MA median
$21,765
Average teacher salaryHigher in Ayer Shirley School District
Ayer Shirley School District
$85,887
North Middlesex
$83,109
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
Ayer Shirley School District
North Middlesex
Students in classes
1,728
2,917
English learners
7.2%
3.8%
Students with disabilities
19.4%
26.2%
White
66.5%
79.9%
Asian
5%
2.4%
Hispanic/Latino
15.8%
10.1%
Black/African American
7.7%
3.6%
Multi-race
4.5%
3.7%
Homes & taxes
Average single-family home valueHigher in Ayer Shirley School District
Ayer Shirley School District
$548K
North Middlesex
$472K
MA median
$588K
Average property tax billHigher in North Middlesex
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.