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

Barnstable vs Nauset Schools

How the two districts, about 21 miles apart, compare on test scores, high school results, classrooms, spending and housing.

Barnstable
#196 of 328 districts
C+
Serves Barnstable
1 high school · 5 elementary schools
Full district profile →
vs
Nauset
#110 of 328 districts
B
Serves Brewster, Eastham, Orleans and Wellfleet
1 high school · 4 elementary schools
Full district profile →

The short answer

  • Overall: Nauset ranks higher, #110 to Barnstable's #196 of 328 Massachusetts districts.
  • MCAS 2026: Nauset students score higher: ELA 47% vs 27%, Math 44% vs 26% met expectations. Statewide: 41% and 41%.
  • SAT: Nauset averages 71 points higher (1121 vs 1050).
  • Spending: Nauset spends $6,797 more per student ($29,611 vs $22,814).
  • Homes: Homes cost more in Nauset: single-family homes average $1.08M vs $823K. The average tax bill is $5,599 in Barnstable and $7,390 in Nauset.
  • Class size: Smaller in Nauset: 13.1 students on average vs 15.4.

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 ArtsNauset ahead
Barnstable
27%
Nauset
47%
State
41%
MathNauset ahead
Barnstable
26%
Nauset
44%
State
41%
ELA by year
YearBarnstableNausetState
202627%47%41%
202529%54%43%
202430%50%42%
202335%55%45%
202234%52%43%
202143%58%49%
Math by year
YearBarnstableNausetState
202626%44%41%
202527%44%42%
202429%47%42%
202330%47%42%
202228%47%40%
202125%43%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 SATNauset ahead
Barnstable
1050
Nauset
1121
MA avg
1113
AP exams scored 3+Nauset ahead
Barnstable
53.7%
Nauset
75.1%
MA avg
69.1%
Four-year graduation rateNauset ahead
Barnstable
84.6%
Nauset
91.5%
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 Barnstable
Barnstable
15.4
Nauset
13.1
MA avg
17.3
Attendance rateAbout the same
Barnstable
92.9%
Nauset
93.3%
MA avg
93.7%
Chronically absentmissed 10%+ of daysLower in Nauset
Barnstable
21.7%
Nauset
18.3%
MA avg
16.9%
Teachers who stayedfrom last yearNauset ahead
Barnstable
88.4%
Nauset
91.6%
MA avg
84.7%
Spending per studentHigher in Nauset
Barnstable
$22,814
Nauset
$29,611
MA median
$21,765
Average teacher salaryHigher in Nauset
Barnstable
$96,107
Nauset
$101,454
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

BarnstableNauset
Students in classes4,6351,189
English learners25.8%2%
Students with disabilities18.4%17.2%
White46.4%78.4%
Asian2.1%1.3%
Hispanic/Latino33.6%7.5%
Black/African American10.1%6.2%
Multi-race7.3%6.5%

Homes & taxes

Average single-family home valueHigher in Nauset
Barnstable
$823K
Nauset
$1.08M
MA median
$588K
Average property tax billHigher in Nauset
Barnstable
$5,599
Nauset
$7,390
MA median
$6,814
Barnstable
Barnstable County · South Coast & Cape Cod
Avg single-family home value$823KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$5,599MA median $6,814
Tax rate$6.80 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$51,495MA median $47,872
Local kids in public school89.5%
Town bond ratingAAA
Free cash reserves15.4% of budget
Brewster
Barnstable County · South Coast & Cape Cod
Avg single-family home value$967KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$6,544MA median $6,814
Tax rate$6.80 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$50,531MA median $47,872
Local kids in public school95.7%
Town bond ratingAAA
Free cash reserves5.8% of budget
Eastham
Barnstable County · South Coast & Cape Cod
Avg single-family home value$864KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$6,664MA median $6,814
Tax rate$7.70 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$52,082MA median $47,872
Local kids in public school99.3%
Town bond ratingAA+
Free cash reserves13% of budget
Orleans
Barnstable County · South Coast & Cape Cod
Avg single-family home value$1.47MMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$8,969MA median $6,814
Tax rate$6.10 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$78,144MA median $47,872
Local kids in public school96.5%
Town bond ratingAAA
Free cash reserves3.6% of budget
Wellfleet
Barnstable County · South Coast & Cape Cod
Avg single-family home value$1.04MMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$7,384MA median $6,814
Tax rate$7.10 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$54,999MA median $47,872
Local kids in public school99.2%
Town bond ratingAA+

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