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

Berlin-Boylston vs Wachusett Schools

How the two districts, about 11 miles apart, compare on test scores, high school results, classrooms, spending and housing.

Berlin-Boylston
#49 of 328 districts
A-
Serves Berlin and Boylston
1 high school · 2 elementary schools
Full district profile →
vs
Wachusett
#79 of 328 districts
B+
Serves Holden, Paxton, Princeton, Rutland and Sterling
1 high school · 7 elementary schools
Full district profile →

The short answer

  • Overall: Berlin-Boylston ranks higher, #49 to Wachusett's #79 of 328 Massachusetts districts.
  • MCAS 2026: Berlin-Boylston students score higher: ELA 59% vs 50%, Math 58% vs 55% met expectations. Statewide: 41% and 41%.
  • SAT: Berlin-Boylston averages 24 points higher (1165 vs 1141).
  • Spending: Berlin-Boylston spends $2,692 more per student ($20,989 vs $18,298).
  • Homes: Homes cost more in Berlin-Boylston: single-family homes average $699K vs $552K. The average tax bill is $9,665 in Berlin-Boylston and $7,535 in Wachusett.

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 ArtsBerlin-Boylston ahead
Berlin-Boylston
59%
Wachusett
50%
State
41%
MathBerlin-Boylston ahead
Berlin-Boylston
58%
Wachusett
55%
State
41%
ELA by year
YearBerlin-BoylstonWachusettState
202659%50%41%
202560%54%42%
202460%51%42%
202366%57%44%
202260%54%44%
202170%60%48%
Math by year
YearBerlin-BoylstonWachusettState
202658%55%41%
202562%57%41%
202463%56%42%
202361%56%42%
202262%53%41%
202149%47%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 SATBerlin-Boylston ahead
Berlin-Boylston
1165
Wachusett
1141
MA avg
1113
AP exams scored 3+Wachusett ahead
Berlin-Boylston
70.9%
Wachusett
87.8%
MA avg
69.1%
Four-year graduation rateBerlin-Boylston ahead
Berlin-Boylston
97.4%
Wachusett
95.7%
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 Wachusett
Berlin-Boylston
16.8
Wachusett
17.3
MA avg
17.3
Attendance rateAbout the same
Berlin-Boylston
94.8%
Wachusett
94.4%
MA avg
93.7%
Chronically absentmissed 10%+ of daysLower in Berlin-Boylston
Berlin-Boylston
9.9%
Wachusett
11.5%
MA avg
16.9%
Teachers who stayedfrom last yearWachusett ahead
Berlin-Boylston
91.7%
Wachusett
94.3%
MA avg
84.7%
Spending per studentHigher in Berlin-Boylston
Berlin-Boylston
$20,989
Wachusett
$18,298
MA median
$21,765
Average teacher salaryHigher in Wachusett
Berlin-Boylston
$85,102
Wachusett
$93,919
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

Berlin-BoylstonWachusett
Students in classes1,1136,563
English learners4%1.8%
Students with disabilities17.8%16.2%
White78.9%80.5%
Asian4.5%3.3%
Hispanic/Latino10.5%8.7%
Black/African American1.4%4.2%
Multi-race4.3%3.1%

Homes & taxes

Average single-family home valueHigher in Berlin-Boylston
Berlin-Boylston
$699K
Wachusett
$552K
MA median
$588K
Average property tax billHigher in Berlin-Boylston
Berlin-Boylston
$9,665
Wachusett
$7,535
MA median
$6,814
Berlin
Worcester County · Greater Boston — I-95 to I-495
Avg single-family home value$708KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$9,951MA median $6,814
Tax rate$14.10 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$66,745MA median $47,872
Local kids in public school93.8%
Town bond ratingAA+
Free cash reserves14.8% of budget
Boylston
Worcester County · Central Massachusetts
Avg single-family home value$691KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$9,379MA median $6,814
Tax rate$13.60 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$76,404MA median $47,872
Local kids in public school90.4%
Free cash reserves4.9% of budget
Holden
Worcester County · Central Massachusetts
Avg single-family home value$554KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$7,469MA median $6,814
Tax rate$13.50 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$54,198MA median $47,872
Town bond ratingAA+
Free cash reserves6.7% of budget
Paxton
Worcester County · Central Massachusetts
Avg single-family home value$527KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$7,989MA median $6,814
Tax rate$15.20 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$49,552MA median $47,872
Free cash reserves3.1% of budget
Princeton
Worcester County · Central Massachusetts
Avg single-family home value$599KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$8,050MA median $6,814
Tax rate$13.40 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$68,822MA median $47,872
Free cash reserves10.1% of budget
Rutland
Worcester County · Central Massachusetts
Avg single-family home value$478KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$6,630MA median $6,814
Tax rate$13.90 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$46,453MA median $47,872
Town bond ratingAA
Free cash reserves7.7% of budget
Sterling
Worcester County · Central Massachusetts
Avg single-family home value$600KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$7,535MA median $6,814
Tax rate$12.60 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$62,757MA median $47,872
Town bond ratingAA+
Free cash reserves4.5% 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

Berlin-Boylston
High schools · rank of 335
Tahanto Regional HighSAT 1165#54 B+
Elementary schools · rank of 895
Boylston Elementary School#125 A-Berlin Memorial School#241 B