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

Concord-Carlisle vs Westford Schools

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

The short answer

  • Overall: Concord-Carlisle ranks higher, #11 to Westford's #38 of 328 Massachusetts districts.
  • MCAS 2026: Concord-Carlisle students score higher: ELA 70% vs 60%, Math 73% vs 69% met expectations. Statewide: 41% and 41%.
  • SAT: Close: Concord-Carlisle averages 1277 and Westford 1271.
  • Spending: Concord-Carlisle spends $11,446 more per student ($30,709 vs $19,263).
  • Homes: Homes cost more in Concord-Carlisle: single-family homes average $1.46M vs $852K. The average tax bill is $18,948 in Concord-Carlisle and $11,171 in Westford.
  • Class size: Smaller in Concord-Carlisle: 16.4 students on average vs 18.7.

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 ArtsConcord-Carlisle ahead
Concord-Carlisle
70%
Westford
60%
State
41%
MathConcord-Carlisle ahead
Concord-Carlisle
73%
Westford
69%
State
41%
ELA by year
YearConcord-CarlisleWestfordState
202670%60%41%
202575%64%43%
202473%65%42%
202375%68%45%
202271%68%44%
202174%75%49%
Math by year
YearConcord-CarlisleWestfordState
202673%69%41%
202572%71%41%
202474%72%42%
202371%73%42%
202269%73%41%
202165%68%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 SATAbout the same
Concord-Carlisle
1277
Westford
1271
MA avg
1113
AP exams scored 3+Concord-Carlisle ahead
Concord-Carlisle
96.3%
Westford
92.9%
MA avg
69.1%
Four-year graduation rateConcord-Carlisle ahead
Concord-Carlisle
97.5%
Westford
96.1%
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 Westford
Concord-Carlisle
16.4
Westford
18.7
MA avg
17.3
Attendance rateAbout the same
Concord-Carlisle
95.1%
Westford
95.2%
MA avg
93.7%
Chronically absentmissed 10%+ of daysAbout the same
Concord-Carlisle
10.6%
Westford
9.9%
MA avg
16.9%
Teachers who stayedfrom last yearAbout the same
Concord-Carlisle
88.9%
Westford
89.7%
MA avg
84.7%
Spending per studentHigher in Concord-Carlisle
Concord-Carlisle
$30,709
Westford
$19,263
MA median
$21,765
Average teacher salaryHigher in Concord-Carlisle
Concord-Carlisle
$126,051
Westford
$90,677
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

Concord-CarlisleWestford
Students in classes1,1984,643
English learners0.8%3.8%
Students with disabilities16%18.3%
White73.3%56.5%
Asian9.8%33.4%
Hispanic/Latino5.8%5.1%
Black/African American3.6%2.6%
Multi-race7.2%2.1%

Homes & taxes

Average single-family home valueHigher in Concord-Carlisle
Concord-Carlisle
$1.46M
Westford
$852K
MA median
$588K
Average property tax billHigher in Concord-Carlisle
Concord-Carlisle
$18,948
Westford
$11,171
MA median
$6,814
Carlisle
Middlesex County · Greater Boston — I-95 to I-495
Avg single-family home value$1.36MMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$17,379MA median $6,814
Tax rate$12.80 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$156,484MA median $47,872
Local kids in public school91.3%
Free cash reserves12.7% of budget
Concord
Middlesex County · Greater Boston — I-95 to I-495
Avg single-family home value$1.57MMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$20,517MA median $6,814
Tax rate$13.10 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$171,701MA median $47,872
Local kids in public school84.2%
Westford
Middlesex County · North Shore & Merrimack Valley
Avg single-family home value$852KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$11,171MA median $6,814
Tax rate$13.10 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$81,289MA median $47,872
Local kids in public school96.4%
Town bond ratingAAA
Free cash reserves4.9% 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

Concord-Carlisle
High schools · rank of 335
Concord Carlisle HighSAT 1277#18 A
Elementary schools · rank of 895
Carlisle School#56 AThoreau#57 AWillard#71 AAlcott#126 A-