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

Duxbury vs Plymouth Schools

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

The short answer

  • Overall: Duxbury ranks higher, #31 to Plymouth's #118 of 328 Massachusetts districts.
  • MCAS 2026: Duxbury students score higher: ELA 63% vs 45%, Math 60% vs 35% met expectations. Statewide: 41% and 41%.
  • SAT: Duxbury averages 130 points higher (1185 vs 1055).
  • Spending: Plymouth spends $1,820 more per student ($22,854 vs $21,034).
  • Homes: Homes cost more in Duxbury: single-family homes average $1.30M vs $616K. The average tax bill is $12,963 in Duxbury and $7,731 in Plymouth.
  • Class size: Smaller in Plymouth: 16 students on average vs 18.1.

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 ArtsDuxbury ahead
Duxbury
63%
Plymouth
45%
State
41%
MathDuxbury ahead
Duxbury
60%
Plymouth
35%
State
41%
ELA by year
YearDuxburyPlymouthState
202663%45%41%
202569%47%43%
202466%45%42%
202371%51%45%
202262%48%44%
202169%53%49%
Math by year
YearDuxburyPlymouthState
202660%35%41%
202565%38%41%
202461%38%42%
202364%42%42%
202259%38%41%
202157%35%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 SATDuxbury ahead
Duxbury
1185
Plymouth
1055
MA avg
1113
AP exams scored 3+Duxbury ahead
Duxbury
79.2%
Plymouth
74.4%
MA avg
69.1%
Four-year graduation rateDuxbury ahead
Duxbury
98.7%
Plymouth
94.4%
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 Duxbury
Duxbury
18.1
Plymouth
16
MA avg
17.3
Attendance rateDuxbury ahead
Duxbury
95.4%
Plymouth
93.9%
MA avg
93.7%
Chronically absentmissed 10%+ of daysLower in Duxbury
Duxbury
6.6%
Plymouth
15.7%
MA avg
16.9%
Teachers who stayedfrom last yearAbout the same
Duxbury
89.8%
Plymouth
90.2%
MA avg
84.7%
Spending per studentHigher in Plymouth
Duxbury
$21,034
Plymouth
$22,854
MA median
$21,765
Average teacher salaryHigher in Duxbury
Duxbury
$96,993
Plymouth
$85,129
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

DuxburyPlymouth
Students in classes2,7096,996
English learners0.3%5.6%
Students with disabilities16.4%21.6%
White90.8%80.2%
Asian1.1%0.8%
Hispanic/Latino3.5%11.1%
Black/African American0.6%2.6%
Multi-race3.8%5%

Homes & taxes

Average single-family home valueHigher in Duxbury
Duxbury
$1.30M
Plymouth
$616K
MA median
$588K
Average property tax billHigher in Duxbury
Duxbury
$12,963
Plymouth
$7,731
MA median
$6,814
Duxbury
Plymouth County · South Shore
Avg single-family home value$1.30MMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$12,963MA median $6,814
Tax rate$10.00 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$120,968MA median $47,872
Local kids in public school93.8%
Town bond ratingAAA
Free cash reserves5.6% of budget
Plymouth
Plymouth County · South Shore
Avg single-family home value$616KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$7,731MA median $6,814
Tax rate$12.60 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$47,294MA median $47,872
Local kids in public school96.4%
Town bond ratingAA+
Free cash reserves7.5% 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