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

Erving vs Ralph C Mahar Schools

How the two districts, about 9 miles apart, compare on test scores, high school results, classrooms, spending and housing.

Erving
#167 of 328 districts
B-
Serves Erving
1 elementary school
Full district profile →
vs
Ralph C Mahar
#264 of 328 districts
C
Serves New Salem, Orange, Petersham and Wendell
2 elementary schools
Full district profile →

The short answer

  • Overall: Erving ranks higher, #167 to Ralph C Mahar's #264 of 328 Massachusetts districts.
  • MCAS 2026: Erving students score higher: ELA 39% vs 26%, Math 56% vs 28% met expectations.
  • Spending: Similar: $29,704 per student in Erving and $28,036 in Ralph C Mahar.
  • Homes: Homes cost more in Ralph C Mahar: single-family homes average $353K vs $289K. The average tax bill is $2,772 in Erving and $5,189 in Ralph C Mahar.

MCAS results, 2026

Share of students meeting or exceeding expectations, all tested grades combined. The districts serve different grades (Erving: grades 3–6; Ralph C Mahar: grades 3–10), so the state figure isn't shown.

English Language ArtsErving ahead
Erving
39%
Ralph C Mahar
26%
MathErving ahead
Erving
56%
Ralph C Mahar
28%
ELA by year
YearErvingRalph C Mahar
202639%26%
202532%24%
202434%23%
202328%28%
202223%22%
2021—32%
Math by year
YearErvingRalph C Mahar
202656%28%
202523%24%
202424%21%
202326%25%
202225%21%
2021—19%

No test in 2020. Statewide 10th-grade results dropped after 2024, when passing the MCAS stopped being a graduation requirement.

Classrooms, teachers & spending

Average class sizeHigher in Erving
Erving
12.4
Ralph C Mahar
11.7
MA avg
17.3
Attendance rateErving ahead
Erving
93.7%
Ralph C Mahar
92.7%
MA avg
93.7%
Chronically absentmissed 10%+ of daysLower in Ralph C Mahar
Erving
23.5%
Ralph C Mahar
17.7%
MA avg
16.9%
Teachers who stayedfrom last yearRalph C Mahar ahead
Erving
85.7%
Ralph C Mahar
86.9%
MA avg
84.7%
Spending per studentHigher in Erving
Erving
$29,704
Ralph C Mahar
$28,036
MA median
$21,765
Average teacher salaryHigher in Ralph C Mahar
Erving
$62,616
Ralph C Mahar
$77,048
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

ErvingRalph C Mahar
Students in classes112517
English learners1.8%3.1%
Students with disabilities27.7%28.2%
White83%81%
Asian0%1.3%
Hispanic/Latino8.5%12.2%
Black/African American0%2.2%
Multi-race8.5%2.9%

Homes & taxes

Average single-family home valueHigher in Ralph C Mahar
Erving
$289K
Ralph C Mahar
$353K
MA median
$588K
Average property tax billHigher in Ralph C Mahar
Erving
$2,772
Ralph C Mahar
$5,189
MA median
$6,814
Erving
Franklin County · Western Massachusetts
Avg single-family home value$289KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$2,772MA median $6,814
Tax rate$9.60 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$27,928MA median $47,872
Local kids in public school93.9%
Town bond ratingAA
Free cash reserves8.8% of budget
New Salem
Franklin County · Western Massachusetts
Avg single-family home value$364KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$4,951MA median $6,814
Tax rate$13.60 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$30,155MA median $47,872
Free cash reserves27% of budget
Orange
Franklin County · Western Massachusetts
Avg single-family home value$296KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$4,910MA median $6,814
Tax rate$16.60 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$24,057MA median $47,872
Local kids in public school93.5%
Town bond ratingA+
Petersham
Worcester County · Central Massachusetts
Avg single-family home value$401KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$5,707MA median $6,814
Tax rate$14.20 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$49,307MA median $47,872
Local kids in public school97.2%
Town bond ratingAA+
Wendell
Franklin County · Western Massachusetts
Free cash reserves5.7% 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

Erving
Elementary schools · rank of 895
Erving Elementary#413 B-
Ralph C Mahar
Elementary schools · rank of 895
Fisher Hill School#653 CPetersham Center#743 C