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

Farmington River Reg vs Gateway Schools

How the two districts, about 12 miles apart, compare on test scores, high school results, classrooms, spending and housing.

Farmington River Reg
#261 of 328 districts
C
Serves Otis and Sandisfield
1 elementary school
Full district profile →
vs
Gateway
#188 of 328 districts
C+
Serves Blandford, Chester, Huntington, Middlefield, Montgomery and Russell
1 high school · 2 elementary schools
Full district profile →

The short answer

  • Overall: Gateway ranks higher, #188 to Farmington River Reg's #261 of 328 Massachusetts districts.
  • MCAS 2026: Farmington River Reg students score higher: ELA 48% vs 32%, Math 47% vs 35% met expectations.
  • High school: Farmington River Reg has no high school in our rankings (its students may attend a regional high school), so only Gateway has SAT and graduation figures (SAT average 1145).
  • Spending: Farmington River Reg spends $7,414 more per student ($32,033 vs $24,620).
  • Homes: Homes cost more in Farmington River Reg: single-family homes average $503K vs $322K. The average tax bill is $3,427 in Farmington River Reg and $4,820 in Gateway.
  • Class size: Smaller in Gateway: 11.3 students on average vs 15.7.

MCAS results, 2026

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

English Language ArtsFarmington River Reg ahead
Farmington River Reg
48%
Gateway
32%
MathFarmington River Reg ahead
Farmington River Reg
47%
Gateway
35%
ELA by year
YearFarmington River RegGateway
202648%32%
202541%34%
202439%33%
202342%32%
202246%35%
2021—42%
Math by year
YearFarmington River RegGateway
202647%35%
202537%34%
202448%33%
202353%30%
202256%32%
2021—25%

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

High school results

Average SAT
Farmington River Reg: no data
Gateway
1145
MA avg
1113
AP exams scored 3+
Farmington River Reg: no data
Gateway
76.7%
MA avg
69.1%
Four-year graduation rate
Farmington River Reg: no data
Gateway
87.8%
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 Farmington River Reg
Farmington River Reg
15.7
Gateway
11.3
MA avg
17.3
Attendance rateFarmington River Reg ahead
Farmington River Reg
92.9%
Gateway
91.8%
MA avg
93.7%
Chronically absentmissed 10%+ of daysLower in Gateway
Farmington River Reg
24.4%
Gateway
23.3%
MA avg
16.9%
Teachers who stayedfrom last yearGateway ahead
Farmington River Reg
86.7%
Gateway
88.1%
MA avg
84.7%
Spending per studentHigher in Farmington River Reg
Farmington River Reg
$32,033
Gateway
$24,620
MA median
$21,765
Average teacher salaryHigher in Farmington River Reg
Farmington River Reg
$74,582
Gateway
$73,629
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

Farmington River RegGateway
Students in classes127722
English learners1.6%1.4%
Students with disabilities21.3%27.7%
White93.3%89.3%
Asian1%0.3%
Hispanic/Latino4.8%7.4%
Black/African American0%0.4%
Multi-race1%2.2%

Homes & taxes

Average single-family home valueHigher in Farmington River Reg
Farmington River Reg
$503K
Gateway
$322K
MA median
$588K
Average property tax billHigher in Gateway
Farmington River Reg
$3,427
Gateway
$4,820
MA median
$6,814
Otis
Berkshire County · Western Massachusetts
Avg single-family home value$565KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$3,365MA median $6,814
Tax rate$6.00 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$46,453MA median $47,872
Town bond ratingAA
Free cash reserves16.7% of budget
Sandisfield
Berkshire County · Western Massachusetts
Avg single-family home value$442KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$3,489MA median $6,814
Tax rate$7.90 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$28,900MA median $47,872
Free cash reserves30.5% of budget
Blandford
Hampden County · Western Massachusetts
Avg single-family home value$372KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$4,680MA median $6,814
Tax rate$12.60 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$35,064MA median $47,872
Free cash reserves20.8% of budget
Chester
Hampden County · Western Massachusetts
Avg single-family home value$247KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$4,458MA median $6,814
Tax rate$18.10 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$30,625MA median $47,872
Free cash reserves4.6% of budget
Huntington
Hampshire County · Western Massachusetts
Avg single-family home value$319KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$4,714MA median $6,814
Tax rate$14.80 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$36,295MA median $47,872
Free cash reserves5.8% of budget
Middlefield
Hampshire County · Western Massachusetts
Avg single-family home value$260KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$4,392MA median $6,814
Tax rate$16.90 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$30,571MA median $47,872
Town bond ratingAA
Free cash reserves14.9% of budget
Montgomery
Hampden County · Western Massachusetts
Avg single-family home value$416KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$4,822MA median $6,814
Tax rate$11.60 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$39,242MA median $47,872
Russell
Hampden County · Western Massachusetts
Avg single-family home value$318KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$5,854MA median $6,814
Tax rate$18.40 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$39,348MA median $47,872
Free cash reserves37% 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

Farmington River Reg
Elementary schools · rank of 895
Farmington River Elementary#668 C
Gateway
High schools · rank of 335
Gateway Regional SchoolSAT 1145#216 C+
Elementary schools · rank of 895
Chester Elementary#220 B+Littleville Elementary School#734 C