← Compare schools & districts
School district comparison · MCAS 2026 · other data 2024-25

Gateway vs Westfield Schools

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

Gateway
#188 of 328 districts
C+
Serves Blandford, Chester, Huntington, Middlefield, Montgomery and Russell
1 high school · 2 elementary schools
Full district profile →
vs
Westfield
#220 of 328 districts
C+
Serves Westfield
2 high schools · 5 elementary schools
Full district profile →

The short answer

  • Overall: Gateway ranks higher, #188 to Westfield's #220 of 328 Massachusetts districts.
  • MCAS 2026: Similar results: in Gateway, 32% met expectations in ELA and 35% in Math; in Westfield, 33% and 34%. Statewide: 41% and 41%.
  • SAT: Gateway averages 74 points higher (1145 vs 1071).
  • Spending: Gateway spends $4,449 more per student ($24,620 vs $20,170).
  • Homes: Homes cost more in Westfield: single-family homes average $388K vs $322K. The average tax bill is $4,820 in Gateway and $5,787 in Westfield.
  • Class size: Smaller in Gateway: 11.3 students on average vs 16.9.

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 ArtsAbout the same
Gateway
32%
Westfield
33%
State
41%
MathAbout the same
Gateway
35%
Westfield
34%
State
41%
ELA by year
YearGatewayWestfieldState
202632%33%41%
202534%35%43%
202433%36%41%
202332%39%43%
202235%37%43%
202142%45%48%
Math by year
YearGatewayWestfieldState
202635%34%41%
202534%33%41%
202433%34%41%
202330%33%41%
202232%30%40%
202125%29%35%

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

High school results

Average SATGateway ahead
Gateway
1145
Westfield
1071
MA avg
1113
AP exams scored 3+Gateway ahead
Gateway
76.7%
Westfield
62.5%
MA avg
69.1%
Four-year graduation rateWestfield ahead
Gateway
87.8%
Westfield
89.3%
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 Westfield
Gateway
11.3
Westfield
16.9
MA avg
17.3
Attendance rateWestfield ahead
Gateway
91.8%
Westfield
92.8%
MA avg
93.7%
Chronically absentmissed 10%+ of daysLower in Westfield
Gateway
23.3%
Westfield
21.7%
MA avg
16.9%
Teachers who stayedfrom last yearGateway ahead
Gateway
88.1%
Westfield
87%
MA avg
84.7%
Spending per studentHigher in Gateway
Gateway
$24,620
Westfield
$20,170
MA median
$21,765
Average teacher salaryHigher in Westfield
Gateway
$73,629
Westfield
$82,215
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

GatewayWestfield
Students in classes7224,836
English learners1.4%9.2%
Students with disabilities27.7%25.7%
White89.3%70.2%
Asian0.3%3%
Hispanic/Latino7.4%20%
Black/African American0.4%2.1%
Multi-race2.2%4.6%

Homes & taxes

Average single-family home valueHigher in Westfield
Gateway
$322K
Westfield
$388K
MA median
$588K
Average property tax billHigher in Westfield
Gateway
$4,820
Westfield
$5,787
MA median
$6,814
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
Westfield
Hampden County · Western Massachusetts
Avg single-family home value$388KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$5,787MA median $6,814
Tax rate$14.90 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$33,497MA median $47,872
Local kids in public school89.1%
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

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