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

Georgetown vs Newburyport Schools

How the two districts, about 8 miles apart, compare on test scores, high school results, classrooms, spending and housing.

The short answer

  • Overall: Neck and neck: Georgetown ranks #96 and Newburyport #89 of 328 Massachusetts districts.
  • MCAS 2026: Newburyport students score higher: ELA 54% vs 41%, Math 52% vs 42% met expectations. Statewide: 41% and 41%.
  • SAT: Newburyport averages 31 points higher (1165 vs 1134).
  • Spending: Newburyport spends $3,143 more per student ($23,233 vs $20,090).
  • Homes: Homes cost more in Newburyport: single-family homes average $1.11M vs $750K. The average tax bill is $10,314 in Georgetown and $10,249 in Newburyport.

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 ArtsNewburyport ahead
Georgetown
41%
Newburyport
54%
State
41%
MathNewburyport ahead
Georgetown
42%
Newburyport
52%
State
41%
ELA by year
YearGeorgetownNewburyportState
202641%54%41%
202541%58%42%
202442%54%41%
202346%59%44%
202249%54%43%
202155%64%49%
Math by year
YearGeorgetownNewburyportState
202642%52%41%
202540%49%41%
202447%51%42%
202346%51%42%
202244%45%40%
202137%49%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 SATNewburyport ahead
Georgetown
1134
Newburyport
1165
MA avg
1113
AP exams scored 3+Georgetown ahead
Georgetown
90.7%
Newburyport
81.2%
MA avg
69.1%
Four-year graduation rateNewburyport ahead
Georgetown
97.3%
Newburyport
99%
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 sizeAbout the same
Georgetown
16.2
Newburyport
15.9
MA avg
17.3
Attendance rateAbout the same
Georgetown
94.3%
Newburyport
94.8%
MA avg
93.7%
Chronically absentmissed 10%+ of daysLower in Newburyport
Georgetown
13.2%
Newburyport
8.8%
MA avg
16.9%
Teachers who stayedfrom last yearNewburyport ahead
Georgetown
72.5%
Newburyport
86.7%
MA avg
84.7%
Spending per studentHigher in Newburyport
Georgetown
$20,090
Newburyport
$23,233
MA median
$21,765
Average teacher salaryHigher in Georgetown
Georgetown
$126,247
Newburyport
$92,090
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

GeorgetownNewburyport
Students in classes1,1912,117
English learners1.7%3.2%
Students with disabilities15.5%19.7%
White89.3%89.7%
Asian0.6%1.2%
Hispanic/Latino7.1%6%
Black/African American0.7%0.6%
Multi-race2.4%2.5%

Homes & taxes

Average single-family home valueHigher in Newburyport
Georgetown
$750K
Newburyport
$1.11M
MA median
$588K
Average property tax billHigher in Georgetown
Georgetown
$10,314
Newburyport
$10,249
MA median
$6,814
Georgetown
Essex County · North Shore & Merrimack Valley
Avg single-family home value$750KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$10,314MA median $6,814
Tax rate$13.80 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$62,409MA median $47,872
Local kids in public school92.4%
Free cash reserves4.4% of budget
Newburyport
Essex County · North Shore & Merrimack Valley
Avg single-family home value$1.11MMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$10,249MA median $6,814
Tax rate$9.30 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$90,261MA median $47,872
Local kids in public school88.5%
Town bond ratingAAA
Free cash reserves3.2% 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

Georgetown
High schools · rank of 335
Georgetown High SchoolSAT 1134#91 B
Elementary schools · rank of 895
Penn Brook#382 B-
Newburyport
High schools · rank of 335
Newburyport HighSAT 1165#79 B+
Elementary schools · rank of 895
Francis T Bresnahan Elementary#351 B