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

Hamilton-Wenham vs Rockport Schools

How the two districts, about 14 miles apart, compare on test scores, high school results, classrooms, spending and housing.

The short answer

  • Overall: Hamilton-Wenham ranks higher, #47 to Rockport's #104 of 328 Massachusetts districts.
  • MCAS 2026: Hamilton-Wenham students score higher: ELA 64% vs 39%, Math 67% vs 36% met expectations. Statewide: 41% and 41%.
  • SAT: Hamilton-Wenham averages 76 points higher (1221 vs 1145).
  • Spending: Rockport spends $5,612 more per student ($30,152 vs $24,540).
  • Homes: Similar: single-family homes average $941K in Hamilton-Wenham and $1.01M in Rockport. The average tax bill is $14,629 in Hamilton-Wenham and $8,548 in Rockport.

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 ArtsHamilton-Wenham ahead
Hamilton-Wenham
64%
Rockport
39%
State
41%
MathHamilton-Wenham ahead
Hamilton-Wenham
67%
Rockport
36%
State
41%
ELA by year
YearHamilton-WenhamRockportState
202664%39%41%
202565%49%43%
202464%49%42%
202366%53%44%
202265%47%44%
202175%51%49%
Math by year
YearHamilton-WenhamRockportState
202667%36%41%
202563%44%41%
202459%39%42%
202359%43%42%
202260%39%41%
202156%32%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 SATHamilton-Wenham ahead
Hamilton-Wenham
1221
Rockport
1145
MA avg
1113
AP exams scored 3+Hamilton-Wenham ahead
Hamilton-Wenham
77.5%
Rockport
72.5%
MA avg
69.1%
Four-year graduation rateHamilton-Wenham ahead
Hamilton-Wenham
97.5%
Rockport
95.6%
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
Hamilton-Wenham
15.9
Rockport
16.1
MA avg
17.3
Attendance rateHamilton-Wenham ahead
Hamilton-Wenham
95.8%
Rockport
93.8%
MA avg
93.7%
Chronically absentmissed 10%+ of daysLower in Hamilton-Wenham
Hamilton-Wenham
5.3%
Rockport
16.7%
MA avg
16.9%
Teachers who stayedfrom last yearRockport ahead
Hamilton-Wenham
85.8%
Rockport
87.4%
MA avg
84.7%
Spending per studentHigher in Rockport
Hamilton-Wenham
$24,540
Rockport
$30,152
MA median
$21,765
Average teacher salaryHigher in Hamilton-Wenham
Hamilton-Wenham
$93,642
Rockport
$91,446
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

Hamilton-WenhamRockport
Students in classes1,678640
English learners0.8%1.1%
Students with disabilities17.4%21.7%
White86.3%89.2%
Asian3.3%1.4%
Hispanic/Latino6.3%4.8%
Black/African American0.8%1.1%
Multi-race3.2%3.2%

Homes & taxes

Average single-family home valueHigher in Rockport
Hamilton-Wenham
$941K
Rockport
$1.01M
MA median
$588K
Average property tax billHigher in Hamilton-Wenham
Hamilton-Wenham
$14,629
Rockport
$8,548
MA median
$6,814
Hamilton
Essex County · North Shore & Merrimack Valley
Avg single-family home value$871KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$13,093MA median $6,814
Tax rate$15.00 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$98,753MA median $47,872
Town bond ratingAAA
Free cash reserves8.7% of budget
Wenham
Essex County · North Shore & Merrimack Valley
Avg single-family home value$1.01MMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$16,164MA median $6,814
Tax rate$16.00 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$115,093MA median $47,872
Town bond ratingAAA
Free cash reserves6.6% of budget
Rockport
Essex County · North Shore & Merrimack Valley
Avg single-family home value$1.01MMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$8,548MA median $6,814
Tax rate$8.50 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$77,404MA median $47,872
Local kids in public school90%
Town bond ratingAA+
Free cash reserves7% 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

Hamilton-Wenham
High schools · rank of 335
Hamilton-Wenham Regional HighSAT 1221#44 A-
Elementary schools · rank of 895
Bessie Buker Elementary#58 ACutler School#243 BWinthrop School#244 B
Rockport
High schools · rank of 335
Rockport Middle HighSAT 1145#116 B
Elementary schools · rank of 895
Rockport Elementary#358 B