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

Leicester vs Oxford 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: Leicester ranks #183 and Oxford #187 of 328 Massachusetts districts.
  • MCAS 2026: Oxford students score higher: ELA 33% vs 28%, Math 30% vs 26% met expectations. Statewide: 41% and 41%.
  • SAT: Close: Leicester averages 1090 and Oxford 1095.
  • Spending: Similar: $20,465 per student in Leicester and $19,086 in Oxford.
  • Homes: Similar: single-family homes average $453K in Leicester and $425K in Oxford. The average tax bill is $5,026 in Leicester and $5,192 in Oxford.

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 ArtsOxford ahead
Leicester
28%
Oxford
33%
State
41%
MathOxford ahead
Leicester
26%
Oxford
30%
State
41%
ELA by year
YearLeicesterOxfordState
202628%33%41%
202530%33%42%
202430%28%42%
202334%35%44%
202236%34%44%
202140%39%48%
Math by year
YearLeicesterOxfordState
202626%30%41%
202526%26%41%
202430%31%42%
202333%29%42%
202233%29%41%
202127%26%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 SATAbout the same
Leicester
1090
Oxford
1095
MA avg
1113
AP exams scored 3+Leicester ahead
Leicester
78.4%
Oxford
47.6%
MA avg
69.1%
Four-year graduation rateLeicester ahead
Leicester
91.1%
Oxford
87%
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 Oxford
Leicester
16.2
Oxford
17.6
MA avg
17.3
Attendance rateAbout the same
Leicester
93.8%
Oxford
93.4%
MA avg
93.7%
Chronically absentmissed 10%+ of daysLower in Leicester
Leicester
16.7%
Oxford
19.5%
MA avg
16.9%
Teachers who stayedfrom last yearOxford ahead
Leicester
84.8%
Oxford
90%
MA avg
84.7%
Spending per studentHigher in Leicester
Leicester
$20,465
Oxford
$19,086
MA median
$21,765
Average teacher salaryHigher in Oxford
Leicester
$76,840
Oxford
$80,053
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

LeicesterOxford
Students in classes1,3101,476
English learners7.4%5.1%
Students with disabilities20%23.2%
White65.2%69.6%
Asian3.4%1.1%
Hispanic/Latino19.1%19.7%
Black/African American7.6%3.9%
Multi-race4.2%5.4%

Homes & taxes

Average single-family home valueHigher in Leicester
Leicester
$453K
Oxford
$425K
MA median
$588K
Average property tax billHigher in Oxford
Leicester
$5,026
Oxford
$5,192
MA median
$6,814
Leicester
Worcester County · Central Massachusetts
Avg single-family home value$453KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$5,026MA median $6,814
Tax rate$11.10 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$39,641MA median $47,872
Local kids in public school93.5%
Town bond ratingAA+
Free cash reserves4.3% of budget
Oxford
Worcester County · Central Massachusetts
Avg single-family home value$425KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$5,192MA median $6,814
Tax rate$12.20 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$38,302MA median $47,872
Local kids in public school92.2%
Free cash reserves5.1% 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

Leicester
High schools · rank of 335
Leicester HighSAT 1090#140 B-
Elementary schools · rank of 895
Leicester Elementary#613 C+
Oxford
High schools · rank of 335
Oxford HighSAT 1095#244 C
Elementary schools · rank of 895
Clara Barton#354 B