Monson vs Palmer Schools
How the two districts, about 7 miles apart, compare on test scores, high school results, classrooms, spending and housing.
The short answer
- Overall: Neck and neck: Monson ranks #222 and Palmer #223 of 328 Massachusetts districts.
- MCAS 2026: Monson students score higher: ELA 28% vs 22%, Math 29% vs 28% met expectations. Statewide: 40% and 41%.
- Spending: Similar: $22,827 per student in Monson and $23,575 in Palmer.
- Homes: Homes cost more in Monson: single-family homes average $368K vs $301K. The average tax bill is $5,265 in Monson and $5,014 in Palmer.
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.
| Year | Monson | Palmer | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 28% | 22% | 40% |
| 2025 | 35% | 27% | 42% |
| 2024 | 38% | 25% | 41% |
| 2023 | 37% | 34% | 43% |
| 2022 | 37% | 27% | 43% |
| 2021 | 47% | 35% | 48% |
| Year | Monson | Palmer | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 29% | 28% | 41% |
| 2025 | 26% | 30% | 41% |
| 2024 | 24% | 30% | 41% |
| 2023 | 22% | 31% | 41% |
| 2022 | 25% | 26% | 40% |
| 2021 | 22% | 23% | 35% |
No test in 2020. Statewide 10th-grade results dropped after 2024, when passing the MCAS stopped being a graduation requirement.
Classrooms, teachers & spending
Spending is total per-pupil expenditure from all sources in FY2024. Class size is the average across all classes in the district.
Students
| Monson | Palmer | |
|---|---|---|
| Students in classes | 814 | 1,118 |
| English learners | 1.5% | 4.5% |
| Students with disabilities | 27.6% | 19.6% |
| White | 85.6% | 72.3% |
| Asian | 1% | 1.9% |
| Hispanic/Latino | 8.8% | 19% |
| Black/African American | 2% | 2.1% |
| Multi-race | 1.9% | 4.8% |
Homes & taxes
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.