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

Narragansett vs Ralph C Mahar Schools

How the two districts, about 10 miles apart, compare on test scores, high school results, classrooms, spending and housing.

The short answer

  • Overall: Narragansett ranks higher, #189 to Ralph C Mahar's #264 of 328 Massachusetts districts.
  • MCAS 2026: Mixed: Narragansett leads in ELA (31% vs 26%), Ralph C Mahar in Math (28% vs 27%). Statewide: 41% and 41%.
  • High school: Ralph C Mahar has no high school in our rankings (its students may attend a regional high school), so only Narragansett has SAT and graduation figures (SAT average 1112).
  • Spending: Ralph C Mahar spends $10,695 more per student ($28,036 vs $17,341).
  • Homes: Homes cost more in Narragansett: single-family homes average $405K vs $353K. The average tax bill is $4,607 in Narragansett and $5,189 in Ralph C Mahar.
  • Class size: Smaller in Ralph C Mahar: 11.7 students on average vs 17.6.

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 ArtsNarragansett ahead
Narragansett
31%
Ralph C Mahar
26%
State
41%
MathAbout the same
Narragansett
27%
Ralph C Mahar
28%
State
41%
ELA by year
YearNarragansettRalph C MaharState
202631%26%41%
202530%24%42%
202429%23%41%
202333%28%44%
202231%22%43%
202137%32%48%
Math by year
YearNarragansettRalph C MaharState
202627%28%41%
202529%24%41%
202428%21%42%
202334%25%42%
202229%21%40%
202124%19%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 SAT
Narragansett
1112
Ralph C Mahar: no data
MA avg
1113
AP exams scored 3+
Narragansett
66.2%
Ralph C Mahar: no data
MA avg
69.1%
Four-year graduation rate
Narragansett
76.9%
Ralph C Mahar: no data
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 Narragansett
Narragansett
17.6
Ralph C Mahar
11.7
MA avg
17.3
Attendance rateNarragansett ahead
Narragansett
94.3%
Ralph C Mahar
92.7%
MA avg
93.7%
Chronically absentmissed 10%+ of daysLower in Narragansett
Narragansett
14.2%
Ralph C Mahar
17.7%
MA avg
16.9%
Teachers who stayedfrom last yearNarragansett ahead
Narragansett
94.2%
Ralph C Mahar
86.9%
MA avg
84.7%
Spending per studentHigher in Ralph C Mahar
Narragansett
$17,341
Ralph C Mahar
$28,036
MA median
$21,765
Average teacher salaryHigher in Ralph C Mahar
Narragansett
$75,777
Ralph C Mahar
$77,048
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

NarragansettRalph C Mahar
Students in classes1,452517
English learners1.9%3.1%
Students with disabilities21.8%28.2%
White83.3%81%
Asian0.6%1.3%
Hispanic/Latino10.4%12.2%
Black/African American1.8%2.2%
Multi-race3.7%2.9%

Homes & taxes

Average single-family home valueHigher in Narragansett
Narragansett
$405K
Ralph C Mahar
$353K
MA median
$588K
Average property tax billHigher in Ralph C Mahar
Narragansett
$4,607
Ralph C Mahar
$5,189
MA median
$6,814
Phillipston
Worcester County · Central Massachusetts
Avg single-family home value$431KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$4,724MA median $6,814
Tax rate$11.00 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$37,559MA median $47,872
Free cash reserves12.3% of budget
Templeton
Worcester County · Central Massachusetts
Avg single-family home value$378KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$4,490MA median $6,814
Tax rate$11.90 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$33,678MA median $47,872
Free cash reserves2.6% of budget
New Salem
Franklin County · Western Massachusetts
Avg single-family home value$364KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$4,951MA median $6,814
Tax rate$13.60 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$30,155MA median $47,872
Free cash reserves27% of budget
Orange
Franklin County · Western Massachusetts
Avg single-family home value$296KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$4,910MA median $6,814
Tax rate$16.60 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$24,057MA median $47,872
Local kids in public school93.5%
Town bond ratingA+
Petersham
Worcester County · Central Massachusetts
Avg single-family home value$401KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$5,707MA median $6,814
Tax rate$14.20 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$49,307MA median $47,872
Local kids in public school97.2%
Town bond ratingAA+
Wendell
Franklin County · Western Massachusetts
Free cash reserves5.7% 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

Narragansett
High schools · rank of 335
Narragansett Regional HighSAT 1112#221 C+
Elementary schools · rank of 895
Templeton Elementary School#432 B-
Ralph C Mahar
Elementary schools · rank of 895
Fisher Hill School#653 CPetersham Center#743 C