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

Norwell vs Scituate Schools

How the two districts, about 5 miles apart, compare on test scores, high school results, classrooms, spending and housing.

The short answer

  • Overall: Norwell ranks higher, #20 to Scituate's #45 of 328 Massachusetts districts.
  • MCAS 2026: Norwell students score higher: ELA 67% vs 58%, Math 67% vs 61% met expectations. Statewide: 41% and 41%.
  • SAT: Scituate averages 18 points higher (1162 vs 1144).
  • Spending: Similar: $21,154 per student in Norwell and $21,508 in Scituate.
  • Homes: Similar: single-family homes average $1.07M in Norwell and $1.04M in Scituate. The average tax bill is $13,675 in Norwell and $10,191 in Scituate.

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 ArtsNorwell ahead
Norwell
67%
Scituate
58%
State
41%
MathNorwell ahead
Norwell
67%
Scituate
61%
State
41%
ELA by year
YearNorwellScituateState
202667%58%41%
202568%62%42%
202465%60%41%
202368%65%44%
202265%63%43%
202170%67%49%
Math by year
YearNorwellScituateState
202667%61%41%
202569%62%41%
202473%62%42%
202369%62%42%
202267%60%41%
202161%59%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 SATScituate ahead
Norwell
1144
Scituate
1162
MA avg
1113
AP exams scored 3+Norwell ahead
Norwell
85.1%
Scituate
78.4%
MA avg
69.1%
Four-year graduation rateAbout the same
Norwell
99.3%
Scituate
98.5%
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
Norwell
16.9
Scituate
17.3
MA avg
17.3
Attendance rateAbout the same
Norwell
95%
Scituate
94.9%
MA avg
93.7%
Chronically absentmissed 10%+ of daysAbout the same
Norwell
7.7%
Scituate
8.6%
MA avg
16.9%
Teachers who stayedfrom last yearNorwell ahead
Norwell
96.5%
Scituate
90.8%
MA avg
84.7%
Spending per studentHigher in Scituate
Norwell
$21,154
Scituate
$21,508
MA median
$21,765
Average teacher salaryHigher in Scituate
Norwell
$100,868
Scituate
$107,926
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

NorwellScituate
Students in classes2,1992,772
English learners0.5%0.5%
Students with disabilities15.1%19.8%
White89.5%90.2%
Asian2.8%0.5%
Hispanic/Latino2%3.2%
Black/African American0.6%2.1%
Multi-race5%3.7%

Homes & taxes

Average single-family home valueHigher in Norwell
Norwell
$1.07M
Scituate
$1.04M
MA median
$588K
Average property tax billHigher in Norwell
Norwell
$13,675
Scituate
$10,191
MA median
$6,814
Norwell
Plymouth County · South Shore
Avg single-family home value$1.07MMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$13,675MA median $6,814
Tax rate$12.80 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$116,707MA median $47,872
Local kids in public school91.5%
Town bond ratingAAA
Free cash reserves7.4% of budget
Scituate
Plymouth County · South Shore
Avg single-family home value$1.04MMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$10,191MA median $6,814
Tax rate$9.80 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$97,971MA median $47,872
Local kids in public school90.9%
Town bond ratingAA+
Free cash reserves6.4% 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