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

Pentucket vs Triton Schools

How the two districts, about 7 miles apart, compare on test scores, high school results, classrooms, spending and housing.

Pentucket
#114 of 328 districts
B
Serves Groveland, Merrimac and West Newbury
1 high school · 3 elementary schools
Full district profile →
vs
Triton
#98 of 328 districts
B
Serves Newbury, Rowley and Salisbury
1 high school · 3 elementary schools
Full district profile →

The short answer

  • Overall: Triton ranks higher, #98 to Pentucket's #114 of 328 Massachusetts districts.
  • MCAS 2026: Triton students score higher: ELA 50% vs 47%, Math 50% vs 46% met expectations. Statewide: 41% and 41%.
  • SAT: Close: Pentucket averages 1155 and Triton 1154.
  • Spending: Triton spends $4,174 more per student ($24,898 vs $20,724).
  • Homes: Similar: single-family homes average $773K in Pentucket and $780K in Triton. The average tax bill is $9,157 in Pentucket and $7,521 in Triton.

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 ArtsTriton ahead
Pentucket
47%
Triton
50%
State
41%
MathTriton ahead
Pentucket
46%
Triton
50%
State
41%
ELA by year
YearPentucketTritonState
202647%50%41%
202551%50%42%
202446%48%41%
202353%48%44%
202251%48%43%
202153%51%49%
Math by year
YearPentucketTritonState
202646%50%41%
202551%50%41%
202451%48%42%
202352%46%42%
202248%39%40%
202142%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 SATAbout the same
Pentucket
1155
Triton
1154
MA avg
1113
AP exams scored 3+Pentucket ahead
Pentucket
76.8%
Triton
69.5%
MA avg
69.1%
Four-year graduation rateTriton ahead
Pentucket
91.3%
Triton
95%
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 Pentucket
Pentucket
16.8
Triton
15.8
MA avg
17.3
Attendance rateAbout the same
Pentucket
94.3%
Triton
93.7%
MA avg
93.7%
Chronically absentmissed 10%+ of daysLower in Pentucket
Pentucket
12.3%
Triton
15.3%
MA avg
16.9%
Teachers who stayedfrom last yearSame
Pentucket
87.9%
Triton
87.9%
MA avg
84.7%
Spending per studentHigher in Triton
Pentucket
$20,724
Triton
$24,898
MA median
$21,765
Average teacher salaryHigher in Triton
Pentucket
$83,787
Triton
$98,538
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

PentucketTriton
Students in classes2,2432,076
English learners1.2%2.3%
Students with disabilities23.7%21.5%
White87.3%86.5%
Asian0.9%2.1%
Hispanic/Latino8.5%6.6%
Black/African American0.3%1.5%
Multi-race2.8%2.8%

Homes & taxes

Average single-family home valueHigher in Triton
Pentucket
$773K
Triton
$780K
MA median
$588K
Average property tax billHigher in Pentucket
Pentucket
$9,157
Triton
$7,521
MA median
$6,814
Groveland
Essex County · North Shore & Merrimack Valley
Avg single-family home value$678KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$8,799MA median $6,814
Tax rate$13.00 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$50,293MA median $47,872
Town bond ratingAA+
Free cash reserves7.8% of budget
Merrimac
Essex County · North Shore & Merrimack Valley
Avg single-family home value$666KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$8,778MA median $6,814
Tax rate$13.20 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$50,308MA median $47,872
Town bond ratingAA+
Free cash reserves2.1% of budget
West Newbury
Essex County · North Shore & Merrimack Valley
Avg single-family home value$975KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$9,893MA median $6,814
Tax rate$10.20 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$84,649MA median $47,872
Town bond ratingAAA
Free cash reserves8.7% of budget
Newbury
Essex County · North Shore & Merrimack Valley
Avg single-family home value$959KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$7,201MA median $6,814
Tax rate$7.50 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$133,101MA median $47,872
Town bond ratingAAA
Free cash reserves12% of budget
Rowley
Essex County · North Shore & Merrimack Valley
Avg single-family home value$764KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$9,235MA median $6,814
Tax rate$12.10 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$70,759MA median $47,872
Town bond ratingAA+
Free cash reserves9.6% of budget
Salisbury
Essex County · North Shore & Merrimack Valley
Avg single-family home value$617KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$6,126MA median $6,814
Tax rate$9.90 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$49,298MA median $47,872
Town bond ratingAA
Free cash reserves4.2% 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