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

Quabbin vs Wachusett Schools

How the two districts, about 11 miles apart, compare on test scores, high school results, classrooms, spending and housing.

Quabbin
#197 of 328 districts
C+
Serves Barre, Hardwick, Hubbardston, New Braintree and Oakham
1 high school · 4 elementary schools
Full district profile →
vs
Wachusett
#79 of 328 districts
B+
Serves Holden, Paxton, Princeton, Rutland and Sterling
1 high school · 7 elementary schools
Full district profile →

The short answer

  • Overall: Wachusett ranks higher, #79 to Quabbin's #197 of 328 Massachusetts districts.
  • MCAS 2026: Wachusett students score higher: ELA 50% vs 32%, Math 55% vs 29% met expectations. Statewide: 41% and 41%.
  • SAT: Close: Quabbin averages 1146 and Wachusett 1141.
  • Spending: Quabbin spends $1,953 more per student ($20,251 vs $18,298).
  • Homes: Homes cost more in Wachusett: single-family homes average $552K vs $407K. The average tax bill is $5,125 in Quabbin and $7,535 in Wachusett.

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 ArtsWachusett ahead
Quabbin
32%
Wachusett
50%
State
41%
MathWachusett ahead
Quabbin
29%
Wachusett
55%
State
41%
ELA by year
YearQuabbinWachusettState
202632%50%41%
202537%54%43%
202439%51%41%
202345%57%44%
202242%54%43%
202146%60%48%
Math by year
YearQuabbinWachusettState
202629%55%41%
202531%57%41%
202437%56%42%
202340%56%41%
202238%53%40%
202140%47%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
Quabbin
1146
Wachusett
1141
MA avg
1113
AP exams scored 3+Wachusett ahead
Quabbin
65.7%
Wachusett
87.8%
MA avg
69.1%
Four-year graduation rateWachusett ahead
Quabbin
81.2%
Wachusett
95.7%
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 Quabbin
Quabbin
18.1
Wachusett
17.3
MA avg
17.3
Attendance rateWachusett ahead
Quabbin
93.4%
Wachusett
94.4%
MA avg
93.7%
Chronically absentmissed 10%+ of daysLower in Wachusett
Quabbin
19%
Wachusett
11.5%
MA avg
16.9%
Teachers who stayedfrom last yearWachusett ahead
Quabbin
89.5%
Wachusett
94.3%
MA avg
84.7%
Spending per studentHigher in Quabbin
Quabbin
$20,251
Wachusett
$18,298
MA median
$21,765
Average teacher salaryHigher in Wachusett
Quabbin
$83,990
Wachusett
$93,919
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

QuabbinWachusett
Students in classes2,0866,563
English learners0.6%1.8%
Students with disabilities22.2%16.2%
White86.2%80.5%
Asian0.9%3.3%
Hispanic/Latino7.1%8.7%
Black/African American2.4%4.2%
Multi-race3.1%3.1%

Homes & taxes

Average single-family home valueHigher in Wachusett
Quabbin
$407K
Wachusett
$552K
MA median
$588K
Average property tax billHigher in Wachusett
Quabbin
$5,125
Wachusett
$7,535
MA median
$6,814
Barre
Worcester County · Central Massachusetts
Avg single-family home value$379KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$5,053MA median $6,814
Tax rate$13.40 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$33,327MA median $47,872
Hardwick
Worcester County · Central Massachusetts
Avg single-family home value$381KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$4,852MA median $6,814
Tax rate$12.70 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$30,955MA median $47,872
Free cash reserves1% of budget
Hubbardston
Worcester County · Central Massachusetts
Avg single-family home value$442KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$4,947MA median $6,814
Tax rate$11.20 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$43,697MA median $47,872
Town bond ratingAA+
New Braintree
Worcester County · Central Massachusetts
Avg single-family home value$393KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$5,884MA median $6,814
Tax rate$15.00 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$48,881MA median $47,872
Free cash reserves0.7% of budget
Oakham
Worcester County · Central Massachusetts
Avg single-family home value$440KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$4,888MA median $6,814
Tax rate$11.10 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$41,140MA median $47,872
Free cash reserves4% of budget
Holden
Worcester County · Central Massachusetts
Avg single-family home value$554KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$7,469MA median $6,814
Tax rate$13.50 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$54,198MA median $47,872
Town bond ratingAA+
Free cash reserves6.7% of budget
Paxton
Worcester County · Central Massachusetts
Avg single-family home value$527KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$7,989MA median $6,814
Tax rate$15.20 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$49,552MA median $47,872
Free cash reserves3.1% of budget
Princeton
Worcester County · Central Massachusetts
Avg single-family home value$599KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$8,050MA median $6,814
Tax rate$13.40 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$68,822MA median $47,872
Free cash reserves10.1% of budget
Rutland
Worcester County · Central Massachusetts
Avg single-family home value$478KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$6,630MA median $6,814
Tax rate$13.90 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$46,453MA median $47,872
Town bond ratingAA
Free cash reserves7.7% of budget
Sterling
Worcester County · Central Massachusetts
Avg single-family home value$600KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$7,535MA median $6,814
Tax rate$12.60 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$62,757MA median $47,872
Town bond ratingAA+
Free cash reserves4.5% 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