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

Reading vs Woburn Schools

How the two districts, about 4 miles apart, compare on test scores, high school results, classrooms, spending and housing.

The short answer

  • Overall: Reading ranks higher, #32 to Woburn's #179 of 328 Massachusetts districts.
  • MCAS 2026: Reading students score higher: ELA 62% vs 37%, Math 64% vs 33% met expectations. Statewide: 41% and 41%.
  • SAT: Close: Reading averages 1175 and Woburn 1180.
  • Spending: Woburn spends $4,024 more per student ($24,148 vs $20,124).
  • Homes: Homes cost more in Reading: single-family homes average $940K vs $738K. The average tax bill is $10,300 in Reading and $6,755 in Woburn.

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 ArtsReading ahead
Reading
62%
Woburn
37%
State
41%
MathReading ahead
Reading
64%
Woburn
33%
State
41%
ELA by year
YearReadingWoburnState
202662%37%41%
202565%37%43%
202463%37%42%
202362%43%44%
202263%43%44%
202167%49%49%
Math by year
YearReadingWoburnState
202664%33%41%
202565%33%41%
202464%36%42%
202357%37%42%
202259%39%41%
202152%35%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
Reading
1175
Woburn
1180
MA avg
1113
AP exams scored 3+Reading ahead
Reading
82.5%
Woburn
72%
MA avg
69.1%
Four-year graduation rateReading ahead
Reading
97.6%
Woburn
90.6%
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 Reading
Reading
17.6
Woburn
16.3
MA avg
17.3
Attendance rateReading ahead
Reading
95.2%
Woburn
92.9%
MA avg
93.7%
Chronically absentmissed 10%+ of daysLower in Reading
Reading
8.1%
Woburn
21.5%
MA avg
16.9%
Teachers who stayedfrom last yearWoburn ahead
Reading
86.8%
Woburn
90.7%
MA avg
84.7%
Spending per studentHigher in Woburn
Reading
$20,124
Woburn
$24,148
MA median
$21,765
Average teacher salaryHigher in Woburn
Reading
$96,405
Woburn
$99,232
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

ReadingWoburn
Students in classes3,8464,592
English learners2.2%15.4%
Students with disabilities19.8%23.3%
White81.6%58.7%
Asian5.6%6.6%
Hispanic/Latino5.3%19.9%
Black/African American3.7%9.1%
Multi-race3.7%4.4%

Homes & taxes

Average single-family home valueHigher in Reading
Reading
$940K
Woburn
$738K
MA median
$588K
Average property tax billHigher in Reading
Reading
$10,300
Woburn
$6,755
MA median
$6,814
Reading
Middlesex County · Greater Boston — I-95 to I-495
Avg single-family home value$940KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$10,300MA median $6,814
Tax rate$11.00 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$82,946MA median $47,872
Local kids in public school93.2%
Town bond ratingAAA
Free cash reserves13.7% of budget
Woburn
Middlesex County · Greater Boston — Inside I-95
Avg single-family home value$738KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$6,755MA median $6,814
Tax rate$9.20 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$51,139MA median $47,872
Local kids in public school93.7%
Town bond ratingAAA
Free cash reserves21.2% 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