School district comparison · MCAS 2026 · other data 2024-25
Wachusett vs Worcester Schools
How the two districts, about 9 miles apart, compare on test scores, high school results, classrooms, spending and housing.
The short answer
- Overall: Wachusett ranks higher, #79 to Worcester's #249 of 328 Massachusetts districts.
- MCAS 2026: Wachusett students score higher: ELA 50% vs 25%, Math 55% vs 24% met expectations. Statewide: 41% and 41%.
- SAT: Wachusett averages 65 points higher (1141 vs 1076).
- Spending: Worcester spends $4,179 more per student ($22,476 vs $18,298).
- Homes: Homes cost more in Wachusett: single-family homes average $552K vs $410K. The average tax bill is $7,535 in Wachusett and $5,446 in Worcester.
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.
ELA by year
| Year | Wachusett | Worcester | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 50% | 25% | 41% |
| 2025 | 54% | 27% | 43% |
| 2024 | 51% | 25% | 42% |
| 2023 | 57% | 28% | 44% |
| 2022 | 54% | 29% | 43% |
| 2021 | 60% | 30% | 49% |
Math by year
| Year | Wachusett | Worcester | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 55% | 24% | 41% |
| 2025 | 57% | 24% | 41% |
| 2024 | 56% | 24% | 42% |
| 2023 | 56% | 24% | 42% |
| 2022 | 53% | 23% | 40% |
| 2021 | 47% | 17% | 36% |
No test in 2020. Statewide 10th-grade results dropped after 2024, when passing the MCAS stopped being a graduation requirement.
High school results
Averages of each district's ranked high schools. "MA avg" is the average of all districts with high school data.
Classrooms, teachers & spending
Spending is total per-pupil expenditure from all sources in FY2024. Class size is the average across all classes in the district.
Students
| Wachusett | Worcester | |
|---|---|---|
| Students in classes | 6,563 | 25,578 |
| English learners | 1.8% | 33.1% |
| Students with disabilities | 16.2% | 21.5% |
| White | 80.5% | 23.9% |
| Asian | 3.3% | 6.2% |
| Hispanic/Latino | 8.7% | 45.8% |
| Black/African American | 4.2% | 19.8% |
| Multi-race | 3.1% | 4% |
Homes & taxes
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
Worcester
Worcester County · Central Massachusetts
Avg single-family home value$410KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$5,446MA median $6,814
Tax rate$13.30 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$25,458MA median $47,872
Local kids in public school93.8%
Town bond ratingAA-
Free cash reserves0.7% 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
Wachusett
High schools · rank of 335
Wachusett Regional HighSAT 1141#76 B+Elementary schools · rank of 895
Dawson#107 A-Houghton Elementary#203 B+Davis Hill Elementary#222 B+Paxton Center#249 BThomas Prince#279 BLeroy E.Mayo#309 BGlenwood Elementary School#380 B-Worcester
High schools · rank of 335
University Pk Campus SchoolSAT 1089#192 C+Doherty Memorial HighSAT 1099#237 CSouth High CommunitySAT 1126#238 CWorcester Technical HighSAT 1073#260 CBurncoat Senior HighSAT 1079#283 CNorth HighSAT 989#303 C-Elementary schools · rank of 895
West Tatnuck#195 B+Flagg Street#236 BLake View#328 BNelson Place#456 B-Heard Street#491 B-Worcester Arts Magnet School#525 C+Lincoln Street#544 C+Midland Street#602 C+Roosevelt#603 C+Belmont Street Community#633 CColumbus Park#634 CFrancis J McGrath Elementary#635 CClark St Community#660 CJacob Hiatt Magnet#661 CWorcester Dual Language Magnet School#687 CGoddard School/Science Technical#707 CBurncoat Street#726 CGrafton Street#727 CMay Street#728 CWoodland Academy#750 CCity View#751 CRice Square#752 CTatnuck#774 C-Thorndyke Road#775 C-Vernon Hill School#776 C-Canterbury#806 C-Chandler Elementary Community#807 C-Elm Park Community#808 C-Gates Lane#830 C-Norrback Avenue#831 C-Wawecus Road School#847 C-Quinsigamond#848 C-Union Hill School#849 C-