Rank
168
B-
Pittsfield
10 schools · 2 high schools · 8 elementary schools · Pittsfield
Pittsfield, the largest city in the Berkshires region of western Massachusetts, serves as the cultural and economic hub of the area. The district operates two public high schools—Pittsfield High and Taconic High—along with eight elementary schools serving the city's student population. Known for its arts scene and literary connections, including its association with author Herman Melville, Pittsfield blends urban character with access to the region's natural attractions and cultural institutions.
Avg MCAS ELA
43.2%
#199 of 326
Avg MCAS Math
41.3%
#182 of 326
Avg SAT
1,054
#234 of 290
Attendance
88.9%
#315 of 328
Graduation Rate
82.6%
#258 of 288
AP Pass Rate
54.8%
#220 of 278
Per-Pupil Spending
$22,661
#138 of 325
Avg Teacher Salary
$74,111
#296 of 325
MCAS Performance by Grade
| Grade | ELA M+E% | Math M+E% | Sci M+E% | Avg Score | Students |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 3 | 43% | 45% | — | 496 | 338 |
| Grade 4 | 30% | 28% | — | 488 | 327 |
| Grade 5 | 30% | 27% | 38% | 490 | 349 |
| Grade 6 | 25% | 19% | — | 480 | 285 |
| Grade 7 | 19% | 15% | — | 477 | 361 |
| Grade 8 | 27% | 12% | 17% | 479 | 307 |
| Grade 10 | 38% | 24% | 23% | 489 | 355 |
| HS Science | — | — | 13% | 477 | 231 |
Showing 2025 data
Student Demographics
White: 50.7%
Asian: 1.4%
Hispanic: 23.1%
Black: 13.3%
Multi-Race: 11.1%
Am. Indian: 0.3%
Female: 47.5%Male: 52.2%Non-binary: 0.2%
High Schools in Pittsfield
Rank
Grade
School
SAT
MCAS ELA
MCAS Math
AP
Grad
184
B-
Pittsfield High
SAT
1,063
ELA
50%
Math
38%
Grad
80.2%
184
B-
Pittsfield High
1,063
50%
38%
61.6%
80.2%
271
C
Taconic High
SAT
1,045
ELA
29%
Math
13%
Grad
84.9%
271
C
Taconic High
1,045
29%
13%
48%
84.9%
Elementary Schools in Pittsfield
Rank
Grade
School
MCAS ELA
MCAS Math
Attend.
Class Size
75
A-
Williams
ELA
69%
Math
72%
Attend.
94.5%
Class
18
75
A-
Williams
69%
72%
94.5%
18
150
B+
Allendale
ELA
70%
Math
65%
Attend.
92.4%
Class
15
150
B+
Allendale
70%
65%
92.4%
15
151
B+
Egremont
ELA
58%
Math
64%
Attend.
93.6%
Class
17
151
B+
Egremont
58%
64%
93.6%
17
313
B
Robert T. Capeless Elementary School
ELA
58%
Math
52%
Attend.
93.8%
Class
14
313
B
Robert T. Capeless Elementary School
58%
52%
93.8%
14
564
C+
Stearns
ELA
33%
Math
34%
Attend.
91.3%
Class
15
564
C+
Stearns
33%
34%
91.3%
15
649
C
Morningside Community School
ELA
31%
Math
30%
Attend.
90%
Class
17
649
C
Morningside Community School
31%
30%
90%
17
745
C
Silvio O Conte Community
ELA
15%
Math
26%
Attend.
88.4%
Class
17
745
C
Silvio O Conte Community
15%
26%
88.4%
17
789
C-
Crosby
ELA
19%
Math
19%
Attend.
90.5%
Class
16
789
C-
Crosby
19%
19%
90.5%
16
District Operations
Attendance
#315 of 328Attendance Rate88.9%
Avg Days Absent19
Chronically Absent (10%+)38.6%
Chronically Absent (20%+)16%
Per-Pupil Expenditure
#138 of 325In-District Per Pupil$23,737
Total Per Pupil$22,661
Total FTE Students5,806
Teacher Salaries
#296 of 325Average Salary$74,111
Teacher FTE Count514
Salary vs. Town Income2.3x(above town avg)
Teacher salary is 2.3x the town's per capita income ($32,527). Teachers earn well above the community per capita income. The MA median ratio is about 1.9x.
Class Size & Populations
#47 of 327Avg Class Size15
English Learners11.6%
Students w/ Disabilities24.2%
Total Students4,866
Staffing & Retention
#247 of 327Teacher Retention82%
Principal Retention78.6%
Total Teachers518
Attendance: 2024-2025 · Expenditure: 2024 · Salaries: 2023-2024 · Class Size: 2024-2025 · Staffing: 2025
Town Data
Pittsfield
Avg Assessed Value
$315,335
#227 of 235
Avg Tax Bill
$5,518
Income Per Capita
$32,527
#206 of 235
Tax Bill Rank
#252
of 341 towns
Avg Assessed Value is the mean assessed value of single-family homes only (MA property class 101 — excludes condos, multi-family, and apartments). MA law requires assessment at 100% of fair market value. Income Per Capita is total town income divided by population, derived from MA state income tax returns (not Census surveys). It includes wages, investment income, and capital gains, so wealthy towns can have very high figures. The MA median is about $48K. Tax bill rank orders towns by average single-family tax bill, highest to lowest.
Tax & Bond Details
Residential Tax Rate1.75%
Tax as % of Income16.96%(above avg)
Bond RatingA+(good)
Tax rate is the effective residential rate (tax bill ÷ assessed value). Tax as % of income measures how much of residents’ income goes to property taxes. The MA median is about 14%; below 10% is low (wealthier towns with high incomes relative to home values), above 16% is above average. Bond rating reflects the town’s creditworthiness for borrowing. AAA is the highest possible rating (strong fiscal management), meaning the town can borrow at the lowest interest rates. AA+ is excellent, AA is very good.
New Growth
$63.6M+1.82% levy growth(strong)
Residential$16.5M
Commercial/Industrial$47.1M
Residential Share14.17%(diverse)
New growth measures new taxable value from construction and development (not rising home prices). In Massachusetts, Proposition 2\u00BD limits annual property tax increases to 2.5% of the prior year\u2019s levy. New growth revenue is automatically added on top of this 2.5% base increase \u2014 it does not require a vote. This town’s total levy growth is about 4.3% (2.5% base + 1.82% from new growth). The MA median is about 1.2%; above 1.5% is strong, below 0.8% signals limited development. The residential share (14.17%) shows how much comes from homes vs. commercial/industrial. When most growth is residential, homeowners carry more of the tax burden. More commercial/industrial growth is generally better for homeowners because businesses share the cost.
Municipal Free Cash
$8.7M4.1% of operating budget
Free cash is the town's unencumbered surplus funds. 5-10% of budget is considered healthy. Operating budget: $211.9M.
Where Children Attend School
Local Public: 4,531(80.9%)
Charter: 146(2.6%)
Private: 154(2.7%)
Home School: 106(1.9%)
Total: 5,601