Massachusetts public high school

Athol High School

Athol-Royalston school district

C-

overall grade

Ranks #307 of 335 Massachusetts high schools.

Overall rank

#307

of 335 schools

Average SAT

964

MA average 1091

Graduation rate

84%

MA average 92%

Plan on college

48%

MA average 72%

SAT is the average total score of test takers. Graduation is the four-year rate. College is the share of graduates who report plans to attend a 2- or 4-year college.

Athol is a small town in north-central Massachusetts, situated in the Quabbin region about 25 miles northwest of Worcester. The town developed as a mill town along the Millers River in the 19th century and served as a manufacturing center for tools, cutlery, and textiles. Today, Athol retains its working-class character and serves as a commercial hub for the surrounding rural communities of north-central Massachusetts.

How it compares

What stands out

Best of its categories: ELA MCAS, in the bottom 33% statewide. 36% of 10th graders met or exceeded expectations in 2026, vs 45% statewide.
Area to watch: College plans rank in the bottom 5% statewide.
Trend: Chronic absence has fallen from 43.9% in 2022 to 23.3% in 2025.
Trend: The graduation rate has risen from 72.4% in 2021 to 83.8% in 2024.

Where it stands among 335 Massachusetts high schools

Bottom of MATop of MA

Overall

Well below averagebottom 9% · #307

SAT

Below averagebottom 16% · #285

ELA MCAS

Below averagebottom 33% · #222

Math MCAS

Below averagebottom 32% · #225

AP results

Well below averagebottom 9% · #292

Graduation

Below averagebottom 16% · #280

College plans

Well below averagebottom 5% · #317

The overall rank weighs SAT (30%), MCAS (25%), AP results (20%), and graduates' college plans (25%). Categories rank only the schools with data for them. How we rank

SAT

Average total score964in 2025 · MA avg 1091

127 points below the MA avg

By section (out of 800)

Reading & writingWorse than average

This school

506

MA avg

556

MathWorse than average

This school

458

MA avg

535

14 students took the SAT.

"MA avg" is the average of the 335 high schools we rank. Only students who choose to take the SAT are counted.

MCAS (10th grade)

Share of 10th graders meeting or exceeding expectations. Statewide results dropped after 2024, when passing the MCAS stopped being a graduation requirement. There was no test in 2020.

English Language Arts36%in 2026 · state 45%

9 points below the state

Math31%in 2026 · state 44%

13 points below the state

Biologyhigh school science, 2026Worse than average

This school

12%

State

38%

Detailed scores

Average scaled score, ELA · Math · Science (500+ = meeting expectations)493 · 488 · 486

Achievement percentile vs. MA schools (ELA · Math)39th · 28th

Student growth percentile, ELA · Math (50 = typical growth)50 · 48

AP & advanced courses

AP exams scored 3+30%in 2025 · MA avg 66%

36 points below the MA avg

Score breakdown

Score 5: 2%Score 4: 8%Score 3: 20%Score 2: 33%Score 1: 37%

95 students took 138 AP exams. A 3 or higher can earn college credit.

Completed an advanced coursegrades 11–12About average

This school

73.6%

MA avg

71.4%

9th graders passing all coursesWorse than average

This school

74.1%

MA avg

82.6%

After high school

Four-year graduation rate84%in 2024 · MA avg 92%

8 points below the MA avg

Dropped outof the four-year classWorse than average

This school

7.6%

MA avg

4.3%

7.6% of the class were still in school after four years.

Plan to attend college48%in 2025 · state 72%

25 points below the state

Graduates' plans · 105 graduates

2-year public college

37.1%

Work

35.2%

Other / unknown

9.5%

4-year private college

8.6%

Students

Who attends

White

72.2%

Hispanic/Latino

19.2%

Multi-Race

3.8%

Black/African American

2.9%

Asian

1.9%

44.1% female · 55.9% male

Student needs

High needslow income, English learner, or disabilityHigher than average

This school

70.7%

MA avg

50.7%

Low incomeHigher than average

This school

62.3%

MA avg

39%

English learnersLower than average

This school

4.4%

MA avg

8.6%

Teachers

Licensed teachersAbout average

This school

88.9%

MA avg

95.9%

Experienced teachersWorse than average

This school

58.8%

MA avg

73.4%

Teaching in their fieldWorse than average

This school

74.4%

MA avg

84.6%

Students per teacher

11.6MA avg 11.8

36.1 full-time-equivalent teachers

Attendance & safety

Attendance rateAbout average

This school

92.6%

MA avg

92.3%

Chronically absentmissed 10%+ of daysAbout average

This school

23.3%

MA avg

22.3%

12.5 days absent per student (MA avg 13.2) · Suspensions: 9.4% out-of-school, 0.5% in-school (MA high school avg 4% / 2.2%)

About Athol

Worcester County · Central Massachusetts

Avg single-family home value$310KMA median $588K

Avg property tax bill$3,924MA median $6,814

Tax rate$12.70 per $1,000MA median $12.40

Income per person$25,569MA median $47,872

Town bond ratingAA-

Free cash reserves5.9% of budget

Athol-Royalston district profile · What could you afford here? · All towns A–Z

Town figures are FY2026 averages for single-family homes from the Massachusetts Department of Revenue. Assessed values usually run below recent sale prices. "MA median" is the median of the state's 351 towns.

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Schools with similar test results, demographics, and college plans.

Turners Fall High

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Westfield Technical Academy

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Taconic High

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Diman Regional Vocational Technical High

Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical

#280 in MASAT 1074Graduation 98%84% match