Massachusetts public high school

Chelmsford High School

Chelmsford school district

B+

overall grade

Ranks #58 of 335 Massachusetts high schools — top 18%.

Overall rank

#58

of 335 schools

Average SAT

1189+98 vs MA

MA average 1091

Graduation rate

97%

MA average 92%

Plan on college

85%+13 vs MA

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.

Chelmsford is a suburban town in northern Middlesex County, located about 25 miles northwest of Boston. The town developed from an agricultural community into a modern suburb following the arrival of industry in the 19th century, and today it retains a mix of residential neighborhoods, conservation land, and commercial areas along Route 3 and Route 495. Chelmsford is known for its New England town character, with a traditional town common and strong community emphasis on local schools and recreation.

How it compares

What stands out

Strongest area: AP results, in the top 16% statewide. 87% of AP exams in 2025 scored 3 or higher, vs 66% at the typical MA high school.
Trend: The share of graduates planning on college has risen from 75.4% in 2022 to 85.4% in 2025.
Trend: Chronic absence has fallen from 19.3% in 2022 to 11.7% in 2025.

Where it stands among 335 Massachusetts high schools

Bottom of MATop of MA

Overall

Above averagetop 18% · #58

SAT

Above averagetop 16% · #52

ELA MCAS

Above averagetop 17% · #54

Math MCAS

Above averagetop 18% · #58

AP results

Above averagetop 16% · #48

Graduation

Above averagetop 34% · #110

College plans

Above averagetop 34% · #110

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 score1189in 2025 · MA avg 1091

98 points above the MA avg

By section (out of 800)

Reading & writingBetter than average

This school

603

MA avg

556

MathBetter than average

This school

586

MA avg

535

330 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 Arts68%in 2026 · state 45%

23 points above the state

Math66%in 2026 · state 44%

22 points above the state

Biologyhigh school science, 2026Better than average

This school

64%

State

38%

Detailed scores

Average scaled score, ELA · Math · Science (500+ = meeting expectations)511 · 510 · 508

Achievement percentile vs. MA schools (ELA · Math)85th · 85th

Student growth percentile, ELA · Math (50 = typical growth)55 · 57

AP & advanced courses

AP exams scored 3+87%in 2025 · MA avg 66%

21 points above the MA avg

Score breakdown

Score 5: 26%Score 4: 36%Score 3: 25%Score 2: 11%Score 1: 2%

283 students took 650 AP exams. A 3 or higher can earn college credit.

Completed an advanced coursegrades 11–12Better than average

This school

98.3%

MA avg

71.4%

9th graders passing all coursesBetter than average

This school

93.9%

MA avg

82.6%

After high school

Four-year graduation rate97%in 2024 · MA avg 92%

5 points above the MA avg

Dropped outof the four-year classBetter than average

This school

1.1%

MA avg

4.3%

2% of the class were still in school after four years.

Plan to attend college85%in 2025 · state 72%

13 points above the state

Graduates' plans · 335 graduates

4-year private college

51.3%

4-year public college

25.4%

2-year public college

8.7%

Other / unknown

Work

5.4%

Students

Who attends

White

62.6%

Asian

18.9%

Hispanic/Latino

9.5%

Black/African American

4.6%

Multi-Race

4.1%

American Indian/Alaska Native

0.1%

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0.1%

46.6% female · 53.1% male · 0.3% nonbinary

Student needs

High needslow income, English learner, or disabilityLower than average

This school

29.7%

MA avg

50.7%

Low incomeLower than average

This school

16%

MA avg

39%

English learnersLower than average

This school

2.5%

MA avg

8.6%

Teachers

Licensed teachersAbout average

This school

100%

MA avg

95.9%

Experienced teachersBetter than average

This school

88.4%

MA avg

73.4%

Teaching in their fieldAbout average

This school

91.5%

MA avg

84.6%

Students per teacher

14MA avg 11.8

100.3 full-time-equivalent teachers

Attendance & safety

Attendance rateBetter than average

This school

95%

MA avg

92.3%

Chronically absentmissed 10%+ of daysBetter than average

This school

11.7%

MA avg

22.3%

8.9 days absent per student (MA avg 13.2) · Suspensions: 1.5% out-of-school, 2.9% in-school (MA high school avg 4% / 2.2%)

About Chelmsford

Middlesex County · North Shore & Merrimack Valley

Avg single-family home value$695KMA median $588K

Avg property tax bill$9,219MA median $6,814

Tax rate$13.30 per $1,000MA median $12.40

Income per person$67,479MA median $47,872

Local kids in public school97%

Town bond ratingAA+

Free cash reserves3% of budget

Chelmsford 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.

Similar schools elsewhere

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

Grafton High School

Grafton

B+

#62 in MASAT 1153Graduation 93%94% match

Wachusett Regional High

Wachusett

B+

#76 in MASAT 1141Graduation 96%94% match

Ashland High

Ashland

A-

#30 in MASAT 1218Graduation 94%93% match

Natick High

Natick

A-

#35 in MASAT 1201Graduation 97%93% match