Massachusetts public high school

Gardner High School

Gardner school district

overall grade

Ranks #269 of 335 Massachusetts high schools.

Overall rank

#269

of 335 schools

Average SAT

912

MA average 1091

Graduation rate

90%

MA average 92%

Plan on college

63%

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.

Gardner is a city of approximately 21,000 residents in north-central Massachusetts, about 25 miles northwest of Worcester. Known historically as the "Chair City" for its prominent 19th-century furniture manufacturing industry, Gardner maintains its industrial heritage while serving as a regional commercial hub for the surrounding rural communities. The city sits near Mount Wachusett and offers access to nearby state forests and outdoor recreation areas in the North Quabbin region.

How it compares

What stands out

Best of its categories: Math MCAS, in the bottom 33% statewide. 31% of 10th graders met or exceeded expectations in 2026, vs 44% statewide.
Area to watch: SAT scores rank in the bottom 12% statewide.
Trend: Chronic absence has fallen from 38.1% in 2022 to 20.6% in 2025.
Trend: The average SAT score is down 48 points since 2022 (960 to 912).

Where it stands among 335 Massachusetts high schools

Bottom of MATop of MA

Overall

Below averagebottom 20% · #269

SAT

Below averagebottom 12% · #298

ELA MCAS

Below averagebottom 25% · #250

Math MCAS

Below averagebottom 33% · #223

AP results

Below averagebottom 29% · #228

Graduation

Below averagebottom 30% · #235

College plans

Below averagebottom 20% · #266

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 score912in 2025 · MA avg 1091

179 points below the MA avg

By section (out of 800)

Reading & writingWorse than average

This school

471

MA avg

556

MathWorse than average

This school

441

MA avg

535

117 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 Arts32%in 2026 · state 45%

13 points below the state

Math31%in 2026 · state 44%

13 points below the state

Biologyhigh school science, 2026Worse than average

This school

23%

State

38%

Detailed scores

Average scaled score, ELA · Math · Science (500+ = meeting expectations)488 · 487 · 484

Achievement percentile vs. MA schools (ELA · Math)23rd · 25th

Student growth percentile, ELA · Math (50 = typical growth)54 · 54

AP & advanced courses

AP exams scored 3+57%in 2025 · MA avg 66%

10 points below the MA avg

Score breakdown

Score 5: 8%Score 4: 25%Score 3: 24%Score 2: 21%Score 1: 23%

63 students took 92 AP exams. A 3 or higher can earn college credit.

Completed an advanced coursegrades 11–12About average

This school

69.9%

MA avg

71.4%

9th graders passing all coursesWorse than average

This school

65.9%

MA avg

82.6%

After high school

Four-year graduation rate90%in 2024 · MA avg 92%

2 points below the MA avg

Dropped outof the four-year classWorse than average

This school

7.5%

MA avg

4.3%

2.1% of the class were still in school after four years.

Plan to attend college63%in 2025 · state 72%

10 points below the state

Graduates' plans · 164 graduates

4-year public college

28%

Work

23.2%

2-year public college

18.9%

4-year private college

15.9%

Students

Who attends

White

56.7%

Hispanic/Latino

27.5%

Multi-Race

8.7%

Black/African American

4.8%

Asian

2.1%

American Indian/Alaska Native

0.2%

50.1% female · 48.8% male · 1.1% nonbinary

Student needs

High needslow income, English learner, or disabilityHigher than average

This school

64.5%

MA avg

50.7%

Low incomeHigher than average

This school

57.5%

MA avg

39%

English learnersLower than average

This school

6.5%

MA avg

8.6%

Teachers

Licensed teachersAbout average

This school

97.7%

MA avg

95.9%

Experienced teachersAbout average

This school

72.1%

MA avg

73.4%

Teaching in their fieldAbout average

This school

89.6%

MA avg

84.6%

Students per teacher

13.5MA avg 11.8

59.9 full-time-equivalent teachers

Attendance & safety

Attendance rateBetter than average

This school

94.1%

MA avg

92.3%

Chronically absentmissed 10%+ of daysAbout average

This school

20.6%

MA avg

22.3%

10 days absent per student (MA avg 13.2) · Suspensions: 7.2% out-of-school, 0% in-school (MA high school avg 4% / 2.2%)

About Gardner

Worcester County · Central Massachusetts

Avg single-family home value$367KMA median $588K

Avg property tax bill$5,052MA median $6,814

Tax rate$13.80 per $1,000MA median $12.40

Income per person$26,354MA median $47,872

Local kids in public school69.7%

Town bond ratingAA-

Free cash reserves2.6% of budget

Gardner 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.

Milford High

Milford

#270 in MASAT 1052Graduation 86%93% match

Pittsfield High

Pittsfield

C+

#211 in MASAT 1063Graduation 80%92% match

Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High

Dennis-Yarmouth

C+

#220 in MASAT 1030Graduation 83%91% match

Doherty Memorial High

Worcester

#237 in MASAT 1099Graduation 89%91% match