Massachusetts public high school

Melrose High School

Melrose school district

overall grade

Ranks #94 of 335 Massachusetts high schools — top 29%.

Overall rank

#94

of 335 schools

Average SAT

1166+75 vs MA

MA average 1091

Graduation rate

98%

MA average 92%

Plan on college

60%

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.

Melrose is a suburban city located about 7 miles north of Boston, known for its historic Victorian architecture and walkable downtown. The community is notably affluent, with a strong emphasis on education and civic engagement. Melrose High School, founded in 1850, is one of the oldest public high schools in Massachusetts and sits near the scenic Ell Pond in the heart of the city.

How it compares

What stands out

Strongest area: ELA MCAS, in the top 7% statewide. 78% of 10th graders met or exceeded expectations in 2026, vs 45% statewide.
Area to watch: College plans rank in the bottom 17% statewide.
Trend: The share of graduates planning on college has fallen from 69.1% in 2022 to 59.7% in 2025.
Trend: The average SAT score is up 31 points since 2022 (1135 to 1166).

Where it stands among 335 Massachusetts high schools

Bottom of MATop of MA

Overall

Above averagetop 29% · #94

SAT

Above averagetop 24% · #79

ELA MCAS

Excellenttop 7% · #20

Math MCAS

Above averagetop 17% · #54

AP results

Above averagetop 24% · #75

Graduation

Above averagetop 19% · #62

College plans

Below averagebottom 17% · #277

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 score1166in 2025 · MA avg 1091

75 points above the MA avg

By section (out of 800)

Reading & writingBetter than average

This school

594

MA avg

556

MathBetter than average

This school

572

MA avg

535

259 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 Arts78%in 2026 · state 45%

33 points above the state

Math67%in 2026 · state 44%

23 points above the state

Biologyhigh school science, 2026Better than average

This school

56%

State

38%

Detailed scores

Average scaled score, ELA · Math · Science (500+ = meeting expectations)518 · 508 · 504

Achievement percentile vs. MA schools (ELA · Math)94th · 82nd

Student growth percentile, ELA · Math (50 = typical growth)71 · 52

AP & advanced courses

AP exams scored 3+84%in 2025 · MA avg 66%

17 points above the MA avg

Score breakdown

Score 5: 22%Score 4: 33%Score 3: 29%Score 2: 12%Score 1: 4%

448 students took 960 AP exams. A 3 or higher can earn college credit.

Completed an advanced coursegrades 11–12About average

This school

78.4%

MA avg

71.4%

9th graders passing all coursesBetter than average

This school

96.7%

MA avg

82.6%

After high school

Four-year graduation rate98%in 2024 · MA avg 92%

6 points above the MA avg

Dropped outof the four-year classBetter than average

This school

1.7%

MA avg

4.3%

0.4% of the class were still in school after four years.

Plan to attend college60%in 2025 · state 72%

13 points below the state

Graduates' plans · 241 graduates

Other / unknown

37.3%

4-year public college

28.6%

4-year private college

24.9%

2-year public college

5.8%

Work

2.1%

2-year private college

0.4%

Students

Who attends

White

72.6%

Asian

7.5%

Hispanic/Latino

7.4%

Black/African American

7.4%

Multi-Race

4.9%

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0.1%

51.5% female · 48% male · 0.5% nonbinary

Student needs

High needslow income, English learner, or disabilityLower than average

This school

31.9%

MA avg

50.7%

Low incomeLower than average

This school

18.3%

MA avg

39%

English learnersLower than average

This school

3.7%

MA avg

8.6%

Teachers

Licensed teachersAbout average

This school

100%

MA avg

95.9%

Experienced teachersAbout average

This school

77.2%

MA avg

73.4%

Teaching in their fieldBetter than average

This school

93.8%

MA avg

84.6%

Students per teacher

12.8MA avg 11.8

75.3 full-time-equivalent teachers

Attendance & safety

Attendance rateBetter than average

This school

94.3%

MA avg

92.3%

Chronically absentmissed 10%+ of daysBetter than average

This school

14.5%

MA avg

22.3%

10 days absent per student (MA avg 13.2) · Suspensions: 1.1% out-of-school, 0% in-school (MA high school avg 4% / 2.2%)

About Melrose

Middlesex County · Greater Boston — Inside I-95

Avg single-family home value$853KMA median $588K

Avg property tax bill$9,787MA median $6,814

Tax rate$11.50 per $1,000MA median $12.40

Income per person$70,173MA median $47,872

Local kids in public school90.3%

Town bond ratingAA+

Free cash reserves4.9% of budget

Melrose 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.

Rising Tide Charter Public School

Rising Tide Charter Public

B+

#52 in MASAT 1141Graduation 98%92% match

Northampton High

Northampton

A-

#41 in MASAT 1264Graduation 94%90% match

Grafton High School

Grafton

B+

#62 in MASAT 1153Graduation 93%90% match

Belchertown High

Belchertown

B+

#80 in MASAT 1122Graduation 93%90% match