Massachusetts public high school

South High Community

Worcester school district

overall grade

Ranks #238 of 335 Massachusetts high schools.

Overall rank

#238

of 335 schools

Average SAT

1126

MA average 1091

Graduation rate

86%

MA average 92%

Plan on college

61%

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.

Worcester, Massachusetts' second-largest city, is a diverse urban center located about 40 miles west of Boston in the heart of the state. Known as the "Heart of the Commonwealth," Worcester has a rich industrial history and is home to several colleges and universities, giving it a vibrant college-town atmosphere. South High Community School serves students in Worcester's south side neighborhoods, which have historically been home to immigrant communities and working-class families.

How it compares

What stands out

Strongest area: SAT scores, in the top 41% statewide. The average SAT score is 1126, vs 1091 at the typical MA high school.
Area to watch: Math MCAS ranks in the bottom 16% statewide.
Trend: The average SAT score is up 207 points since 2022 (919 to 1126).
Trend: Chronic absence has fallen from 41.1% in 2022 to 35.3% in 2025.

Where it stands among 335 Massachusetts high schools

Bottom of MATop of MA

Overall

Below averagebottom 30% · #238

SAT

Averagetop 41% · #137

ELA MCAS

Below averagebottom 16% · #277

Math MCAS

Below averagebottom 16% · #279

AP results

Averagebottom 41% · #191

Graduation

Below averagebottom 19% · #271

College plans

Below averagebottom 18% · #274

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 score1126in 2025 · MA avg 1091

35 points above the MA avg

By section (out of 800)

Reading & writingAbout average

This school

570

MA avg

556

MathBetter than average

This school

556

MA avg

535

137 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 Arts27%in 2026 · state 45%

18 points below the state

Math22%in 2026 · state 44%

22 points below the state

Biologyhigh school science, 2026Worse than average

This school

21%

State

38%

Detailed scores

Average scaled score, ELA · Math · Science (500+ = meeting expectations)485 · 483 · 479

Achievement percentile vs. MA schools (ELA · Math)17th · 16th

Student growth percentile, ELA · Math (50 = typical growth)44 · 46

AP & advanced courses

AP exams scored 3+65%in 2025 · MA avg 66%

About the same as the MA avg

Score breakdown

Score 5: 16%Score 4: 24%Score 3: 25%Score 2: 20%Score 1: 15%

429 students took 891 AP exams. A 3 or higher can earn college credit.

Completed an advanced coursegrades 11–12Worse than average

This school

51.1%

MA avg

71.4%

9th graders passing all coursesAbout average

This school

75.4%

MA avg

82.6%

After high school

Four-year graduation rate86%in 2024 · MA avg 92%

6 points below the MA avg

Dropped outof the four-year classWorse than average

This school

5.5%

MA avg

4.3%

7.2% of the class were still in school after four years.

Plan to attend college61%in 2025 · state 72%

12 points below the state

Graduates' plans · 503 graduates

2-year public college

25.6%

4-year public college

20.5%

Work

16.3%

4-year private college

14.3%

Other / unknown

14.3%

Students

Who attends

Hispanic/Latino

44%

White

22.5%

Black/African American

19.9%

Asian

9.3%

Multi-Race

4.3%

48.3% female · 51.7% male

Student needs

High needslow income, English learner, or disabilityHigher than average

This school

78%

MA avg

50.7%

Low incomeHigher than average

This school

69.3%

MA avg

39%

English learnersHigher than average

This school

29.4%

MA avg

8.6%

Teachers

Licensed teachersAbout average

This school

99.2%

MA avg

95.9%

Experienced teachersAbout average

This school

68.6%

MA avg

73.4%

Teaching in their fieldAbout average

This school

90.7%

MA avg

84.6%

Students per teacher

14.6MA avg 11.8

123.2 full-time-equivalent teachers

Attendance & safety

Attendance rateWorse than average

This school

88.6%

MA avg

92.3%

Chronically absentmissed 10%+ of daysWorse than average

This school

35.3%

MA avg

22.3%

19.3 days absent per student (MA avg 13.2) · Suspensions: 4.2% out-of-school, 1.4% in-school (MA high school avg 4% / 2.2%)

About Worcester

Worcester County · Central Massachusetts

Avg single-family home value$410KMA median $588K

Avg property tax bill$5,446MA median $6,814

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

Income per person$25,458MA median $47,872

Local kids in public school93.8%

Town bond ratingAA-

Free cash reserves0.7% of budget

Worcester 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.