Massachusetts public high school

Southbridge High School

Southbridge school district

C-

overall grade

Ranks #331 of 335 Massachusetts high schools.

Overall rank

#331

of 335 schools

Average SAT

792

MA average 1091

Graduation rate

72%

MA average 92%

Plan on college

41%

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.

Southbridge is a small industrial city in south-central Massachusetts, located about 20 miles southwest of Worcester. Once a thriving mill town known for its optical manufacturing industry, particularly the American Optical Company which was founded here in 1833, Southbridge retains its working-class character and historic downtown architecture. The city has a significant Hispanic population and a strong Franco-American heritage dating back to the 19th-century textile mills.

How it compares

What stands out

Best of its categories: AP results, in the bottom 7% statewide. 28% of AP exams in 2025 scored 3 or higher, vs 66% at the typical MA high school.
Trend: The average SAT score is down 77 points since 2020 (869 to 792).
Trend: The graduation rate has risen from 58.9% in 2021 to 71.5% in 2024.

Where it stands among 335 Massachusetts high schools

Bottom of MATop of MA

Overall

Well below averagebottom 2% · #331

SAT

Well below averagebottom 2% · #331

ELA MCAS

Well below averagebottom 1% · #326

Math MCAS

Well below averagebottom 3% · #322

AP results

Well below averagebottom 7% · #297

Graduation

Well below averagebottom 4% · #320

College plans

Well below averagebottom 3% · #324

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 score792in 2025 · MA avg 1091

299 points below the MA avg

By section (out of 800)

Reading & writingWorse than average

This school

413

MA avg

556

MathWorse than average

This school

379

MA avg

535

82 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 Arts8%in 2026 · state 45%

37 points below the state

Math7%in 2026 · state 44%

37 points below the state

Biologyhigh school science, 2026Worse than average

This school

11%

State

38%

Detailed scores

Average scaled score, ELA · Math · Science (500+ = meeting expectations)471 · 469 · 474

Achievement percentile vs. MA schools (ELA · Math)5th · 4th

Student growth percentile, ELA · Math (50 = typical growth)30 · 24

AP & advanced courses

AP exams scored 3+28%in 2025 · MA avg 66%

38 points below the MA avg

Score breakdown

Score 5: 2%Score 4: 5%Score 3: 22%Score 2: 28%Score 1: 43%

41 students took 60 AP exams. A 3 or higher can earn college credit.

Completed an advanced coursegrades 11–12Worse than average

This school

53.7%

MA avg

71.4%

9th graders passing all coursesAbout average

This school

74.6%

MA avg

82.6%

After high school

Four-year graduation rate72%in 2024 · MA avg 92%

20 points below the MA avg

Dropped outof the four-year classWorse than average

This school

13%

MA avg

4.3%

4.1% of the class were still in school after four years.

Plan to attend college41%in 2025 · state 72%

31 points below the state

Graduates' plans · 95 graduates

Work

35.8%

2-year public college

22.1%

4-year public college

16.8%

Other / unknown

13.7%

Students

Who attends

Hispanic/Latino

65.9%

White

27.4%

Black/African American

4.5%

Asian

1.4%

Multi-Race

0.5%

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0.2%

46.1% female · 53.7% male · 0.2% nonbinary

Student needs

High needslow income, English learner, or disabilityHigher than average

This school

82.2%

MA avg

50.7%

Low incomeHigher than average

This school

76.7%

MA avg

39%

English learnersHigher than average

This school

21.8%

MA avg

8.6%

Teachers

Licensed teachersWorse than average

This school

82.7%

MA avg

95.9%

Experienced teachersWorse than average

This school

22.5%

MA avg

73.4%

Teaching in their fieldWorse than average

This school

59.2%

MA avg

84.6%

Students per teacher

9.8MA avg 11.8

42.6 full-time-equivalent teachers

Attendance & safety

Attendance rateWorse than average

This school

86.3%

MA avg

92.3%

Chronically absentmissed 10%+ of daysWorse than average

This school

50.3%

MA avg

22.3%

22.2 days absent per student (MA avg 13.2) · Suspensions: 11.4% out-of-school, 14.3% in-school (MA high school avg 4% / 2.2%)

About Southbridge

Worcester County · Central Massachusetts

Avg single-family home value$340KMA median $588K

Avg property tax bill$5,070MA median $6,814

Tax rate$14.90 per $1,000MA median $12.40

Income per person$24,952MA median $47,872

Local kids in public school93.3%

Town bond ratingAA-

Free cash reserves2.3% of budget

Southbridge 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.

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Conservatory of the Arts

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