schoolsbycounty

Massachusetts Schools & Education

Public school metrics and education data for all 14 counties.

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

Avg Graduation Rate

88.1%

Avg Per-Pupil Spending

$13,582

Avg School Score

72/100

Total Schools

1,837

399 districts

State Overview

About Schools in Massachusetts

This summary is generated from the NCES metrics shown on this page and reviewed against the source data by the Data Editor. It is not school advice.

Massachusetts Sets a High National Benchmark

Massachusetts outpaces the nation with an average graduation rate of 88.1%, surpassing the 87.0% national average. The state invests $13,582 per pupil, which is nearly $600 more than the national median spending. These figures contribute to a robust school score of 66.7, placing the Commonwealth well above the national median of 50.0.

Wide Disparities Across 14 Massachusetts Counties

Graduation rates vary significantly across the state, ranging from a high of 92.4% in Barnstable County to a low of 74.0% in Suffolk County. While the average school score is high, a nearly 26-point gap exists between the top-performing and bottom-performing districts. This variation highlights the different challenges faced by urban centers versus the coastal regions.

Strong Returns on Higher Per-Pupil Spending

The state sees a clear return on its $13,582 average investment, maintaining a graduation rate above the national benchmark. High-spending areas like Dukes County, which invests $21,423 per student, achieve impressive 92.0% graduation rates. Conversely, Bristol County spends the least at $10,941 per student while still managing a respectable 90.2% graduation rate.

Dukes and Barnstable Lead the Commonwealth

Dukes County leads the state with a top school score of 85.7 and an elite 92.0% graduation rate. Nantucket and Barnstable follow closely, with Barnstable boasting the state's highest graduation rate at 92.4%. These coastal counties consistently combine higher-than-average per-pupil spending with superior academic outcomes.

State Score Context

How Massachusetts Counties Are Distributed

14 of 14 counties have enough NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data to receive a county school score. Use this distribution to understand whether the state has a concentrated cluster of high, midrange, or lower measured signals.

Scored county coverage

Counties with complete enough data for the composite score

100%

Higher measured signal

Score range 70-100

8

Midrange measured signal

Score range 40-69

6

Lower measured signal

Score range 0-39

0

Scores are comparative signals from available federal data, not ratings of individual schools.

All Massachusetts Counties

County-level school score, graduation rate, and per-pupil spending for Massachusetts.
CountySchool Score
Barnstable County
Graduation
92.4%
Per pupil
$14,760
85/100
Dukes County
Graduation
92.0%
Per pupil
$21,423
84/100
Middlesex County
Graduation
92.1%
Per pupil
$13,122
84/100
Hampshire County
Graduation
92.3%
Per pupil
$12,191
83/100
Norfolk County
Graduation
91.1%
Per pupil
$12,887
78/100
Plymouth County
Graduation
91.7%
Per pupil
$11,345
78/100
Worcester County
Graduation
90.9%
Per pupil
$11,452
75/100
Bristol County
Graduation
90.2%
Per pupil
$10,941
73/100
Berkshire County
Graduation
88.4%
Per pupil
$13,358
69/100
Nantucket County
Graduation
87.0%
Per pupil
$16,692
67/100
Essex County
Graduation
87.8%
Per pupil
$11,941
66/100
Hampden County
Graduation
84.1%
Per pupil
$11,670
57/100
Franklin County
Graduation
78.8%
Per pupil
$12,613
52/100
Suffolk County
Graduation
74.0%
Per pupil
$15,756
51/100

— = data not available for this county.

Compare county school profiles in Massachusetts

Use the comparison tool to review school scores, graduation rates, and spending side by side.

Compare Counties

Frequently Asked Questions About Massachusetts Schools

Which Massachusetts counties have the highest graduation rates?
Barnstable County (92.4%), Hampshire County (92.3%), and Middlesex County (92.1%) currently lead Massachusetts among counties with available NCES four-year adjusted cohort graduation-rate data. This answer is generated from the same dataset used in the county table and can change when federal data refreshes.
What is per-pupil spending like in Massachusetts?
Across Massachusetts counties with available NCES district-finance data, average per-pupil spending is $13,582. The highest current county values are Dukes County ($21,423), Nantucket County ($16,692), and Suffolk County ($15,756). Compare counties in the table before treating the statewide average as representative of a local district.
Which Massachusetts county has the strongest measured school score?
Barnstable County has the highest school score in Massachusetts with a score of 85/100, based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data.
What is the average graduation rate in Massachusetts?
The average high school graduation rate across Massachusetts counties is 88.1%, based on NCES data.
Which county in Massachusetts has the lowest school score?
Suffolk County has the lowest school score in Massachusetts with a score of 51/100. School scores reflect available graduation-rate and per-pupil spending signals.

Data Sources

Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.

Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.

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