Wood Hill Middle School vs Doherty Middle
Wood Hill Middle School and Doherty Middle are very closely rated, both scoring around 9.2 out of 10. In math proficiency, Doherty Middle leads at 80.0%.
Wood Hill Middle School
Andover, MA
331 students
Doherty Middle
Andover, MA
462 students
Ratings Comparison
| Metric | Wood Hill Middle School | Doherty Middle |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 9.2 / 10 | 9.4 / 10 |
| Academic Score | 9.0 | 9.0 |
| Growth Score | 9.2 | 9.6 |
| Diversity Index | — | — |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | 0% | 0% |
| Environment Score | 9.4 | 9.6 |
| State Rank | #58 of 1,793 | #30 of 1,793 |
| State Percentile | 97th | 98th |
Test Scores
| Subject | Wood Hill Middle School | Doherty Middle |
|---|---|---|
| Math Proficiency | 77.0% | 80.0% |
| Math (State Avg) | — | — |
| ELA Proficiency | 91.0% | 94.0% |
| ELA (State Avg) | — | — |
School Details
Neighborhood
| Metric | Andover (01810) | Andover (01810) |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $167,591 | $167,591 |
| Median Home Value | $813,800 | $813,800 |
| Median Rent | $2,046 | $2,046 |
| College Educated (Bachelor's+) | 75.2% | 75.2% |
| Poverty Rate | 3.5% | 3.5% |
| Avg Commute | 30 min | 30 min |
The data story: Wood Hill Middle School vs Doherty Middle
Wood Hill Middle School and Doherty Middle sit just 4.0 miles apart in Andover, Massachusetts, and their overall ratings are virtually identical — both earn a 9.2/10, with state ranks of #38 and #39 respectively out of 1,791 Massachusetts schools. Parents weighing one against the other are not choosing between a strong school and a weak one; they are navigating a genuine near-tie at the top of the state distribution, where the meaningful differences are smaller and more specific.
On academics, Wood Hill Middle School holds a narrow edge, scoring 8.9/10 in academic performance versus Doherty Middle's 8.7/10 — a 0.2-point gap that reflects slightly stronger tested proficiency outcomes at Wood Hill. Growth tells the opposite story: Doherty Middle scores 9.6/10 on student growth versus Wood Hill Middle School's 9.2/10, a 0.4-point advantage suggesting that Doherty is accelerating student progress at a comparatively faster rate regardless of where students start. Families prioritizing high absolute achievement may lean toward Wood Hill; those who value year-over-year improvement trajectories will find Doherty's growth number more compelling.
Doherty Middle is a larger school — 462 students compared to Wood Hill Middle School's 331 — a difference of 131 students across the same three grade span of 6th through 8th. Wood Hill's smaller enrollment pairs with a lower student-teacher ratio of 9.2:1 versus Doherty Middle's 10.0:1, meaning Wood Hill students have on average more direct access to teachers. For families who prioritize smaller class environments and closer student-teacher contact, Wood Hill's numbers are structurally more favorable.
Both schools serve grades 06–08, so the grade experience is equivalent in scope. The practical distinction parents face is one of scale and optimization: Wood Hill Middle School offers a tighter, lower-ratio environment with a marginal academic score advantage, while Doherty Middle operates at greater scale with a meaningfully higher growth score — indicating it may be more effective at pushing students forward from wherever they begin.
Editorial summary generated May 2026 · sonnet
Who each school fits
Wood Hill Middle School
Wood Hill Middle School suits families who want a smaller, more intimate middle school setting — 331 students, a 9.2:1 student-teacher ratio, and the slightly higher academic score of 8.9/10 make it the better fit for students who thrive with closer teacher access and an environment where high baseline achievement is the norm.
Doherty Middle
Doherty Middle is the stronger fit for families whose student has room to grow — its 9.6/10 growth score, the highest of the two schools, signals it consistently accelerates student progress. At 462 students, it also offers a larger peer community, which suits kids who benefit from a wider social environment across grades 6 through 8.