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Below Average

#1577 of 1,793 schools in MA

Athol High

High School · Athol-royalston · Athol, MA

An Athol-royalston high school where students score 7 points below what's typical for similar communities.

2363 Main Street, Athol, MA 01331

  • Math 21% vs MA 46% (2025)
  • Reading 25% vs MA 52% (2025)
  • 82.0% 4-year graduation

Academics

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress3.9Needs Improvement25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data17
Annual Change-2.75 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics4.3Below Average25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency21% (2025 MCAS)
Reading/ELA Proficiency25% (2025 MCAS)
Math vs. State Avg-24.9 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-27 pts
Overall Proficiency23% (2025 MCAS, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)30% (model expectation from 2025 MCAS)
vs. Expected-7.2 pts
Adjusted Percentile24th
College Readiness5.0Average30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
4-Year Graduation Rate82%
AP Participation12.8%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment3.0Needs Improvement20%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio12.9:1
District spending per student$19,735
Chronic Absenteeism34.1%

Students at Athol High score 23% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 30%).

How we calculate scores →

2025 MCAS proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. MA average.

Math Proficiency21%(2025 MCAS)
School
State
46%(2025 MCAS)
ELA Proficiency25%(2025 MCAS)
School
State
52%(2025 MCAS)

Trend

↓ Declining

Proficiency has fallen 12 points since 2022, to 23% in 2025, across a 17-year record (2009–2025).

Show all 17 years
2009
Math
57%
ELA
72%
2010
Math
62%
ELA
77%
2011
Math
47%
ELA
87%
2012
Math
72%
ELA
87%
2013
Math
62%
ELA
82%
2014
Math
57%
ELA
87%
2015
Math
67%
ELA
87%
2016
Math
47%
ELA
82%
2017
Math
62%
ELA
87%
2018
Math
37%
ELA
47%
2019
Math
37%
ELA
47%
2020*
Math
22%
ELA
42%
2021*
Math
23%
ELA
43%
2022
Math
37%
ELA
33%
2023
Math
28%
ELA
39%
2024
Math
19%
ELA
38%
2025
Math
21%
ELA
25%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 43% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 59% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Based on 44 test records from MA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

How we rate schools

A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.

See how we rate

The neighborhood

Where Athol High sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.

Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries. Open the Boston map →

Getting around & local context

  • Walk 38Car-Dependent
  • Bike 39Somewhat Bikeable
  • City Safety: Elevated1,192/100K

Powered byWalk Score

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Athol), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details

Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.

Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)

Median income

$68,345

Median home value

$257,300

Median rent

$1,041/mo

College educated

20.6%

Homeownership

74.7%

Poverty rate

13.2%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 01331; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Programs & students

Programs & Offerings

AP/IB Programs2AP courses offered
12.8% participation·State avg: 2.9 AP courses·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Athletics18sports offered
9 boys'·9 girls'·23 teams (incl. JV)·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Advanced STEM Courses5of 5 advanced subjects offered
Algebra II, Advanced Math, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22

Compare nearby

Nearby same-level schools

1 from a 5-mile search

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
Ralph C Mahar RegionalEnrollment path unverified5.07–125.0 mi504Compare →

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.

Athol-royalston

Schools in district
4
Rank in district
#2 of 4
District spending per student
$19,735NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
12.1%Census SAIPE · 2024

Athol High is listed in Athol-Royalston; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About Athol High

Athol High is a public high school in Athol, MA, part of Athol-royalston, serving approximately 414 students in grades 9th-12th with a 12.9:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 4.2 out of 10 and ranks #1,577 of 1,793 schools in MA. State assessment records show 43% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 59% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Athol High

What grades does Athol High serve?

Athol High serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend Athol High?

Athol High has an enrollment of approximately 414 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Athol High?

The student-teacher ratio at Athol High is 12.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Athol High rank in MA?

Athol High ranks #1,577 of 1,793 schools in MA.

What is Athol High's MySchoolScout rating?

Athol High has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.2 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Athol High?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Athol High has 43% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 59% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Athol High a charter school?

No, Athol High is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Athol High a Title I school?

No, Athol High is not currently a Title I school.

School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
414
Student-Teacher Ratio
12.9:1
Teachers (FTE)
32
Type
regular
Setting
Fringe Town
County
Worcester County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
34.1%
4-Year Graduation
82.0%
Area population (ZIP 01331)
13,865
Area average commute
27.7 min
Area median age
42.7
About this school's data

Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.

School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
  • Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
MySchoolScout rating and rank
MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
Math proficiency
State department of education · 2025 MCAS · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Reading/ELA proficiency
State department of education · 2025 MCAS · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Student progress (growth)
State assessments · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
  • Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
  • Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 01331; this does not measure the attendance area.
Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.

Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24

About our data · How we calculate scores

Related reading

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