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Needs Improvement

#1657 of 1,793 schools in MA

Athol-royalston Middle School

Middle School · Athol-Royalston

1062 Pleasant Street, Athol, MA 01331

Enrollment

463

Student-Teacher

13.6:1

Score

3.8

Grades

5th – 8th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Massachusetts schools

#1,657 of 1,793

In Athol

#3 of 3

public schools

In district

#3 of 4

Athol-Royalston

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Athol-royalston Middle School

3.8/10

Middle School in Athol · grades 5th – 8th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Athol Community Elementary School

5.5/10

0.2 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Athol High

4.2/10

0.8 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Athol-royalston Middle School

Athol-royalston Middle School is a public middle school in Athol, MA, part of Athol-Royalston. Athol-royalston Middle School serves approximately 463 students, and covers grades 5th-8th, and has a 13.6:1 student-teacher ratio. Athol-royalston Middle School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.8 out of 10 and ranks #1,657 of 1,793 schools in MA.

Structured state assessment records for Athol-royalston Middle School show 25% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 30% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares2.6 pts below MA schools
  • This school 3.8 · Needs Improvement
  • MA avg 6.4

What Parents Should Know

Athol-royalston Middle School sits in a rural area, which can mean longer drives for some families. Rural schools are often community anchors with smaller classes, but check transportation, after-school options, and access to specialized services before you commit.

31% of students at Athol-royalston Middle School were chronically absent in the 2022-23 school year, above the national average. Chronic absenteeism means missing 15 or more school days, and at high rates it drags on classroom pacing for everyone. Ask what the school does to help families get kids to class consistently.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress4.7Below Average40%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data17
Annual Change-2.36 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics3.4Needs Improvement35%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency17.8% (2025 MCAS)
Reading/ELA Proficiency19.2% (2025 MCAS)
Math vs. State Avg-23.2 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-20.1 pts
Overall Proficiency19% (2025 MCAS, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)30% (model expectation from 2025 MCAS)
vs. Expected-11.7 pts
Adjusted Percentile15th
Resources & Environment2.9Needs Improvement25%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio13.6:1
Per-Pupil Spending$19,735
Chronic Absenteeism31.1%

Athol-royalston Middle School — Students at Athol-royalston Middle School score 18% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 30%).

How we calculate scores →

Test Scores MA MCAS (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 24.7% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
42.0% (multi-year state average, 2018-2025)
ELA Proficiency 29.6% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
45.5% (multi-year state average, 2018-2025)

Based on 116 test records from MA state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
49%
ELA
58%
2010
Math
44%
ELA
62%
2011
Math
39%
ELA
54%
2012
Math
35%
ELA
50%
2013
Math
30%
ELA
47%
2014
Math
32%
ELA
47%
2015
Math
35%
ELA
40%
2016
Math
26%
ELA
28%
2017
Math
32%
ELA
36%
2018
Math
32.2%
ELA
36.2%
2019
Math
34.8%
ELA
31.2%
2020*
Math
15%
ELA
24%
2021*
Math
14.8%
ELA
24%
2022
Math
18.3%
ELA
19.2%
2023
Math
21%
ELA
27%
2024
Math
16%
ELA
22%
2025
Math
17.8%
ELA
19.2%

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

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 4.7/10.

How Athol-royalston Middle School Compares

See how Athol-royalston Middle School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
3.8/10
8th percentile in MA
Academic
3.4/10
Needs Improvement
Growth
4.7/10
Below Average
Environment
2.9/10
Needs Improvement

Funding & Resources

Teaching Staff
14:1 student-teacher ratio
34 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
31.1%

Location

1062 Pleasant Street, Athol, MA 01331

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Athol-royalston Middle School may also want to explore other middle schools in the area. Quabbin Regional Middle School (rated 4.1/10, 12.9 miles away, in nearby Barre), with a very similar rating. Additionally, Narragansett Middle (rated 3.5/10, 7.0 miles away, in nearby Baldwinville), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Athol, see our Athol schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 14.1 mi
School Distance Rating
Athol Community Elementary School Athol 0.2 mi 5.5
Athol High Athol 0.8 mi 4.2
Petersham Center Petersham 6.2 mi 8.4
THE VILLAGE SCHOOL Royalston 5.7 mi 5.2
Ralph C Mahar Regional Orange 4.7 mi 5.0
PETERSHAM MONTESSORI SCHOOLS Petersham 6.3 mi
Fisher Hill School Orange 5.4 mi 6.0
Royalston Community School Royalston 8.0 mi 3.5
Narragansett Regional High Baldwinville 7.0 mi 4.3
Narragansett Middle Baldwinville 7.0 mi 3.5
Templeton Elementary School Templeton 7.4 mi 5.9
Swift River New Salem 8.3 mi 3.9
IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY SCHOOL Richmond 11.8 mi 5.0
Ruggles Lane Barre 11.2 mi 5.4
SEVEN HILLS/STETSON SCHOOL Barre 12.4 mi 6.1
Toy Town Elementary Winchendon 11.2 mi 6.1
Murdock Academy for Success Winchendon 11.2 mi
Quabbin Regional High School Barre 12.9 mi 5.8
Quabbin Regional Middle School Barre 12.9 mi 4.1
Dr. George S. Emerson Elementary School Fitzwilliam 14.1 mi 5.7

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 01331 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$68,345

Median Home Value

$257,300

Median Rent

$1,041/mo

Population

13,865

College Educated

20.6%

Homeownership

74.7%

Avg Commute

27.7 min

Poverty Rate

13.2%

Median Age

42.7

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Northbridge Middle Whitinsville, MA 3.7
Cameron Middle School Framingham, MA 4.0
Frost Middle School Lawrence, MA 4.0
Oliver Middle School Lawrence, MA 4.0
Susan B. Anthony Middle School Revere, MA 4.0
Barnstable Intermediate School Hyannis, MA 3.5

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Athol-royalston Middle School

What grades does Athol-royalston Middle School serve?

Athol-royalston Middle School serves students in grades 5th through 8th.

How many students attend Athol-royalston Middle School?

Athol-royalston Middle School has an enrollment of approximately 463 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Athol-royalston Middle School?

The student-teacher ratio at Athol-royalston Middle School is 13.6:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Athol-royalston Middle School rank in MA?

Athol-royalston Middle School ranks #1,657 of 1,793 schools in MA.

What is Athol-royalston Middle School's MySchoolScout rating?

Athol-royalston Middle School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.8 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-royalston Middle School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Athol-royalston Middle School has 25% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 30% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Athol-royalston Middle School a charter school?

No, Athol-royalston Middle School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Athol-royalston Middle School a Title I school?

No, Athol-royalston Middle School is not currently a Title I school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
5 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
27 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
5th – 8th
Enrollment
463
Student-Teacher Ratio
13.6:1
Teachers (FTE)
34
Type
regular
Setting
Fringe Rural
County
Worcester County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
31.1%

District

Athol-Royalston
District Enrollment
1,596
Schools in District
4
Per-Pupil Spending
$19,735
District Rank
#3 of 4

How we rate schools

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