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Below Average

#1497 of 1,791 schools in MA

North High

High School · Worcester

140 Harrington Way, Worcester, MA 01604

Enrollment

1,420

Student-Teacher

14.3:1

Score

4.8

Grades

9th – 12th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Worcester

#38 of 48

public schools

Massachusetts high schools

#330 of 366

In district

#35 of 45

Worcester

Academic growth

7.1 / 10

Strong

About North High

North High serves 1,420 students in grades 9-12 in Worcester, Massachusetts, with a student-teacher ratio of 14.3:1 and 99 full-time equivalent teachers. As a regular public school in Massachusetts, North High faces significant academic challenges, with only 25% of students demonstrating proficiency in English Language Arts and 7% in mathematics across grade levels. The school ranks in the 2nd percentile statewide, placing it at #1769 out of 1796 Massachusetts high schools, indicating substantial room for academic growth and student development.

The school community reflects the diverse socioeconomic landscape of Worcester, where families have a median household income of $68,823 and 32% of adults hold bachelor's degrees or higher. The neighborhood's poverty rate of 14.7% provides context for some of the educational challenges the school faces. With median home values at $295,100, the area represents a working-class community with mixed economic circumstances.

North High operates within Worcester's mid-size city environment, serving students from the 01604 ZIP code area that encompasses over 40,000 residents. The school's location on Harrington Way places it within a established urban community where educators work to support student achievement despite facing considerable academic hurdles.

What Parents Should Know

While current test scores at North High are below average, the school shows strong growth metrics — meaning students are making above-average progress year over year. This upward trajectory can be a positive indicator for families who value a school's ability to help students improve, even if absolute scores haven't caught up yet.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress7.1Very Good25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data6
Annual Change-1.22 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics3.3Fair25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency7%
Reading/ELA Proficiency25%
Math vs. State Avg-38.9 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-27 pts
Overall Proficiency16%
Expected (poverty-adj.)26%
vs. Expected-9.5 pts
Adjusted Percentile15th
College Readiness4.7Below Average30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
AP Participation15.4%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment3.9Fair20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio14.3:1
Per-Pupil Spending$20,642

North High — Students at North High score 16% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 26%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

0.2%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores MA MCAS (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 11.8%
School
State
52.0%
ELA Proficiency 25.4%
School
State
59.6%

Based on 22 test records from MA state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

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

2019
Math
18.5%
ELA
28.5%
2021*
Math
10%
ELA
28%
2022
Math
7%
ELA
25%
2023
Math
10%
ELA
24%
2024
Math
14%
ELA
25%
2025
Math
11%
ELA
17%

* 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: 7.1/10.

How North High Compares

See how North High performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
4.8/10
17th percentile in MA
Academic
3.3/10
3.3/10
Growth
7.1/10
Above average
Environment
3.9/10
Below average

Location

140 Harrington Way, Worcester, MA 01604

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering North High may also want to explore other high schools in the area. WORCESTER ACADEMY (rated 7.1/10, 1.3 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Worcester Technical High (rated 6.5/10, 1.3 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, ST PAUL DIOCESAN JR/SR HIGH SCHOOL (rated 5.6/10, 1.6 miles away), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Worcester, see our Worcester schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 2.0 mi
School Distance Rating
Lake View Worcester 0.6 mi 7.7
Rice Square Worcester 1.0 mi 5.4
Worcester East Middle Worcester 1.0 mi 6.3
Calvin Coolidge School Shrewsbury 1.0 mi 7.2
Worcester Technical High Worcester 1.3 mi 6.5
Roosevelt Worcester 1.3 mi 4.7
Grafton Street Worcester 1.1 mi 6.2
Belmont Street Community Worcester 1.3 mi 5.3
City View Worcester 1.3 mi 5.2
WORCESTER ACADEMY Worcester 1.3 mi 7.1
Parker Road Preschool Shrewsbury 1.5 mi 5.9
ST PAUL DIOCESAN JR/SR HIGH SCHOOL Worcester 1.6 mi 5.6
Union Hill School Worcester 1.4 mi 3.3
VENERINI ACADEMY Worcester 1.4 mi 5.6
SHREWSBURY CHILDREN'S CENTER Shrewsbury 1.8 mi
Vernon Hill School Worcester 1.8 mi 4.7
Learning First Charter Public School Worcester 1.7 mi 5.1
NATIVITY SCHOOL OF WORCESTER Worcester 1.8 mi 7.2
Lincoln Street Worcester 2.4 mi 7.7
Ma Academy for Math and Science School Worcester 2.0 mi 5.1

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 01604 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$72,911

Median Home Value

$321,900

Median Rent

$1,570/mo

Population

39,988

College Educated

31.2%

Homeownership

43.4%

Avg Commute

24.2 min

Poverty Rate

15.3%

Median Age

38.1

Community Profile

The community surrounding North High has a median household income of $72,911. It is an area where 31% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $321,900, with a median rent of $1,570/month. The area has a poverty rate of 15.3%. The average commute for residents is 24 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Malden High Malden, MA 4.7
East Boston High School East Boston, MA 5.0
Leominster High School Leominster, MA 4.6
Peabody Veterans Memorial High Peabody, MA 4.6
Roxbury Preparatory Charter School Roxbury, MA 5.0
Bridgewater-Raynham Regional Bridgewater, MA 4.5

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about North High

What grades does North High serve?

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

How many students attend North High?

North High has an enrollment of approximately 1,420 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at North High?

The student-teacher ratio at North High is 14.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does North High rank in MA?

North High is ranked #1497 out of 1,791 schools in MA.

What is North High's MySchoolScout rating?

North High has a composite rating of 4.8 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at North High?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, North High has 11.8% math proficiency and 25.4% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is North High a charter school?

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

Is North High a Title I school?

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

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
39 Car-Dependent
Transit Score
27 Some Transit
Bike Score
24 Somewhat Bikeable
City Safety
Low (16/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Worcester). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
1,420
Student-Teacher Ratio
14.3:1
Teachers (FTE)
99
Type
regular
Setting
Midsize City
County
Worcester County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

Worcester
District Enrollment
24,350
Schools in District
45
Per-Pupil Spending
$22,553
District Rank
#35 of 45

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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