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Ferns Country StorePhoto: Tim Pierce · CC BY 3.0
A+
Schools in Carlisle · Carlisle School District, Concord-Carlisle School District

Carlisle’s public schools outscore almost every Massachusetts district

On the state math tests, 76% of Carlisle’s students scored proficient, above the Massachusetts average (41%). The grade covers the two public school districts serving Carlisle, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Massachusetts, not nationally.

#1of 283 Massachusetts townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Massachusetts state tests taken in spring 2022, when 100% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
77%
▲ 33 pts vs MA 44%
2021–22
Math proficiency
76%
▲ 35 pts vs MA 41%
2021–22
Graduate on time
97%
▲ 8 pts vs MA 89%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$30.3K
▲ 14% vs MA $26.5K
FY2024 · Concord-Carlisle
Students per teacher
11.0
MA 11.9 · smaller classes
Schools in town
1
1,803 students on the public path
In brief

Carlisle’s schools, in brief

Carlisle runs its own schools through grade 8, then shares

Carlisle School (PK–8) is Carlisle’s own. From grade 9, students attend the Concord-Carlisle School District with Concord: Concord Carlisle High in Concord. The high school’s own results earn an A+, the highest on the path. See the path ↓

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 77% and math 76% across both districts in spring 2022, against 44% and 41% statewide; 97% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 89%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

Carlisle spends $26,056 per student and Concord-Carlisle $30,272, against $26,530 across Massachusetts (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Carlisle’s grade

A+ Test scoresB+ Graduation

A+: better than 99% of Massachusetts school districts, #1 of 283 Massachusetts towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the Massachusetts average; test scores are the stronger of the two.

Massachusetts school districts we grade (394)Better than 99%
Lower resultsHigher results
Massachusetts towns with similar household incomes (49)Better than 98%
Towns in Middlesex County (41)Better than 98%
A firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 749 test results and a graduating class of 347 wouldn’t change the letter. The tests are from spring 2022, when 100% of Carlisle’s students in the tested grades sat them (751 in math, 748 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Carlisle, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–8Carlisle SchoolCarlisle School DistrictA
9–12Concord Carlisle Highin ConcordA+

Carlisle runs its own schools through grade 8 (Carlisle School District). From grade 9, students attend the Concord-Carlisle School District, shared with Concord. Its high school is in Concord. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Two districts serve Carlisle

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Carlisle School DistrictGrades PK–8 · 1 schools · 612 students, up 6% since 2020–21 · 10.2 per teacher (MA 11.9)
$26,056MA $26,530 · FY2024
A+
Concord-Carlisle School DistrictGrades 9–12 · 1 schools · 1,191 students, down 9% since 2020–21 · 11.4 per teacher (MA 11.9)
$30,272MA $26,530 · FY2024
A+
Test scores · 2021–22

Well above the state in reading

Reading · PK–8, Carlisle School District70%
State average 43.7% · 414 students tested
Math · PK–8, Carlisle School District72%
State average 40.7% · 420 students tested
Reading · 9–12, Concord-Carlisle School District86%
State average 43.7% · 334 students tested
Math · 9–12, Concord-Carlisle School District80%
State average 40.7% · 331 students tested

Carlisle vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Massachusetts towns that share Carlisle’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
CarlisleA+Carlisle PK–8 · Concord-Carlisle 9–12
BedfordABedford
BillericaB−Billerica
ActonAActon-Boxborough Regional
ChelmsfordB+Chelmsford
ConcordA+Concord PK–8 · Concord-Carlisle 9–12
WestfordAWestford

Every school in Carlisle

2 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Massachusetts’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Carlisleby address
Carlisle School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
A
612 students10:1Rate it →
Also serving Carlislein other towns
Concord Carlisle High
High · Grades 9–12 · Concord
A+
1,191 students11:1Rate it →

Questions about Carlisle’s schools

Are Carlisle’s schools good?

By Massachusetts’s own tests, yes: the public schools Carlisle children attend outscore 99% of Massachusetts’s school districts on tests and graduation, an A+ Schools grade, #1 of 283 Massachusetts towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 98%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Carlisle in?

Two districts: Carlisle School District runs grades PK–8, and Concord-Carlisle School District runs grades 9–12, shared with Concord.

Where do Carlisle kids go to high school?

Concord Carlisle High in Concord, with 1,191 students; its own test results earn an A+.

What is Carlisle’s graduation rate?

97% of the class of 2023 in Concord-Carlisle School District graduated in four years, against 89% across Massachusetts.

How much does Carlisle spend per student?

$26,056 in Carlisle School District and $30,272 in Concord-Carlisle School District (FY2024), against $26,530 across Massachusetts. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Carlisle families are saying about school.

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Looking for colleges? Colleges near Carlisle → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Massachusetts. Stars are from neighbors.