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Shirley Shaker VillageShirley Shaker Village · Photo: John Phelan · CC BY-SA 3.0
A−
Schools in Lancaster · Nashoba School District

Lancaster’s public schools outscore 82% of Massachusetts districts

Math proficiency in Lancaster’s districts is 61%, above the Massachusetts average (41%). The grade covers the public school district serving Lancaster, 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.

#49of 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
64%
▲ 20 pts vs MA 44%
2021–22
Math proficiency
61%
▲ 20 pts vs MA 41%
2021–22
Graduate on time
94%
▲ 5 pts vs MA 89%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$22.6K
▼ 15% vs MA $26.5K
FY2024
Students per teacher
12.1
MA 11.9
Schools in town
7
1,524 students on the public path
In brief

Lancaster’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 261 Massachusetts towns with household incomes within a quarter of Lancaster’s, its schools beat 88%, higher than their 82% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 64% and math 61% in spring 2022, against 44% and 41% statewide; 94% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 89%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $22,648 per student, against $26,530 across Massachusetts (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then one middle and one high school

From grade 6 the district’s path is Luther Burbank Middle School, then Nashoba Regional. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Doctor Franklin Perkins School (private), South Lancaster Academy (private), Trivium School (private), Nashoba Montessori School (private) and RFK Don Watson Academy (private) are in town. Every school ↓

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 Lancaster’s grade

A Test scoresB− Graduation

A−: better than 82% of Massachusetts school districts, #49 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 82%
Lower resultsHigher results
Massachusetts towns with similar household incomes (261)Better than 88%
Towns in Worcester County (55)Better than 89%
A−AA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 1,660 test results and a graduating class of 204 could put Lancaster anywhere from A− to A. The tests are from spring 2022, when 100% of Lancaster’s students in the tested grades sat them (1,660 in math, 1,659 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–5Mary Rowlandson ElementaryNashoba School DistrictB
6–8Luther Burbank Middle SchoolNashoba School DistrictB+
9–12Nashoba Regionalin BoltonA+

Lancaster’s public schools are run by Nashoba School District, which also serves Bolton and Stow. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

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

Nashoba School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 6 schools · 2,990 students, down 3% since 2020–21 · 12.1 per teacher (MA 11.9)
$22,648MA $26,530 · FY2024
A−
Test scores · 2021–22

Well above the state in reading

Reading64%
State average 43.7% · 1659 students tested
Math61%
State average 40.7% · 1660 students tested

Lancaster vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
LancasterA−Nashoba
HarvardA+Harvard
LeominsterCLeominster
ClintonCClinton
BoltonA−Nashoba
SterlingB+Wachusett

Every school in Lancaster

8 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 Lancasterby address
Mary Rowlandson Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5
B
473 students12:1Rate it →
Luther Burbank Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8
B+
245 students10:1Rate it →
Also serving Lancasterin other towns
Nashoba Regional
High · Grades 9–12 · Bolton
A+
806 students12:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Doctor Franklin Perkins School
Elementary · Grades 2
Private · Special education
413 students13:1Rate it →
South Lancaster Academy
Grades PK–12 · South Lancaster
Private · Religious
292 students13:1Rate it →
Trivium School
High · Grades 7–12
Private · Catholic
99 students9:1Rate it →
Nashoba Montessori School
Elementary · Grades PK–K
Private · Nonsectarian
61 students9:1Rate it →
RFK Don Watson Academy
Grades 6–12
Private · Special education
23 students4:1Rate it →

1 duplicate private-school records merged.

Questions about Lancaster’s schools

Are Lancaster’s schools good?

By Massachusetts’s own tests, yes: the public schools Lancaster children attend outscore 82% of Massachusetts’s school districts on tests and graduation, an A− Schools grade, #49 of 283 Massachusetts towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 88%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Lancaster in?

Nashoba School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 2,990 students in 6 schools (2024–25).

Where do Lancaster kids go to high school?

Nashoba Regional in Bolton, with 806 students; its own test results earn an A+.

What is Lancaster’s graduation rate?

94% of the class of 2023 in Nashoba School District graduated in four years, against 89% across Massachusetts.

How much does Lancaster spend per student?

$22,648 in Nashoba School District (FY2024), against $26,530 across Massachusetts. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Lancaster?

Yes: Doctor Franklin Perkins School (special education, grades 2, 413 students), South Lancaster Academy (religious, grades PK–12, 292 students), Trivium School (Catholic, grades 7–12, 99 students), Nashoba Montessori School (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 61 students) and RFK Don Watson Academy (special education, grades 6–12, 23 students).

Parents talk

What Lancaster families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Lancaster → 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.