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NewSalem village commonPhoto: The original uploader was ColWilliam at English Wikipedia. · CC BY-SA 2.5
C−
Schools in New Salem · New Salem-Wendell School District, Ralph C. Mahar School District

New Salem’s public schools score below 85% of Massachusetts districts on tests and graduation

Reading proficiency in New Salem’s districts is 28%, below the Massachusetts average (44%). The grade covers the two public school districts serving New Salem, 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.

K–12Where will my kid go?

From Massachusetts state tests taken in spring 2022, when 97% 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
28%
▼ 16 pts vs MA 44%
2021–22
Math proficiency
30%
▼ 11 pts vs MA 41%
2021–22
Graduate on time
75–79%
▼ 10–14 pts vs MA 89%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$30.9K
▲ 16% vs MA $26.5K
FY2024 · Ralph C. Mahar
Students per teacher
9.1
MA 11.9 · smaller classes
Schools in town
0
643 students on the public path
In brief

New Salem’s schools, in brief

New Salem runs its own schools through grade 6, then shares

Swift River (PK–6) is New Salem’s own. From grade 7, students attend the Ralph C. Mahar School District with Orange, Petersham and Wendell: Ralph C Mahar Regional in Orange. See the path ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 28% of tested students were proficient in reading and 30% in math, against 44% and 41% statewide; 97% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

75–79% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 89% across Massachusetts (the state reports New Salem’s rate as a range). Districts ↓

Spending and class size

New Salem-Wendell spends $29,934 per student and Ralph C. Mahar $30,875, 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 New Salem’s grade

C− Test scoresD Graduation

C−: better than 15% of Massachusetts school districts. Both inputs trail the Massachusetts average; test scores are the closer of the two to typical.

Massachusetts school districts we grade (394)Better than 15%
Lower resultsHigher results
Massachusetts towns with similar household incomes (174)Better than 14%
Towns in Franklin County (23)Better than 30%
DCA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 355 test results and a graduating class of 94 could put New Salem anywhere from D to C. The tests are from spring 2022, when 97% of New Salem’s students in the tested grades sat them (353 in math, 356 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–6Swift RiverNew Salem-Wendell School DistrictB
7–12Ralph C Mahar Regionalin OrangeC

New Salem runs its own schools through grade 6 (New Salem-Wendell School District). From grade 7, students attend the Ralph C. Mahar School District, shared with Orange, Petersham and Wendell. Its school is in New Salem. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Two districts serve New Salem

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

New Salem-Wendell School DistrictGrades PK–6 · 1 schools · 134 students, up 4% since 2020–21 · 9.2 per teacher (MA 11.9)
$29,934MA $26,530 · FY2024
C−
Ralph C. Mahar School DistrictGrades 7–12 · 1 schools · 509 students, down 18% since 2020–21 · 9.0 per teacher (MA 11.9)
$30,875MA $26,530 · FY2024
D
Test scores · 2021–22

Well below the state in reading

Reading · PK–6, New Salem-Wendell School District32%
State average 43.7% · 68 students tested
Math · PK–6, New Salem-Wendell School District32%
State average 40.7% · 67 students tested
Reading · 7–12, Ralph C. Mahar School District27%
State average 43.7% · 288 students tested
Math · 7–12, Ralph C. Mahar School District29%
State average 40.7% · 286 students tested

New Salem vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
New SalemC−New Salem-Wendell PK–6 · Ralph C. Mahar 7–12
PetershamDPetersham K–6 · Ralph C. Mahar 7–12
PelhamB+Pelham K–6 · Amherst-Pelham 7–12
BelchertownB−Belchertown
WareDWare
ShutesburyB+Shutesbury PK–6 · Amherst-Pelham 7–12
OrangeDOrange PK–6 · Ralph C. Mahar 7–12
AtholC−Athol-Royalston
Wendell—New Salem-Wendell PK–6 · Ralph C. Mahar 7–12

3 of the 8 neighbors share Ralph C. Mahar with New Salem for grades 7–12, so their letters differ mainly through the lower grades.

Every school in New Salem

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).

Also serving New Salemin other towns
Swift River
Elementary · Grades PK–6
B
134 students9:1Rate it →
Ralph C Mahar Regional
High · Grades 7–12 · Orange
C
509 students9:1Rate it →

Questions about New Salem’s schools

Are New Salem’s schools good?

On Massachusetts’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools New Salem children attend score below 85% of Massachusetts’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C− Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 14%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is New Salem in?

Two districts: New Salem-Wendell School District runs grades PK–6, and Ralph C. Mahar School District runs grades 7–12, shared with Orange, Petersham and Wendell.

What is New Salem’s graduation rate?

75–79% of the class of 2023 in Ralph C. Mahar School District graduated in four years, against 89% across Massachusetts.

How much does New Salem spend per student?

$29,934 in New Salem-Wendell School District and $30,875 in Ralph C. Mahar School District (FY2024), against $26,530 across Massachusetts. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What New Salem families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near New Salem → 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.