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C−

Pioneer Valley School District

Public school districtGrades PK–12Regional · 3 towns

Serves Northfield, Bernardston and Leyden.

Northfield’s School Grade C− better than 21% of Massachusetts school districts

Students
581
Schools
3
Spent per student
$28,154
MA $26,530
Students per teacher
11:1
The gist

What stands out about Pioneer Valley School District

  • Its letter, C−: results better than 21% of Massachusetts districts
  • Math proficiency 15 pts below the state
  • Reading proficiency 6 pts below the state
  • Graduation rate 6 pts above the state
  • Spends 6% more per student than the MA average
  • 11 students per teacher
  • Enrollment down 7.9% since 2020–21
The School Grade

What this district adds to its towns’ grade

C−: better than 21% of the 394 Massachusetts school districts we grade. Each town’s School Grade weighs its districts by the students they test; spending and class size are shown but don’t count.

Test scoresReading and math well below the state, 2021–22
C−
The towns it serves, and their School Grades
C−Northfield 2,857C−Bernardston 2,108Leyden 725

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where would my kid go?

The school path for Northfield. Grade by grade →

PK–6Northfield ElementaryThis district
7–12Pioneer Valley RegionalThis district

Test scores vs. MA

2021–22 · class of 2023
Math proficiency26%
State average 40.7% · 354 students tested
Reading / language arts38%
State average 43.7% · 354 students tested
Graduation rate (4-year)90–100%
State average 89.2% · 52 in the class · small group: the state reports a range

100% of students in the tested grades sat the 2022 tests.

Reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express and the Urban Institute); the newest year for each measure.

Where the money goes

fiscal 2024
$28,154 per student · 6% above MA
Spending
Classroom instruction 53%Support & administration 44%Other 3%
Paid for by
Local (mostly property tax) 55%State 36%Federal 9%

Fiscal 2022–24 includes federal pandemic relief (ESSER).

U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances.

Enrollment over time
631’20
657’21
660’22
616’23
581’24

Down 7.9% since 2020–21.

Students
White 92%Two or more races 4%Hispanic 3%Black <1%Asian <1%Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander <1%

Schools in the district

3 public schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Massachusetts’s other public schools.

Bernardston Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–6 · Bernardston
C
201 students11:1
Northfield Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–6 · Northfield
C
141 students10:1
Pioneer Valley Regional
High · Grades 7–12 · Northfield
B−
239 students11:1

Nearby districts

Compare spending and schools next door.

Gill-Montague School DistrictGill
$28,296per student
Greenfield School DistrictGreenfield
$25,342per student
Erving School DistrictErving
$38,813per student
Gill-Montague School District in ErvingErving

District facts: U.S. Department of Education (NCES school directory 2024–25 and district boundaries) and the U.S. Census Bureau’s school finance survey. Test scores and graduation: state results reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express and the Urban Institute). The letters are our own summary, graded within Massachusetts.