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Town Hall and First Congregational Church, Royalston MAPhoto: John Phelan · CC BY-SA 4.0
C−
Schools in Royalston · Athol-Royalston School District

Royalston’s public schools score below 81% of Massachusetts districts on tests and graduation

On the state reading tests, 24% of Royalston’s students scored proficient, below the Massachusetts average (44%). The grade covers the public school district serving Royalston, 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 98% 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
24%
▼ 20 pts vs MA 44%
2021–22
Math proficiency
26%
▼ 15 pts vs MA 41%
2021–22
Graduate on time
85–89%
▼ 0–4 pts vs MA 89%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$21.0K
▼ 21% vs MA $26.5K
FY2024
Students per teacher
12.8
MA 11.9 · larger classes
Schools in town
2
1,015 students on the public path
In brief

Royalston’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 288 Massachusetts towns with household incomes within a quarter of Royalston’s, its schools beat 9%, lower than their 19% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 24% of tested students were proficient in reading and 26% in math, against 44% and 41% statewide; 98% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

85–89% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 89% across Massachusetts (the state reports Royalston’s rate as a range). Districts ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $21,049 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 7 the district’s path is Athol-Royalston Middle School, then Athol High. Enrollment is up 13% since 2020–21. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

The Village School (private) is 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 Royalston’s grade

D Test scoresC− Graduation

C−: better than 19% of Massachusetts school districts. Both inputs trail the Massachusetts average; graduation is the closer of the two to typical.

Massachusetts school districts we grade (394)Better than 19%
Lower resultsHigher results
Massachusetts towns with similar household incomes (288)Better than 9%
Towns in Worcester County (55)Better than 13%
DCA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 820 test results and a graduating class of 84 could put Royalston anywhere from D to C. The tests are from spring 2022, when 98% of Royalston’s students in the tested grades sat them (818 in math, 822 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–6Royalston Community SchoolAthol-Royalston School DistrictB+
7–8Athol-Royalston Middle Schoolin AtholD
9–12Athol Highin AtholC

Royalston’s public schools are run by Athol-Royalston School District, which also serves Athol. 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.

Athol-Royalston School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 4 schools · 1,604 students, up 13% since 2020–21 · 12.8 per teacher (MA 11.9)
$21,049MA $26,530 · FY2024
C−
Test scores · 2021–22

Well below the state in reading

Reading24%
State average 43.7% · 822 students tested
Math26%
State average 40.7% · 818 students tested

Royalston vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
RoyalstonC−Athol-Royalston
OrangeDOrange PK–6 · Ralph C. Mahar 7–12
AtholC−Athol-Royalston
PhillipstonCNarragansett
WinchendonDWinchendon
TempletonCNarragansett

Every school in Royalston

4 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 Royalstonby address
Royalston Community School
Elementary · Grades PK–6
B+
152 students12:1Rate it →
Also serving Royalstonin other towns
Athol-Royalston Middle School
Middle · Grades 5–8 · Athol
D
446 students13:1Rate it →
Athol High
High · Grades 9–12 · Athol
C
417 students12:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
The Village School
Elementary · Grades PK–6
Private · Nonsectarian
78 students9:1Rate it →

Questions about Royalston’s schools

Are Royalston’s schools good?

On Massachusetts’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Royalston children attend score below 81% of Massachusetts’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C− Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 9%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Royalston in?

Athol-Royalston School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 1,604 students in 4 schools (2024–25).

Where do Royalston kids go to high school?

Athol High in Athol, with 417 students; its own test results earn a C.

What is Royalston’s graduation rate?

85–89% of the class of 2023 in Athol-Royalston School District graduated in four years, against 89% across Massachusetts.

How much does Royalston spend per student?

$21,049 in Athol-Royalston School District (FY2024), against $26,530 across Massachusetts. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Royalston?

Yes: The Village School (nonsectarian, grades PK–6, 78 students).

Parents talk

What Royalston families are saying about school.

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Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Royalston → 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.