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West Newbury, MA Town Hall 7-21-2023Photo: Riverbend Trail · CC BY-SA 4.0
B+
Schools in West Newbury · Pentucket School District

West Newbury’s public schools outscore 67% of Massachusetts districts

Math proficiency in West Newbury’s districts is 48%, above the Massachusetts average (41%). The grade covers the public school district serving West Newbury, 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.

#96of 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
50%
▲ 6 pts vs MA 44%
2021–22
Math proficiency
48%
▲ 7 pts vs MA 41%
2021–22
Graduate on time
95–100%
▲ 6–11 pts vs MA 89%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$21.2K
▼ 20% vs MA $26.5K
FY2024
Students per teacher
11.9
MA 11.9
Schools in town
4
1,240 students on the public path
In brief

West Newbury’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 133 Massachusetts towns with household incomes within a quarter of West Newbury’s, its schools beat 28%, lower than their 67% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 50% and math 48% in spring 2022, against 44% and 41% statewide; 95–100% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 89%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $21,232 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 Pentucket Regional Middle, then Pentucket Regional Sr High. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

The Childrens Castle (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 West Newbury’s grade

B Test scoresB+ Graduation

B+: better than 67% of Massachusetts school districts, #96 of 283 Massachusetts towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the Massachusetts average; graduation is the stronger of the two.

Massachusetts school districts we grade (394)Better than 67%
Lower resultsHigher results
Massachusetts towns with similar household incomes (133)Better than 28%
Towns in Essex County (24)Better than 33%
BB+A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 1,125 test results and a graduating class of 165 could put West Newbury anywhere from B to B+. The tests are from spring 2022, when 100% of West Newbury’s students in the tested grades sat them (1,123 in math, 1,127 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–6Dr John C Page SchoolPentucket School DistrictB+
7–8Pentucket Regional MiddlePentucket School DistrictC+
9–12Pentucket Regional Sr HighPentucket School DistrictA

West Newbury’s public schools are run by Pentucket School District, which also serves Groveland and Merrimac. 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.

Pentucket School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 6 schools · 2,238 students · 11.9 per teacher (MA 11.9)
$21,232MA $26,530 · FY2024
B+
Test scores · 2021–22

Well above the state in reading

Reading50%
State average 43.7% · 1127 students tested
Math48%
State average 40.7% · 1123 students tested

West Newbury vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
West NewburyB+Pentucket
NewburyportB+Newburyport
NewburyB−Triton
HaverhillDHaverhill
MerrimacB+Pentucket
AmesburyC+Amesbury
GrovelandB+Pentucket

2 of the 6 neighbors share Pentucket with West Newbury, so their letters differ mainly through other districts.

Every school in West Newbury

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 West Newburyby address
Dr John C Page School
Elementary · Grades PK–6
B+
327 students12:1Rate it →
Pentucket Regional Middle
Middle · Grades 7–8
C+
335 students12:1Rate it →
Pentucket Regional Sr High
High · Grades 9–12
A
578 students12:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
The Childrens Castle
Elementary · Grades PK–K
Private · Nonsectarian
77 studentsRate it →

Questions about West Newbury’s schools

Are West Newbury’s schools good?

By Massachusetts’s own tests, yes: the public schools West Newbury children attend outscore 67% of Massachusetts’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B+ Schools grade, #96 of 283 Massachusetts towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 28%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is West Newbury in?

Pentucket School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 2,238 students in 6 schools (2024–25).

Where do West Newbury kids go to high school?

Pentucket Regional Sr High, with 578 students; its own test results earn an A.

What is West Newbury’s graduation rate?

95–100% of the class of 2023 in Pentucket School District graduated in four years, against 89% across Massachusetts.

How much does West Newbury spend per student?

$21,232 in Pentucket School District (FY2024), against $26,530 across Massachusetts. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in West Newbury?

Yes: The Childrens Castle (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 77 students).

Parents talk

What West Newbury families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near West Newbury → 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.