What share of students in Massachusetts are proficient in math?

In 2024, 37% of eighth graders in Massachusetts public schools were at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics (the highest among the 50 states and DC) and 40% in reading, compared with 47% and 45% in 2019 (national public 2024: 27% and 29%).

Education in Massachusetts, United States: official figures

90.1% of public high school students in Massachusetts graduated within four years of starting ninth grade in the 2021-22 school year (the adjusted cohort graduation rate); joint 4th highest among the 49 states (including DC) with data (U.S.: 86.6%).

High school graduation rate (4-year ACGR)

90.1%

2021-22

NAEP fourth-grade reading score

225

2024

NAEP eighth-grade mathematics score

283

2024

Current spending per pupil, public schools

$24,429

FY2024

Public school enrollment

914,958

Fall 2023

Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher

48.3%

2024

Is the graduation rate in Massachusetts rising?

The four-year graduation rate in Massachusetts was 90.1% in 2021-22, compared with 85% in 2011-12 and 88.0% in 2018-19, before the pandemic; nationally the rate went from 80% in 2011-12 to 86.6% in 2021-22.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What is the graduation rate for disadvantaged students in Massachusetts?

In 2021-22 the four-year graduation rate in Massachusetts was 83.2% for economically disadvantaged students, 78.0% for students with disabilities and 73.1% for English learners (U.S.: 81.3%, 71.4%, 72.1% respectively).

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What is the graduation rate by race in Massachusetts?

By race and ethnicity, the 2021-22 graduation rate in Massachusetts was 86.2% for Black, 81.2% for Hispanic and 93.2% for White students (U.S.: 81.0%, 82.8%, 89.8%).

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Massachusetts score in grade 4 reading?

Public school students in Massachusetts averaged 225 in fourth-grade reading on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), the highest among the 50 states and DC, down from 231 in 2019 (national public: 214, 219 in 2019). 40% scored at or above Proficient and 32% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Massachusetts score in grade 8 reading?

Public school students in Massachusetts averaged 268 in eighth-grade reading on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), the highest among the 50 states and DC, down from 273 in 2019 (national public: 257, 262 in 2019). 40% scored at or above Proficient and 25% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Massachusetts score in grade 4 math?

Public school students in Massachusetts averaged 246 in fourth-grade mathematics on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), the highest among the 50 states and DC, down from 247 in 2019 (national public: 237, 240 in 2019). 51% scored at or above Proficient and 18% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Massachusetts score in grade 8 math?

Public school students in Massachusetts averaged 283 in eighth-grade mathematics on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint the highest among the 50 states and DC, down from 294 in 2019 (national public: 272, 281 in 2019). 37% scored at or above Proficient and 32% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How much does Massachusetts spend per student?

Public school systems in Massachusetts spent $24,429 per pupil on current operations in fiscal year 2024, 6th highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: $17,619), according to the Census Bureau's Annual Survey of School System Finances.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Is school spending per pupil in Massachusetts going up?

Current spending per pupil in Massachusetts rose from $17,748 in fiscal 2019 to $24,429 in fiscal 2024, up 37.6% before inflation (U.S.: up 33.6%); the change on fiscal 2023 was up 6.5%.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What does Massachusetts spend school money on?

Of the $24,429 spent per pupil in Massachusetts in fiscal 2024, $14,724 went on instruction and $9,279 on support services; salaries and wages came to $14,488 per pupil and employee benefits $5,888.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Where does school funding in Massachusetts come from?

Public school systems in Massachusetts received $23.3 billion in revenue in fiscal 2024: 8.2% from the federal government, 43.6% from the state and 48.1% from local sources such as property taxes (U.S.: 11.6%, 45.2% and 43.2%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Massachusetts spend on public schools in total?

Total spending by public school systems in Massachusetts was $24.6 billion in fiscal 2024, of which $22.9 billion was current spending and $1.3 billion capital outlay on buildings and equipment; the systems owed $574.49 million in debt at the end of the year.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many students are in public schools in Massachusetts?

914,958 pupils were enrolled in public elementary and secondary schools in Massachusetts in fall 2023, down 4.6% on fall 2019 (959,394) and down 4.3% on fall 2013; nationally enrollment was down 2.5% since 2019.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What is the student-teacher ratio in Massachusetts?

Public schools in Massachusetts had 76,978 full-time-equivalent teachers in fall 2022, about 12.0 pupils per teacher, 8th fewest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 15.4; Massachusetts in fall 2019: 12.8).

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What percentage of people in Massachusetts have a college degree?

48.3% of adults aged 25 and over in Massachusetts, about 2,450,000 people, held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2024; 2nd highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 36.8%). That is up 1.7 percentage points on 2021 (46.6%), according to the American Community Survey.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people in Massachusetts have a graduate degree?

In 2024, 22.6% of adults 25 and over in Massachusetts had a graduate or professional degree and 7.1% an associate degree as their highest qualification (U.S.: 14.7% and 8.8%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many adults in Massachusetts did not finish high school?

91.4% of adults 25 and over in Massachusetts had at least a high school diploma or equivalent in 2024, leaving 8.6% without one; that share is joint 23rd highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 10.1%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Massachusetts compares with other states

Public high school 4-year graduation rate (ACGR) (2021-22)

Massachusetts ranks 4 of 49, highest first. Adjusted cohort graduation rate; New Mexico and Oklahoma did not report for 2021-22

Rank	Region	Public high school 4-year graduation rate (ACGR)
1	West Virginia	91.2%
2	Tennessee	90.4%
3	Wisconsin	90.3%
4	Massachusetts	90.1%
5	Kentucky	90.1%
6	Iowa	89.9%
7	Missouri	89.8%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Graduation rate of economically disadvantaged students (2021-22)

Massachusetts ranks 10 of 48, highest first. Adjusted cohort graduation rate

Rank	Region	Graduation rate of economically disadvantaged students
7	California	84.6%
8	Tennessee	83.6%
9	Florida	83.2%
10	Massachusetts	83.2%
11	Alabama	82.6%
12	Virginia	82.4%
13	Iowa	82.3%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP fourth-grade reading, average score (2024)

Massachusetts ranks 1 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP fourth-grade reading, average score
1	Massachusetts	225
2	New Jersey	222
3	Wyoming	222
4	Colorado	221
5	New Hampshire	221
6	Indiana	220
7	Connecticut	219

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP eighth-grade reading, average score (2024)

Massachusetts ranks 1 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP eighth-grade reading, average score
1	Massachusetts	268
2	New Jersey	266
3	Colorado	265
4	New Hampshire	264
5	Connecticut	263
6	Illinois	262
7	Indiana	262

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP fourth-grade mathematics, average score (2024)

Massachusetts ranks 1 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP fourth-grade mathematics, average score
1	Massachusetts	246
2	Florida	243
3	Wyoming	243
4	Utah	242
5	New Hampshire	242
6	Texas	241
7	Minnesota	241

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP eighth-grade mathematics, average score (2024)

Massachusetts ranks 1 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP eighth-grade mathematics, average score
1	Massachusetts	283
2	Wisconsin	283
3	New Jersey	282
4	Minnesota	282
5	Utah	282
6	South Dakota	281
7	Nebraska	280

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Eighth graders at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics (2024)

Massachusetts ranks 1 of 51, highest first. Public school students

Rank	Region	Eighth graders at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics
1	Massachusetts	37.2%
2	New Jersey	36.8%
3	Wisconsin	36.5%
4	Utah	35.1%
5	Minnesota	34.0%
6	South Dakota	33.3%
7	Colorado	32.5%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Fourth graders below NAEP Basic in reading (2024)

Massachusetts ranks 51 of 51, highest first. Public school students

Rank	Region	Fourth graders below NAEP Basic in reading
45	Mississippi	35.4%
46	Colorado	35.1%
47	Indiana	34.7%
48	New Jersey	33.7%
49	New Hampshire	33.3%
50	Wyoming	32.2%
51	Massachusetts	31.7%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Current spending per pupil, public schools (FY2024)

Massachusetts ranks 6 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau Annual Survey of School System Finances

Rank	Region	Current spending per pupil, public schools
3	Vermont	$28,818
4	New Jersey	$27,234
5	Connecticut	$26,316
6	Massachusetts	$24,429
7	Hawaii	$23,878
8	New Hampshire	$22,978
9	Delaware	$22,201

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Change in current spending per pupil since FY2019 (FY2019-FY2024)

Massachusetts ranks 14 of 51, highest first. Current dollars, not adjusted for inflation

Rank	Region	Change in current spending per pupil since FY2019
11	District of Columbia	+39.7%
12	Arizona	+39.2%
13	Idaho	+38.5%
14	Massachusetts	+37.6%
15	Maine	+36.6%
16	Delaware	+36.1%
17	Virginia	+35.3%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Share of public school revenue from local sources (FY2024)

Massachusetts ranks 17 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau

Rank	Region	Share of public school revenue from local sources
14	South Dakota	49.9%
15	Virginia	48.9%
16	Georgia	48.6%
17	Massachusetts	48.1%
18	New Jersey	47.4%
19	Louisiana	47.1%
20	Rhode Island	47.1%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Pupils per teacher, public schools (Fall 2022)

Massachusetts ranks 44 of 51, highest first. Common Core of Data

Rank	Region	Pupils per teacher, public schools
41	Rhode Island	12.7
42	Wyoming	12.6
43	North Dakota	12.4
44	Massachusetts	12.0
45	New Jersey	11.8
46	New York	11.7
47	Connecticut	11.7

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Change in public school enrollment, fall 2019 to fall 2023 (2019-2023)

Massachusetts ranks 37 of 51, highest first. Common Core of Data

Rank	Region	Change in public school enrollment, fall 2019 to fall 2023
34	Washington	-4.2%
35	Maine	-4.3%
36	Michigan	-4.6%
37	Massachusetts	-4.6%
38	Wisconsin	-4.8%
39	Illinois	-5.0%
40	Kentucky	-5.0%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Adults 25 and over with a bachelor's degree or higher (2024)

Massachusetts ranks 2 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey 1-year estimates

Rank	Region	Adults 25 and over with a bachelor's degree or higher
1	District of Columbia	65.5%
2	Massachusetts	48.3%
3	Colorado	47.8%
4	Vermont	45.1%
5	Maryland	44.7%
6	New Jersey	44.5%
7	Virginia	43.3%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Adults 25 and over without a high school diploma or equivalent (2024)

Massachusetts ranks 23 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey 1-year estimates

Rank	Region	Adults 25 and over without a high school diploma or equivalent
20	Illinois	9.3%
21	North Carolina	9.1%
22	South Carolina	9.0%
23	Massachusetts	8.6%
24	Maryland	8.6%
25	Virginia	8.3%
26	Connecticut	8.2%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

More on Massachusetts: overview · economy and jobs · health · poverty and living standards · government budget · the United States

Sources

National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2023, Table 219.46: Public high school 4-year adjusted cohort graduation rate (ACGR), by selected student characteristics and state, 2011-12 through 2021-22, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1913b92e5e75…)
U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table-based summary file: Educational attainment for the population 25 years and over (B15003), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0c933281d2c2…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2024, Table 203.20: Enrollment in public elementary and secondary schools, by state, fall 1990 through fall 2023 (Common Core of Data), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 8e370b60d62a…)
U.S. Census Bureau: 2024 Annual Survey of School System Finances: summary tables (Public Elementary-Secondary Education Finance Data, fiscal year 2024), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 848133174f29…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP mathematics grade 4, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 913ed194a3d5…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP mathematics grade 8, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7dc207d5418d…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP reading grade 4, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7da857933d83…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP reading grade 8, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 790de8a24822…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2023, Table 208.40: Public elementary and secondary teachers, enrollment, and pupil/teacher ratios, by state, fall 2000 through fall 2022 (Common Core of Data), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c15568f58c4c…)

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