Southbridge

Southbridge has six public schools serving PK–12—three elementary, one middle, and two high—with 1,828 students, and the Southbridge district is ranked 344 of 351 in Massachusetts at the 2nd percentile with 0 stars. Enrollment is concentrated at Southbridge High School (419), Eastford Road (397, PK–1), and Southbridge Middle School (380), followed by West Street (323), Charlton Street (288), and Southbridge Academy (21). Elementary schools enroll 55.1% of students, the middle school 20.8%, and high schools 24.1%. Free/reduced lunch data is missing for every school, so poverty context cannot be analyzed.

Southbridge Middle School is the academic standout: it is the only school with 1 star and ranks 367 of 478 (23rd percentile), beating the district in ELA 25.2%, math 24.32%, and science 14.5%, with 8th grade math at 35.11%. Southbridge High School has very low 10th-grade proficiency—ELA 7.69%, math 6.9%, science 8.75%, biology 11.11%—but its 80.5% graduation rate is above the district’s 78.6% and its 14.2% dropout rate is near the district’s 14.3%. Charlton Street improved most from a low base, with ELA up 6.12 points, math up 7.19 points, and science rising from 0% to 5.88%; West Street remains lowest-ranked (883 of 899, 2nd percentile) and saw science fall from 16% to 4.05%. Southbridge Academy spends the most per student ($43,714) but has the lowest graduation rate (70.0%) and highest dropout rate (20.0%), though it enrolls only 21 students.

Proficiency is far below state levels: 2025–2026 district all-grade rates are 17.26% ELA, 15.34% math, and 9.47% science, versus state roughly 40–45% in ELA and math and about 40–41% in science. West Street and Charlton Street fall below the district in all three subjects, and fifth grade is especially weak (West: ELA 5.26%, math 4%, science 4.05%; Charlton: ELA 1.92%, math 1.96%). Spending and ratios show no simple relationship: Eastford Road has the highest ratio (15.2) and lowest spending ($17,779), while secondary ratios are lower (9.2–9.8). Overall, Southbridge has one relatively stronger middle school, weak elementary outcomes, a high school with better completion than test performance, and a very small high school with high spending but weak completion results.