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Ayer Shirley Regional Middle School

Q: Is Ayer Shirley Regional Middle School a good school?

Ayer Shirley Regional Middle School ranks 180 th of 478 Massachusetts middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 6-8

180^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 478 Massachusetts Middle Schools

Better than 62% of Massachusetts middle schools

Summary

Ayer Shirley Regional Middle School is a public school in Shirley, MA serving grades 6–8 with 410 students, part of the Ayer Shirley School District in the area between Fitchburg and Groton.

The school ranks 180th of 478 Massachusetts middle schools in 2025–2026 — the 62nd percentile, with 3 stars — and has stayed in the low-to-mid 60s for several years, up from the 39th percentile in 2017–2018. It also outranks its own Ayer Shirley School District, which sits at the 55th percentile. Science and civics are bright spots: science proficiency (47.2%) is above both district and state, and 8th-grade civics (46.8%) is well above the state's 39.8%. Math is the clearest weakness at 38.6% — below the district, below the state, and below the median of nearby schools. One notable shift: science fell from 62.6% in 2024–2025 to 47.2% in 2025–2026, though it remains above the state.

Grade-level results vary. Seventh grade is strong in ELA (44.7%) and math (41.0%), above state and district, while 6th-grade math (36.5%) and 8th-grade ELA (37.1%) fall below state levels — so improvement may need to be grade- and subject-specific.

Locally, Ayer Shirley Regional Middle School sits mid-pack. It clearly outperforms Fitchburg's Arthur M Longsjo Middle School and Memorial Middle School and Leominster's Samoset School, and is generally ahead of Sky View Middle School, but trails Lunenburg Middle School in math and civics and sits well below the high-performing Blanchard Middle, Littleton Middle School, Luther Burbank Middle School, Groton Dunstable Regional Middle, and The Bromfield Middle School. It also stands out for results with higher-need groups: low-income students ranked in the 73rd percentile with 4 stars in 2025–2026, higher than the school's overall standing. Class size is mid-pack, with a student-teacher ratio of 12.4 in 2024–2025.

410

Students ?

12.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

$18,922

Per pupil spending ?

35.4%

Directly certified for free meals (2024-25) ?

All students in Massachusetts receive free school meals.

1 Hospital Road
Shirley, MA 01464

(978) 772-8600

District: Ayer Shirley School District

Students who attend Ayer Shirley Regional Middle School usually attend:

High:

Ayer Shirley Regional High School

Feeder schools for Ayer Shirley Regional Middle School:

Elementary:	Lura A. White Elementary School
	Page Hilltop Elementary School

Racial breakdown:

White:

69.8%

Hispanic:

15.1%

African American:

7.1%

See top rated Massachusetts middle schools

Compare Ayer Shirley Regional Middle School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 53rd percentile in 2016 → 62nd in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 9 percentile points since 2016

✓Above the Massachusetts median (62nd percentile)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school42%

District avg41%

Massachusetts avg41%

180^th of 478

Massachusetts public middle schools ?

Top 38%▲ up 10 pts since 2016

From top 47% (2016) to top 38% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Massachusetts Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

158^th of 351Ayer Shirley School District among Massachusetts districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2026	56.8	180 of 478	62.3%	★★★☆☆
2025	64.1	162 of 484	66.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	56.3	194 of 493	60.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	58.7	187 of 501	62.7%	★★★☆☆
2022	57.7	181 of 497	63.6%	★★★☆☆
2021	48.0	246 of 501	50.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	54.1	224 of 498	55.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	40.5	294 of 484	39.3%	★★☆☆☆
2017	51.9	235 of 487	51.7%	★★★☆☆
2016	53.8	228 of 482	52.7%	★★★☆☆
2015	57.3	187 of 441	57.6%	★★★☆☆
2014	41.0	289 of 455	36.5%	★★☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2022	44.9	187 of 445	58.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	51.0	145 of 431	66.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	51.5	151 of 424	64.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	30.2	293 of 417	29.7%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2026	53.5	190 of 468	59.4%	★★★☆☆
2025	67.1	145 of 473	69.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	59.0	185 of 481	61.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	62.6	159 of 489	67.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	61.5	168 of 494	66.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	45.8	252 of 483	47.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	47.4	262 of 478	45.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	40.5	285 of 463	38.4%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2026	60.7	114 of 383	70.2%	★★★★☆
2025	70.4	81 of 376	78.5%	★★★★☆
2024	48.8	149 of 378	60.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	54.0	140 of 364	61.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	49.8	141 of 368	61.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	50.0	140 of 335	58.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	69.4	76 of 322	76.4%	★★★★☆
2018	68.2	72 of 309	76.7%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2026	63.4	125 of 461	72.9%	★★★★☆
2025	62.8	133 of 464	71.3%	★★★★☆
2024	57.6	166 of 469	64.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	42.2	269 of 481	44.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	46.9	243 of 489	50.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	53.3	183 of 462	60.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	65.9	117 of 452	74.1%	★★★★☆
2018	48.5	233 of 438	46.8%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2026	58.8	168 of 470	64.3%	★★★☆☆
2025	59.8	169 of 473	64.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	51.8	207 of 483	57.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	53.1	208 of 489	57.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	52.5	210 of 497	57.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	50.0	228 of 485	53.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	58.0	188 of 478	60.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	40.3	282 of 466	39.5%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2026	52.7	153 of 436	64.9%	★★★☆☆
2025	54.5	135 of 435	69.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	38.2	232 of 441	47.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	42.1	214 of 444	51.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	39.5	294 of 503	41.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	38.7	288 of 489	41.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	53.5	195 of 484	59.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	35.5	324 of 467	30.6%	★★☆☆☆

Tested In Person

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2021	48.7	240 of 491	51.1%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2026	47.0	176 of 393	55.2%	★★★☆☆
2025	51.6	164 of 386	57.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	45.8	198 of 392	49.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	46.8	196 of 403	51.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	50.4	187 of 404	53.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	36.8	252 of 401	37.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	40.4	240 of 396	39.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	28.6	296 of 395	25.1%	★☆☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)73rd percentile+11 vs school

Hispanic (2026)70th percentile+8 vs school

Special Education (2026)65th percentile+3 vs school

Male (2026)64th percentile~ school

Female (2026)59th percentile-3 vs school

Disabled (2022)58th percentile-6 vs school

White (2026)55th percentile-7 vs school

Tested In Person (2021)51st percentile~ school

By subject vs Massachusetts (2025-2026) ?

Science47%+6 vs state

Civics47%+7 vs state

English Language Arts42%~ state avg

Mathematics39%~ state avg

★

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Schools Near Ayer Shirley Regional Middle School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				MCAS Next Generation English Language Arts (2026)					MCAS Next Generation Mathematics (2026)					MCAS Next Generation Science (2026)			MCAS Next Generation Civics (2026)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Directly certified (2024-25)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	MCAS Next Generation English Language Arts 5th Grade	MCAS Next Generation English Language Arts 6th Grade	MCAS Next Generation English Language Arts 7th Grade	MCAS Next Generation English Language Arts 8th Grade	MCAS Next Generation English Language Arts All Grades	MCAS Next Generation Mathematics 5th Grade	MCAS Next Generation Mathematics 6th Grade	MCAS Next Generation Mathematics 7th Grade	MCAS Next Generation Mathematics 8th Grade	MCAS Next Generation Mathematics All Grades	MCAS Next Generation Science 5th Grade	MCAS Next Generation Science 8th Grade	MCAS Next Generation Science All Grades	MCAS Next Generation Civics 8th Grade	Total
Ayer Shirley Regional Middle School	Public	6-8	1 Hospital Road	Shirley	01464	Middlesex County	Ayer Shirley School District	No	No	No	Yes	(978) 772-8600	410	33	12.4	35.4%	286 (69.8%)	29 (7.1%)	62 (15.1%)	9 (2.2%)	2 (0.5%)	1 (0.2%)	21 (5.1%)	56.8	180^th of 478 public middle schools	62.3%		64.1	162^nd of 484 public middle schools	66.5%	18		42.7	44.7	37.1	41.5		36.5	41.0	38.7	38.6		47.2	47.2	46.8	$18,922
Sky View Middle School	Public	6-8	500 Kennedy Way	Leominster	01453	Worcester County	Leominster	No	No	No	Yes	(978) 534-7780	869	56	15.4	52.9%	328 (37.7%)	84 (9.7%)	389 (44.8%)	28 (3.2%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	38 (4.4%)	50.9	208^th of 478 public middle schools	56.5%		47.2	224^th of 484 public middle schools	53.7%	16		33.5	42.9	40.2	38.7		33.1	38.2	51.9	40.8		29.2	29.2	42.4	$17,200
The Bromfield Middle School	Public	6-8	14 Massachusetts Ave	Harvard	01451	Worcester County	Harvard	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(978) 456-4140	244	24	10.2	10.7%	176 (72.1%)	10 (4.1%)	10 (4.1%)	36 (14.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (4.1%)	93.5	32^nd of 478 public middle schools	93.3%		92.6	38^th of 484 public middle schools	92.1%	6		74.0	69.0	70.8	71.3		77.4	52.6	72.7	67.9		75.6	75.6	75.6	$19,546
Lunenburg Middle School	Public	6-8	1079 Massachusetts Avenue	Lunenburg	01462	Worcester County	Lunenburg	No	No	No	No	(978) 582-4710	382	25	15.2	20.7%	306 (80.1%)	18 (4.7%)	39 (10.2%)	6 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	12 (3.1%)	64.3	148^th of 478 public middle schools	69.0%		71.3	123^rd of 484 public middle schools	74.6%	25		41.0	44.6	46.2	43.9		48.7	45.3	41.0	45.1		47.1	47.1	53.3	$17,054
Luther Burbank Middle School	Public	6-8	1 Hollywood Drive	Lancaster	01523	Worcester County	Nashoba	No	No	No	Yes	(978) 365-4558	245	23	10.4	20.4%	178 (72.7%)	4 (1.6%)	39 (15.9%)	8 (3.3%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (6.1%)	85.5	69^th of 478 public middle schools	85.6%		74.8	108^th of 484 public middle schools	77.7%	39		66.2	54.8	59.3	60.2		64.9	56.2	68.2	63.4		62.4	62.4	52.9	$21,918
Groton Dunstable Regional Middle	Public	5-8	346 Main Street	Groton	01450	Middlesex County	Groton-Dunstable	No	No	No	No	(978) 448-6155	739	57	12.8	10.0%	586 (79.3%)	12 (1.6%)	31 (4.2%)	71 (9.6%)	3 (0.4%)	2 (0.3%)	34 (4.6%)	76.7	98^th of 478 public middle schools	79.5%		83	79^th of 484 public middle schools	83.7%	19	44.9	50.0	56.5	52.9	51.1	50.6	47.1	66.7	54.9	55.0	65.0	59.2	62.1	46.8	$20,944
Samoset School	Public	6-8	100 DeCicco Dr	Leominster	01453	Worcester County	Leominster	No	No	No	Yes	(978) 534-7725	495	42	11.7	52.7%	200 (40.4%)	53 (10.7%)	205 (41.4%)	17 (3.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (4.0%)	50.4	210^th of 478 public middle schools	56.1%		41.4	260^th of 484 public middle schools	46.3%	50		36.4	39.3	44.7	40.0		34.3	30.4	43.4	35.9		35.7	35.7	44.0	$19,473
Littleton Middle School	Public	6-8	55 Russell Street	Littleton	01460	Middlesex County	Littleton	No	No	No	No	(978) 486-8938	373	29	12.9	9.7%	280 (75.1%)	3 (0.8%)	18 (4.8%)	57 (15.3%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.8%)	11 (2.9%)	88.2	62^nd of 478 public middle schools	87.0%		91.6	50^th of 484 public middle schools	89.7%	12		65.4	76.3	67.7	69.6		55.9	65.8	59.1	60.1		70.1	70.1	56.7	$17,336
Arthur M Longsjo Middle School	Public	6-8	98 Academy Street	Fitchburg	01420	Worcester County	Fitchburg	No	No	No	Yes	(978) 343-2146	614	54	11.3	75.7%	111 (18.1%)	59 (9.6%)	379 (61.7%)	19 (3.1%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	44 (7.2%)	13.8	423^rd of 478 public middle schools	11.5%		16.2	413^th of 484 public middle schools	14.7%	10		10.8	18.0	19.8	16.0		11.5	10.9	16.1	12.7		19.9	19.9	15.6	$22,390
Blanchard Middle	Public	6-8	14 West Street	Westford	01886	Middlesex County	Westford	No	No	No	No	(978) 692-5582	541	45	12.0	11.3%	304 (56.2%)	11 (2.0%)	22 (4.1%)	200 (37.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.4%)	89	58^th of 478 public middle schools	87.9%		93.9	29^th of 484 public middle schools	94.0%	29		54.2	60.8	65.9	60.2		58.4	71.9	71.2	67.2		71.6	71.6	67.9	$18,034

Frequently Asked Questions about Ayer Shirley Regional Middle School

What district is Ayer Shirley Regional Middle School in?

Ayer Shirley School District

How many students attend Ayer Shirley Regional Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 410 students attended Ayer Shirley Regional Middle School.

What is the racial makeup of Ayer Shirley Regional Middle School?

Students at Ayer Shirley Regional Middle School are 70% White, 15% Hispanic, 7% African American, 5% Two or more races, 2% Asian.

What high school do graduates of Ayer Shirley Regional Middle School attend?

Students who attend Ayer Shirley Regional Middle School usually go on to attend Ayer Shirley Regional High School

Is Ayer Shirley Regional Middle School a good school?

Ayer Shirley Regional Middle School ranks 180^th of 478 Massachusetts middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Rate Ayer Shirley Regional Middle School!

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Latest Massachusetts data All new data »

2024–25 dropout rates & graduation ratesMar 5, 2026

2024–25 MCAS Next Generation test scoresSep 29, 2025

2023–24 school spending dataMay 8, 2025

2023–24 dropout rates & graduation ratesMay 1, 2025

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.