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Ayer Shirley Regional High School

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

Ayer Shirley Regional High School ranks 84 th of 353 Massachusetts high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

84^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 353 Massachusetts High Schools

Better than 76% of Massachusetts high schools

Summary

Ayer Shirley Regional High School in Ayer, MA, serves grades 9–12 with 417 students as part of the Ayer Shirley School District in a region known for strong neighboring school systems. In 2025–2026, it ranks 84th of 353 Massachusetts high schools — the 76th percentile, 4 stars — noticeably stronger than its district's 158th of 351 (55th percentile). That is also the school's best showing in the available history, up from 223rd of 351 (36th percentile, 2 stars) in 2015–2016, with a dip to 136th in 2024–2025.

Test results are above the state in every reported area. In 2025–2026 MCAS Next Generation results, 10th-grade ELA proficiency was 58.33% (state: 45.48%), 10th-grade Science 55.00% (state: 40.50%), and Biology End of Course 65.63% (state: 37.68%) — the standout result. Mathematics is the weak spot at 45.12%, only slightly above the state's 43.73% and below Lunenburg High and nearly every higher-ranked nearby school, including Nashoba Regional, Groton Dunstable Regional, Littleton High School, Westford Academy, Acton-Boxborough Regional High, and The Bromfield High School. Locally, Ayer Shirley is ahead of Lunenburg, North Middlesex Regional, and Nashoba Valley Technical High School, but behind those top-decile districts.

The 2024–2025 graduation rate was 95.9% with a 3.3% dropout rate — solid, though the dropout figure is higher than most nearby schools. Class sizes are comparatively small: a student-teacher ratio of 11.4 is lower than almost all nearby high schools, and per-student spending of $19,721 in 2020–2021 is high for the area. At 417 students, the school is smaller than most regional peers, which may allow more personal attention but can limit course breadth. One thing to watch: special education subgroup results have swung widely, from the 88th percentile in 2023–2024 to 10th in 2024–2025 and 42nd in 2025–2026, while low-income student results have been steadier.

417

Students ?

11.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

$19,413

Per pupil spending ?

28.5%

Directly certified for free meals (2024-25) ?

All students in Massachusetts receive free school meals.

141 Washington Street
Ayer, MA 01432

(978) 772-8600

District: Ayer Shirley School District

Feeder schools for Ayer Shirley Regional High School:

Elementary:	Lura A. White Elementary School
	Page Hilltop Elementary School
Middle:	Ayer Shirley Regional Middle School

Racial breakdown:

White:

68.6%

Hispanic:

15.6%

African American:

8.9%

See top rated Massachusetts high schools

Compare Ayer Shirley Regional High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 36th percentile in 2016 → 76th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Massachusetts average (56% vs 42% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 24% of Massachusetts high schools

✓96% graduate within 4 years

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school56%

District avg55%

Massachusetts avg42%

84^th of 353

Massachusetts public high schools ?

Top 24%▲ up 40 pts since 2016

From bottom 36% (2016) to top 24% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Massachusetts High 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	75.9	84 of 353	76.2%	★★★★☆
2025	62.8	136 of 349	61.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	72.1	104 of 348	70.1%	★★★★☆
2023	60.9	144 of 347	58.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	72.3	107 of 342	68.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	58.4	134 of 285	53.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	61.7	154 of 351	56.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	61.4	175 of 345	49.3%	★★★☆☆
2017	65.1	150 of 348	56.9%	★★★☆☆
2016	51.8	223 of 351	36.5%	★★☆☆☆
2015	39.8	259 of 354	26.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	63.6	160 of 347	53.9%	★★★☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2021	30.7	139 of 202	31.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	35.0	187 of 299	37.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	31.1	213 of 299	28.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2026	81.7	60 of 340	82.4%	★★★★☆
2025	72.3	93 of 337	72.4%	★★★★☆
2024	79.3	81 of 342	76.3%	★★★★☆
2023	59.8	142 of 339	58.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	54.6	168 of 340	50.6%	★★★☆☆
2021	50.6	158 of 281	43.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	68.9	120 of 342	64.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	60.6	176 of 339	48.1%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2026	56.3	94 of 260	63.8%	★★★☆☆
2025	59.3	99 of 245	59.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	68.1	70 of 249	71.9%	★★★★☆
2023	51.4	105 of 241	56.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	67.1	35 of 149	76.5%	★★★★☆
2019	52.6	89 of 206	56.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	68.8	66 of 193	65.8%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2026	53.5	140 of 340	58.8%	★★★☆☆
2025	49.4	151 of 334	54.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	61.1	120 of 338	64.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	64.9	111 of 338	67.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	77.3	57 of 332	82.8%	★★★★☆
2021	62.5	78 of 253	69.2%	★★★★☆
2019	43.0	208 of 330	37.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	41.1	219 of 330	33.6%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2026	61.0	118 of 344	65.7%	★★★☆☆
2025	53.8	158 of 339	53.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	62.0	141 of 342	58.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	59.4	137 of 343	60.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	82.7	60 of 339	82.3%	★★★★☆
2021	63.8	113 of 281	59.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	43.7	221 of 346	36.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	57.9	178 of 343	48.1%	★★☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2019	44.4	32 of 58	44.8%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2026	35.5	174 of 298	41.6%	★★☆☆☆
2025	19.7	272 of 302	9.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	83.7	36 of 289	87.5%	★★★★☆
2023	43.5	141 of 301	53.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	71.0	82 of 339	75.8%	★★★★☆
2021	50.7	116 of 268	56.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	41.4	221 of 348	36.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	53.5	162 of 344	52.9%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2026	75.1	68 of 302	77.5%	★★★★☆
2025	50.2	144 of 298	51.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	67.9	99 of 302	67.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	54.3	141 of 301	53.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	63.8	111 of 300	63.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	48.4	139 of 249	44.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	59.1	137 of 302	54.6%	★★★☆☆
2018	48.1	185 of 303	38.9%	★★☆☆☆

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)

Female (2026)82nd percentile+6 vs school

White (2026)77th percentile~ school

Male (2026)66th percentile-11 vs school

Hispanic (2026)64th percentile-12 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)59th percentile-17 vs school

Multi-racial (2019)45th percentile-11 vs school

Special Education (2026)42nd percentile-35 vs school

Disabled (2021)31st percentile-22 vs school

By subject vs Massachusetts (2025-2026) ?

Biology66%+28 vs state

English Language Arts58%+13 vs state

Science55%+15 vs state

Mathematics45%~ state avg

★

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Schools Near Ayer Shirley Regional High 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 Biology (2026)	MCAS Next Generation Physics (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 7th Grade	MCAS Next Generation English Language Arts 8th Grade	MCAS Next Generation English Language Arts 10th Grade	MCAS Next Generation English Language Arts All Grades	MCAS Next Generation Mathematics 7th Grade	MCAS Next Generation Mathematics 8th Grade	MCAS Next Generation Mathematics 10th Grade	MCAS Next Generation Mathematics All Grades	MCAS Next Generation Science 8th Grade	MCAS Next Generation Science 10th Grade	MCAS Next Generation Science All Grades	MCAS Next Generation Biology End of Course	MCAS Next Generation Physics End of Course	MCAS Next Generation Civics 8th Grade	Total
Ayer Shirley Regional High School	Public	9-12	141 Washington Street	Ayer	01432	Middlesex County	Ayer Shirley School District	No	No	No	Yes	(978) 772-8600	417	36	11.4	28.5%	286 (68.6%)	37 (8.9%)	65 (15.6%)	14 (3.4%)	2 (0.5%)	1 (0.2%)	12 (2.9%)	75.9	84^th of 353 public high schools	76.2%		62.8	136^th of 349 public high schools	61.0%	52			58.3				45.1			55.0		65.6			$19,413
Francis W. Parker Charter Essential School	Public, Charter	7-12	49 Antietam St	Devens	01434	Middlesex County	Francis W. Parker Charter Essential (District)	Yes	No	No	No	(978) 772-3293	388	41	9.4	12.9%	294 (75.8%)	10 (2.6%)	31 (8.0%)	10 (2.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	23 (5.9%)	90.7	39^th of 353 public high schools	89.0%		83.6	65^th of 349 public high schools	81.4%	26	38.7	48.4	76.1	43.2	38.7	48.4	68.7	43.2	54.7	65.7	54.7			49.2	$18,909
Littleton High School	Public	9-12	56 King Street	Littleton	01460	Middlesex County	Littleton	No	No	No	No	(978) 952-2555	482	37	13.0	7.9%	361 (74.9%)	8 (1.7%)	25 (5.2%)	79 (16.4%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	6 (1.2%)	95	20^th of 353 public high schools	94.3%		92.4	32^nd of 349 public high schools	90.8%	12			71.8				75.8			84.4		79.0			$18,392
The Bromfield High School	Public	9-12	14 Massachusetts Avenue	Harvard	01451	Worcester County	Harvard	No	No	No	Yes	(978) 456-4152	328	30	11.0	9.5%	243 (74.1%)	8 (2.4%)	14 (4.3%)	41 (12.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (6.4%)	96.7	10^th of 353 public high schools	97.2%		95.4	11^th of 349 public high schools	96.8%	1			92.8				90.4			81.0			71.8		$24,744
Westford Academy	Public	9-12	30 Patten Road	Westford	01886	Middlesex County	Westford	No	No	No	No	(978) 692-5570	1,504	102	14.6	6.7%	873 (58.0%)	41 (2.7%)	52 (3.5%)	517 (34.4%)	6 (0.4%)	1 (0.1%)	10 (0.7%)	95.6	15^th of 353 public high schools	95.8%		93.8	24^th of 349 public high schools	93.1%	9			76.2				80.1			78.1		76.1			$17,213
Groton Dunstable Regional	Public	9-12	703 Chicoppe Row	Groton	01450	Middlesex County	Groton-Dunstable	No	No	No	No	(978) 448-6362	659	48	13.7	9.9%	541 (82.1%)	17 (2.6%)	24 (3.6%)	56 (8.5%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	17 (2.6%)	89.1	45^th of 353 public high schools	87.3%		88.4	50^th of 349 public high schools	85.7%	5			69.4				75.0			65.6		58.8			$20,437
North Middlesex Regional	Public	9-12	19 Main Street	Townsend	01469	Middlesex County	North Middlesex	No	No	No	No	(978) 597-8721	711	54	13.1	23.5%	577 (81.2%)	17 (2.4%)	63 (8.9%)	21 (3.0%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	30 (4.2%)	51.2	168^th of 353 public high schools	52.4%		67.9	111^th of 349 public high schools	68.2%	57			41.4				43.0			44.3		34.5			$18,486
Lunenburg High	Public	9-12	1079 Massachusetts Avenue	Lunenburg	01462	Worcester County	Lunenburg	No	No	No	No	(978) 582-4115	452	36	12.3	21.9%	354 (78.3%)	13 (2.9%)	51 (11.3%)	10 (2.2%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.7%)	20 (4.4%)	53.6	155^th of 353 public high schools	56.1%		63.9	129^th of 349 public high schools	63.0%	26			49.1				47.1			34.0		37.5			$18,224
Nashoba Valley Technical High School	Public	9-12	100 Littleton Road	Westford	01886	Middlesex County	Nashoba Valley Regional Vocational Technical	No	No	No	Yes	(978) 692-4711	767	64	12.0	30.1%	567 (73.9%)	20 (2.6%)	116 (15.1%)	10 (1.3%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	35 (4.6%)	30.4	243^rd of 353 public high schools	31.2%		41.7	210^th of 349 public high schools	39.8%	33			38.5				28.9			29.8		16.7			$24,081
Acton-Boxborough Regional High	Public	9-12	36 Charter Rd	Acton	01720	Middlesex County	Acton-Boxborough	No	No	No	No	(978) 264-4700	1,622	120	13.4	10.9%	744 (45.9%)	58 (3.6%)	134 (8.3%)	613 (37.8%)	4 (0.2%)	4 (0.2%)	56 (3.5%)	97.7	6^th of 353 public high schools	98.3%		95.1	13^th of 349 public high schools	96.3%	7			86.2				85.3			82.3		80.4			$20,844

Frequently Asked Questions about Ayer Shirley Regional High School

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

Students at Ayer Shirley Regional High School are 69% White, 16% Hispanic, 9% African American, 3% Asian, 3% Two or more races.

How many students attend Ayer Shirley Regional High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 417 students attended Ayer Shirley Regional High School.

What schools feed into Ayer Shirley Regional High School?

Ayer Shirley Regional High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Lura A. White Elementary School
Elementary : Page Hilltop Elementary School
Middle : Ayer Shirley Regional Middle School

Is Ayer Shirley Regional High School a good school?

Ayer Shirley Regional High School ranks 84^th of 353 Massachusetts high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What district is Ayer Shirley Regional High School in?

Ayer Shirley School District

Rate Ayer Shirley Regional High School!

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Schools in Ayer, MA

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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.