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Nessacus Regional Middle School

Q: Is Nessacus Regional Middle School a good school?

Nessacus Regional Middle School ranks 169 th of 478 Massachusetts middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 6-8

169^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 478 Massachusetts Middle Schools

Better than 65% of Massachusetts middle schools

Summary

Nessacus Regional Middle School is a grades 6–8 middle school in Dalton, MA, serving 353 students as part of the Central Berkshire district in the Berkshires. It ranks 169 of 478 Massachusetts middle schools in 2025–2026 — the 65th percentile, 3 stars — far above its 2017–2018 standing of 342 of 484, in the 29th percentile with 1 star. Performance has since leveled off in the top third of the state, at the 69th percentile in 2024–2025 and 65th in 2025–2026.

Results are strongest in ELA and science. In 2025–2026 all-grades MCAS proficiency, ELA was 48.04%, above the district's 45.56% and the state's 40.03%, and science was 51.69%, above the district's 48.26% and the state's 40.98%. Math was 38.10%, below the district's 44.23% and the state's 41.11%, and 8th grade civics was 38.79%, just under the state's 39.77%. Locally, Nessacus leads the comparison group in both math and science: W.E.B. Du Bois Regional Middle School scored 30.32% in math, Hoosac Valley Middle School 17.94%, and the two Pittsfield schools much lower — Theodore Herberg Middle at 19.16% and John T Reid Middle at 6.53%. W.E.B. Du Bois Regional Middle School is the closest overall peer at the 61st percentile, with slightly higher ELA (48.40%), stronger 8th grade ELA and math, and higher civics (46.27%), so the two schools simply have different strengths.

The school appears especially effective with low-income students, whose statewide subgroup rank was the 75th percentile in 2025–2026 and 77th–84th in the two prior years, each at 4 stars — above the school's overall percentile. Special education students climbed from the 32nd percentile in 2023–2024 to the 50th and then 55th. Female students ranked in the 66th percentile and male students the 63rd. Per-student spending was $16,499 in 2020–2021, lower than every comparison school, yet Nessacus posts the strongest results — and its student-teacher ratio improved from 14.2 in 2022–2023 to 11.6 in 2024–2025. Keep in mind that free/reduced lunch figures were unavailable, subgroup ranks are not published for the nearby schools, and spending data runs only through 2020–2021.

353

Students ?

11.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$19,481

Per pupil spending ?

31.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

35 Fox Road
Dalton, MA 01226

(413) 684-0780

District: Central Berkshire

Students who attend Nessacus Regional Middle School usually attend:

High:

Wahconah Regional High

Feeder schools for Nessacus Regional Middle School:

Elementary:	Becket Washington School
	Craneville
	Kittredge

Racial breakdown:

White:

87.5%

Hispanic:

6.2%

Two or more races:

4.8%

See top rated Massachusetts middle schools

Compare Nessacus Regional Middle School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 34th percentile in 2016 → 65th in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 31 percentile points since 2016

✓Above the Massachusetts median (65th percentile)

✓Small classes — about 12 students per teacher

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school44%

District avg45%

Massachusetts avg41%

169^th of 478

Massachusetts public middle schools ?

Top 35%▲ up 30 pts since 2016

From bottom 34% (2016) to top 35% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Massachusetts Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

140^th of 351Central Berkshire 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	60.2	169 of 478	64.6%	★★★☆☆
2025	66.2	148 of 484	69.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	52.5	211 of 493	57.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	48.3	238 of 501	52.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	51.3	215 of 497	56.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	47.3	253 of 501	49.5%	★★☆☆☆
2019	38.3	316 of 498	36.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	31.4	342 of 484	29.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	33.9	329 of 487	32.4%	★★☆☆☆
2016	36.8	316 of 482	34.4%	★★☆☆☆
2015	57.8	186 of 441	57.8%	★★★☆☆
2014	43.1	274 of 455	39.8%	★★☆☆☆
2013	50.3	240 of 455	47.3%	★★☆☆☆
2012	47.8	265 of 455	41.8%	★★☆☆☆
2011	44.8	274 of 449	39.0%	★★☆☆☆
2010	45.3	271 of 434	37.6%	★★☆☆☆
2009	46.1	248 of 409	39.4%	★★☆☆☆
2008	52.5	213 of 407	47.7%	★★☆☆☆
2007	51.2	218 of 399	45.4%	★★☆☆☆
2006	49.8	221 of 399	44.6%	★★☆☆☆
2005	54.2	174 of 356	51.1%	★★★☆☆
2004	51.1	180 of 344	47.7%	★★☆☆☆
2003	59.9	138 of 339	59.3%	★★★☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2022	28.2	319 of 445	28.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	34.0	265 of 431	38.5%	★★☆☆☆
2019	37.0	244 of 424	42.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	33.7	257 of 417	38.4%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2026	61.8	159 of 468	66.0%	★★★☆☆
2025	70.2	124 of 473	73.8%	★★★★☆
2024	54.3	202 of 481	58.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	51.9	214 of 489	56.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	49.5	230 of 494	53.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	40.1	282 of 483	41.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	44.0	283 of 478	40.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	32.0	331 of 463	28.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2026	64.9	116 of 461	74.8%	★★★★☆
2025	75.5	74 of 464	84.1%	★★★★☆
2024	68.1	107 of 469	77.2%	★★★★☆
2023	57.1	183 of 481	62.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	63.2	133 of 489	72.8%	★★★★☆
2021	55.5	170 of 462	63.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	42.0	271 of 452	40.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	39.6	286 of 438	34.7%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2026	57.2	176 of 470	62.6%	★★★☆☆
2025	57.7	176 of 473	62.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	47.9	227 of 483	53.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	43.4	265 of 489	45.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	52.0	214 of 497	56.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	53.1	204 of 485	57.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	32.5	328 of 478	31.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	30.6	331 of 466	29.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2023	10.1	103 of 110	6.4%	☆☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2026	44.6	196 of 436	55.0%	★★★☆☆
2025	38.7	219 of 435	49.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	29.8	298 of 441	32.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	21.1	400 of 444	9.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	57.5	162 of 503	67.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	46.1	230 of 489	53.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	37.9	306 of 484	36.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	37.9	305 of 467	34.7%	★★☆☆☆

Tested In Person

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2021	49.6	234 of 491	52.3%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2026	44.3	190 of 393	51.7%	★★★☆☆
2025	48.7	176 of 386	54.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	33.6	251 of 392	36.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	30.5	279 of 403	30.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	36.1	246 of 404	39.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	33.1	275 of 401	31.4%	★★☆☆☆
2019	21.6	329 of 396	16.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	16.4	348 of 395	11.9%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)75th percentile+10 vs school

Female (2026)66th percentile~ school

Male (2026)63rd percentile~ school

Special Education (2026)55th percentile-10 vs school

Tested In Person (2021)52nd percentile+3 vs school

White (2026)52nd percentile-13 vs school

Disabled (2022)28th percentile-28 vs school

Multi-racial (2023)6th percentile-46 vs school

By subject vs Massachusetts (2025-2026) ?

Science52%+11 vs state

English Language Arts48%+8 vs state

Civics39%~ state avg

Mathematics38%-3 vs state

1.0

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What people are saying

by a student
Thursday, March 14, 2019

The program is revolved around the popular kids and the girls
The unpopular students are not given an opportunity to learn because the teachers would rather have a conversation with the popular kids.
So if you want to enroll your child in this school
You should absolutely reconsider Close Quote

Schools Near Nessacus 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	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients (2015)	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 4th Grade	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 4th Grade	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
Nessacus Regional Middle School	Public	6-8	35 Fox Road	Dalton	01226	Berkshire County	Central Berkshire	No	No	No	Yes	(413) 684-0780	353	30	11.6	31.2%	309 (87.5%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (6.2%)	4 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (4.8%)	60.2	169^th of 478 public middle schools	64.6%		66.2	148^th of 484 public middle schools	69.4%	21			52.4	48.7	42.9	48.0			41.6	35.4	37.0	38.1		51.7	51.7	38.8	$19,481
John T Reid Middle	Public	6-8	950 North Street	Pittsfield	01201	Berkshire County	Pittsfield	No	No	No	Yes	(413) 448-9620	407	44	9.3	74.9%	201 (49.4%)	46 (11.3%)	106 (26.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	50 (12.3%)	10.6	444^th of 478 public middle schools	7.1%		11.9	437^th of 484 public middle schools	9.7%	7			15.0	15.2	18.2	16.3			4.5	12.2	4.2	6.5		10.6	10.6	13.0	$24,145
Theodore Herberg Middle	Public	6-8	501 Pomeroy Avenue	Pittsfield	01201	Berkshire County	Pittsfield	No	No	No	Yes	(413) 448-9640	587	46	12.6	58.8%	323 (55.0%)	74 (12.6%)	108 (18.4%)	9 (1.5%)	3 (0.5%)	1 (0.2%)	66 (11.2%)	22	375^th of 478 public middle schools	21.5%		25.6	355^th of 484 public middle schools	26.7%	20			36.9	24.0	20.1	26.4			28.7	17.2	13.4	19.2		19.4	19.4	15.7	$21,136
Hoosac Valley Middle School	Public	4-7	125 Savoy Road	Cheshire	01225	Berkshire County	Hoosac Valley Regional	No	No	No	Yes	(413) 743-8404	304	31	9.7		267 (87.8%)	6 (2.0%)	14 (4.6%)	3 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (4.6%)	29.8	326^th of 478 public middle schools	31.8%		33	308^th of 484 public middle schools	36.4%	18	13.2	22.4	38.5	19.7		23.1	10.0	13.8	24.4	24.0		17.9	50.9		50.9		$22,361
W.E.B. Du Bois Regional Middle School	Public	5-8	313 Monument Valley Rd	Great Barrington	01230	Berkshire County	Berkshire Hills	No	No	No	Yes	(413) 644-2300	326	32	10.2	20.8%	249 (76.4%)	6 (1.8%)	45 (13.8%)	4 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (6.1%)	55.5	186^th of 478 public middle schools	61.1%		49.5	218^th of 484 public middle schools	55.0%	32		50.0	48.1	44.8	51.4	48.4		27.6	24.0	25.3	45.8	30.3	48.0	43.1	45.5	46.3	$29,465

Frequently Asked Questions about Nessacus Regional Middle School

What district is Nessacus Regional Middle School in?

Central Berkshire

What high school do graduates of Nessacus Regional Middle School attend?

Students who attend Nessacus Regional Middle School usually go on to attend Wahconah Regional High

Is Nessacus Regional Middle School a good school?

Nessacus Regional Middle School ranks 169^th of 478 Massachusetts middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Nessacus Regional Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 353 students attended Nessacus Regional Middle School.

What is the racial makeup of Nessacus Regional Middle School?

Students at Nessacus Regional Middle School are 88% White, 6% Hispanic, 5% Two or more races, 1% Asian.

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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.