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Palmer High

Q: Is Palmer High a good school?

Palmer High ranks 197 th of 349 Massachusetts high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 7-12

197^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 349 Massachusetts High Schools

Better than 44% of Massachusetts high schools

Summary

Palmer High is a public high school serving grades 6-12 with a total enrollment of 509 students in Palmer, MA, which is part of the Palmer District. While the school has seen a decline in its 4-year graduation rate, dropping from 88.2% in 2021-2022 to 84.2% in 2022-2023, which is lower than the state average of 85.1%, it also has a relatively high dropout rate ranging from 4.8% to 9.5% over the past few years.

Academically, Palmer High consistently underperforms the state average on MCAS Next Generation assessments across all subjects and grade levels. For example, in 2024-2025, only 32.63% of all students at Palmer High were proficient or better in English Language Arts, compared to the state average of 41.53%. The school also struggles to support certain student subgroups, such as White students, Special Education students, and Disabled students, who consistently rank in the bottom quarter of Massachusetts high schools in their respective categories.

When compared to nearby high schools, such as Belchertown High and Minnechaug Regional High, Palmer High lags significantly in academic performance, graduation rates, and overall school quality. Over the past 10 years, the school's statewide ranking has fluctuated but generally trended downward, from a high of 191st out of 285 high schools in 2020-2021 to 197th out of 349 in 2024-2025.

416

Students ?

8.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$24,284

Per pupil spending ?

36.7%

Free/discounted lunch ?

4105 Main Street
Palmer, MA 01069-1868

(413) 283-6511

District: Palmer

Feeder schools for Palmer High:

Elementary:

Old Mill Pond

Racial breakdown:

White:

70.0%

Hispanic:

17.5%

Two or more races:

5.3%

See top rated Massachusetts high schools

Compare Palmer High to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 40th percentile in 2015 → 44th in 2025

Strengths

✓96% graduate within 4 years

✓Small classes — about 9 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Massachusetts average (32% vs 41% meeting standards)

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

!Science scores 14 pts below the Massachusetts average

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school32%

District avg27%

Massachusetts avg41%

Middle school

270^th of 484

Massachusetts public middle schools ?

Bottom 44%▲ up 12 pts since 2015

From bottom 33% (2015) to bottom 44% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Massachusetts Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

High school

197^th of 349

Massachusetts public high schools ?

Bottom 44%▲ up 3 pts since 2015

From bottom 40% (2015) to bottom 44% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Massachusetts High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

263^rd of 348Palmer 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)

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2025	40.2	270 of 484	44.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	30.9	325 of 493	34.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	36.1	305 of 501	39.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	26.9	363 of 497	27.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	33.3	324 of 501	35.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	31.7	343 of 498	31.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	38.2	302 of 484	37.6%	★★☆☆☆
2017	22.2	383 of 487	21.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	15.6	420 of 482	12.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	35.6	297 of 441	32.7%	★★☆☆☆
2014	33.9	321 of 455	29.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	25.7	353 of 455	22.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	48.1	262 of 455	42.4%	★★☆☆☆
2011	37.6	311 of 449	30.7%	★★☆☆☆
2010	29.6	328 of 434	24.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	43.3	262 of 409	35.9%	★★☆☆☆
2008	31.7	293 of 407	28.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	45.0	248 of 399	37.8%	★★☆☆☆
2006	40.8	261 of 399	34.6%	★★☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2022	37.4	238 of 445	46.5%	★★☆☆☆
2021	35.2	260 of 431	39.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	24.3	338 of 424	20.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	20.1	380 of 417	8.9%	☆☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2025	41.5	256 of 473	45.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	31.5	320 of 481	33.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	35.5	308 of 489	37.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	22.3	385 of 494	22.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	30.8	329 of 483	31.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	27.9	360 of 478	24.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	34.9	319 of 463	31.1%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2025	27.0	289 of 376	23.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	29.1	271 of 378	28.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	40.3	186 of 364	48.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	25.2	298 of 368	19.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	48.6	144 of 335	57.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	53.3	131 of 322	59.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	50.5	132 of 309	57.3%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2025	40.3	263 of 464	43.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	26.9	354 of 469	24.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	37.6	300 of 481	37.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	23.6	402 of 489	17.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	38.6	285 of 462	38.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	40.6	277 of 452	38.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	51.8	208 of 438	52.5%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2025	37.4	271 of 473	42.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	30.4	322 of 483	33.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	36.0	296 of 489	39.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	31.8	329 of 497	33.8%	★★☆☆☆
2021	35.8	302 of 485	37.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	33.7	321 of 478	32.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	40.6	279 of 466	40.1%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2025	30.9	289 of 435	33.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	16.6	431 of 441	2.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	26.2	336 of 444	24.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	23.9	414 of 503	17.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	37.0	301 of 489	38.4%	★★☆☆☆
2019	37.0	315 of 484	34.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	46.0	239 of 467	48.8%	★★☆☆☆

Tested In Person

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2021	35.6	310 of 491	36.9%	★★☆☆☆

Tested Remotely

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2021	34.8	214 of 339	36.9%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2025	26.4	285 of 386	26.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	17.9	339 of 392	13.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	21.8	320 of 403	20.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	16.6	358 of 404	11.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	21.7	323 of 401	19.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	18.5	342 of 396	13.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	22.7	321 of 395	18.7%	★☆☆☆☆

High school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2025	46.1	197 of 349	43.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	14.8	302 of 348	13.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	46.6	195 of 347	43.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	31.4	240 of 342	29.8%	★★☆☆☆
2021	42.2	191 of 285	33.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	47.9	213 of 351	39.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	39.5	256 of 345	25.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	45.7	242 of 348	30.5%	★★☆☆☆
2016	44.3	247 of 351	29.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	53.1	212 of 354	40.1%	★★☆☆☆
2014	61.6	176 of 347	49.3%	★★☆☆☆
2013	61.6	161 of 344	53.2%	★★★☆☆
2012	50.8	218 of 340	35.9%	★★☆☆☆
2011	54.0	202 of 340	40.6%	★★☆☆☆
2010	60.0	172 of 335	48.7%	★★☆☆☆
2009	38.3	235 of 322	27.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	41.6	218 of 319	31.7%	★★☆☆☆
2007	62.5	130 of 316	58.9%	★★★☆☆
2006	33.5	224 of 314	28.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	61.5	148 of 311	52.4%	★★★☆☆
2004	63.5	129 of 307	58.0%	★★★☆☆
2003	43.8	181 of 304	40.5%	★★☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2022	17.8	259 of 295	12.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	23.6	237 of 299	20.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2025	59.4	141 of 337	58.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	15.5	291 of 342	14.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	32.3	242 of 339	28.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	33.0	236 of 340	30.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	42.0	183 of 281	34.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	39.1	230 of 342	32.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	52.9	211 of 339	37.8%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2025	48.1	155 of 334	53.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	16.6	297 of 338	12.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	51.2	167 of 338	50.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	27.6	243 of 332	26.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	40.6	156 of 253	38.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	52.8	167 of 330	49.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	33.6	244 of 330	26.1%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2025	31.9	228 of 339	32.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	13.3	295 of 342	13.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	57.0	147 of 343	57.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	30.3	241 of 339	28.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	43.1	178 of 281	36.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	56.0	171 of 346	50.6%	★★★☆☆
2018	27.0	277 of 343	19.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2023	25.2	226 of 301	24.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	30.0	246 of 339	27.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	38.4	172 of 268	35.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	43.2	206 of 348	40.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	29.6	267 of 344	22.4%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2025	34.0	197 of 298	33.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	2.4	298 of 302	1.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	44.4	167 of 301	44.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	24.0	239 of 300	20.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	30.4	198 of 249	20.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	33.3	217 of 302	28.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	24.6	261 of 303	13.9%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

Middle school

Disabled (2022)47th percentile+20 vs school

Female (2025)46th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)43rd percentile~ school

Male (2025)43rd percentile~ school

Tested Remotely (2021)37th percentile~ school

Tested In Person (2021)37th percentile~ school

Special Education (2025)34th percentile-11 vs school

White (2025)26th percentile-18 vs school

Hispanic (2025)23rd percentile-21 vs school

High school

Female (2025)58th percentile+15 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)54th percentile+10 vs school

White (2025)34th percentile-10 vs school

Male (2025)33rd percentile-11 vs school

Special Education (2023)25th percentile-19 vs school

Disabled (2022)12th percentile-18 vs school

By subject vs Massachusetts (2024-2025) ?

Mathematics34%-6 vs state

English Language Arts33%-9 vs state

Civics28%-11 vs state

Science28%-14 vs state

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Schools Near Palmer High

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				MCAS Next Generation English Language Arts (2025)				MCAS Next Generation Mathematics (2025)				MCAS Next Generation Science (2025)			MCAS Next Generation Biology (2025)	MCAS Next Generation Civics (2025)	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	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	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 All Grades	MCAS Next Generation Civics 8th Grade	Total
Palmer High	Public	7-12	4105 Main Street	Palmer	01069	Hampden County	Palmer	No	No	No	Yes	(413) 283-6511	416	47	8.8		291 (70.0%)	14 (3.4%)	73 (17.5%)	15 (3.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (5.3%)	46.1	197^th of 349 public high schools	43.6%		14.8	302^nd of 348 public high schools	13.2%	105	34.3	30.6	45.5	32.6	34.6	34.1	43.2	34.4	27.7	36.8	27.7		28.2	$24,284
Pathfinder Vocational Technical	Public	9-12	240 Sykes Street	Palmer	01069	Hampden County	Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical	No	No	No	Yes	(413) 283-9701	660	66	9.9		549 (83.2%)	9 (1.4%)	72 (10.9%)	3 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	25 (3.8%)	21.9	274^th of 349 public high schools	21.5%		26.7	266^th of 348 public high schools	23.6%	8			31.6				25.6			22.7		22.2		$27,372
Monson High School	Public	7-12	55 Margaret Street	Monson	01057	Hampden County	Monson	No	No	No	No	(413) 267-4589	280	34	8.1		230 (82.1%)	5 (1.8%)	28 (10.0%)	1 (0.4%)	2 (0.7%)	1 (0.4%)	12 (4.3%)	44.1	206^th of 349 public high schools	41.0%		54.3	177^th of 348 public high schools	49.1%	29	31.0	33.8	52.6	32.5	13.8	11.9	35.9	12.8	22.7	33.3	22.7	32.4	23.1	$23,749
Ware Junior/Senior High School	Public	7-12	237 West Street	Ware	01082	Hampshire County	Ware	No	No	No	No	(413) 967-6234	425	38	11.1		334 (78.6%)	9 (2.1%)	56 (13.2%)	2 (0.5%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	22 (5.2%)	24.9	268^th of 349 public high schools	23.2%		27	265^th of 348 public high schools	23.9%	3	33.3	34.7	23.3	34.0	12.0	6.9	30.5	9.5	30.6	31.7	30.6	10.0	20.8	$20,526
Ludlow Senior High	Public	9-12	500 Chapin Street	Ludlow	01056	Hampden County	Ludlow	No	No	No	No	(413) 589-9001	736	66	11.1		571 (77.6%)	18 (2.4%)	124 (16.8%)	7 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (2.2%)	41.3	211^th of 349 public high schools	39.5%		52.1	187^th of 348 public high schools	46.3%	24			38.9				43.0			35.7		39.9		$20,260
Belchertown High	Public	9-12	142 Springfield Road	Belchertown	01007	Hampshire County	Belchertown	No	No	No	No	(413) 323-9419	573	48	11.9		482 (84.1%)	13 (2.3%)	43 (7.5%)	9 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	22 (3.8%)	81	73^rd of 349 public high schools	79.1%		70.6	107^th of 348 public high schools	69.3%	34			68.0				57.3			67.2		67.8		$18,208
Minnechaug Regional High	Public	9-12	621 Main Street	Wilbraham	01095	Hampden County	Hampden-Wilbraham	No	No	No	No	(413) 596-9011	990	70	14.2		732 (73.9%)	48 (4.8%)	132 (13.3%)	30 (3.0%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	43 (4.3%)	73.8	96^th of 349 public high schools	72.5%		80.1	77^th of 348 public high schools	77.9%	19			59.6				62.2			54.6		46.9		$18,325
Quaboag Regional High	Public	9-12	284 Old West Brookfield Road	Warren	01083	Worcester County	Quaboag Regional	No	No	No	Yes	(413) 436-5991	334	33	9.9		274 (82.0%)	4 (1.2%)	32 (9.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (5.7%)	28.6	253^rd of 349 public high schools	27.5%		54.7	173^rd of 348 public high schools	50.3%	80			39.3				25.8			28.9		27.6		$26,375
Springfield Public Day High School	Public	9-12	90 Berkshire Street	Springfield	01151	Hampden County	Springfield	No	No	No	Yes	(413) 787-7036	65	10	6.3		10 (15.4%)	9 (13.8%)	45 (69.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.5%)								(n/a)			0.0				10.0							$43,270
Granby Junior Senior High School	Public	7-12	385 East State Street	Granby	01033	Hampshire County	Granby	No	No	No	Yes	(413) 467-7105	290	26	11.0		230 (79.3%)	0 (0.0%)	42 (14.5%)	8 (2.8%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (3.1%)	27	259^th of 349 public high schools	25.8%		57.5	164^th of 348 public high schools	52.9%	95	36.7	16.0	30.0	27.3	27.6	10.0	28.2	19.4	22.0	33.3	22.0	23.3	28.0	$19,646

Frequently Asked Questions about Palmer High

Is Palmer High a good school?

Palmer High ranks 197^th of 349 Massachusetts high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Palmer High?

Students at Palmer High are 70% White, 18% Hispanic, 5% Two or more races, 4% Asian, 3% African American.

What district is Palmer High in?

Palmer

What schools feed into Palmer High?

Palmer High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Old Mill Pond

How many students attend Palmer High?

In the 2024-25 school year, 416 students attended Palmer High.

Rate Palmer High!

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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.