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Pathfinder Vocational Technical

Q: Is Pathfinder Vocational Technical a good school?

Pathfinder Vocational Technical ranks 215 th of 353 Massachusetts high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

215^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 353 Massachusetts High Schools

Better than 39% of Massachusetts high schools

Summary

Pathfinder Vocational Technical is a regional vocational-technical high school in Palmer, MA, serving grades 9–12 with 660 students and drawing from a broader catchment than neighboring comprehensive high schools. In 2025–2026, it ranked 215th of 353 Massachusetts schools (39th percentile, 2 stars), a jump from 274th of 349 (21st percentile) the prior year and its best recent showing. Its district, Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical, ranks 256th of 351 districts (27th percentile, 1 star).

Academically, 2025–2026 10th-grade MCAS proficiency is below state averages in ELA (41.14% vs. 45.48%), Math (35.48% vs. 43.73%), Science (28.38% vs. 40.50%), and Biology (27.45% vs. 37.68%). Locally, it is mid-pack—behind Belchertown High, Minnechaug Regional High, and Ludlow Senior High in most subjects, but ahead of Granby Junior Senior High School, Monson High School, John J Duggan Academy, Palmer High, Quaboag Regional High, and Ware Junior/Senior High School. Notably, its 10th-grade Math rate ties Palmer High at 35.48%, even though Pathfinder spends $24,624 per student (2020–2021), more than nearby Belchertown ($14,538), Minnechaug ($16,176), and Ludlow ($17,104).

On the plus side, the 2024–2025 graduation rate is 94.2% and dropout rate 3.6%, stronger than many nearby schools, including Quaboag Regional High, Ludlow Senior High, Belchertown High, Ware Junior/Senior High School, and Monson High School. Subgroup rankings show above-median results for special education students (57th percentile) and improvement for low-income students (46th percentile). The school’s student-teacher ratio is 9.9 (2024–2025), lower than most nearby schools. Overall, Pathfinder is improving from a low base: test scores remain below state averages, but graduation, retention, and some subgroup outcomes are clear strengths.

660

Students ?

9.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$27,372

Per pupil spending ?

49.3%

Free/discounted lunch ?

240 Sykes Street
Palmer, MA 01069-1225

(413) 283-9701

District: Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical

Racial breakdown:

White:

83.2%

Hispanic:

10.9%

Two or more races:

3.8%

See top rated Massachusetts high schools

Compare Pathfinder Vocational Technical to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 24th percentile in 2015 → 39th in 2026

Strengths

✓94% graduate within 4 years

✓Ranking is trending up — up 15 percentile points since 2015

✓Small classes — about 10 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Massachusetts average (33% vs 42% meeting standards)

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

!Science scores 12 pts below the Massachusetts average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school33%

District avg33%

Massachusetts avg42%

215^th of 353

Massachusetts public high schools ?

Bottom 39%▲ up 17 pts since 2016

From bottom 23% (2016) to bottom 39% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Massachusetts High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

256^th of 351Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical 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	37.8	215 of 353	39.1%	★★☆☆☆
2025	21.9	274 of 349	21.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	26.7	266 of 348	23.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	18.8	288 of 347	17.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	16.4	286 of 342	16.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	26.3	280 of 351	20.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	29.5	276 of 345	20.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	32.1	274 of 348	21.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	34.0	272 of 351	22.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	37.7	268 of 354	24.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	24.3	285 of 347	17.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	39.8	259 of 344	24.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	40.4	248 of 340	27.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	38.9	251 of 340	26.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	34.6	257 of 335	23.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	33.3	249 of 322	22.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	36.0	235 of 319	26.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	16.8	276 of 316	12.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	6.0	292 of 314	7.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2005	13.5	269 of 311	13.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2004	6.8	280 of 307	8.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2003	7.7	276 of 304	9.2%	☆☆☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2022	25.7	216 of 295	26.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	31.3	202 of 299	32.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	31.6	210 of 299	29.8%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2026	30.7	234 of 340	31.2%	★★☆☆☆
2025	14.6	294 of 337	12.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	18.0	286 of 342	16.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	18.6	282 of 339	16.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	10.0	302 of 340	11.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	17.7	300 of 342	12.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	16.7	298 of 339	12.1%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2026	53.4	101 of 260	61.2%	★★★☆☆
2025	28.5	176 of 245	28.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	23.9	185 of 249	25.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	50.8	107 of 241	55.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	38.0	123 of 217	43.3%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2026	42.1	184 of 340	45.9%	★★☆☆☆
2025	41.8	185 of 334	44.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	34.4	229 of 338	32.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	21.0	272 of 338	19.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	25.7	253 of 332	23.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	37.5	235 of 330	28.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	29.9	255 of 330	22.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2026	40.4	191 of 344	44.5%	★★☆☆☆
2025	24.1	262 of 339	22.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	31.2	245 of 342	28.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	17.3	286 of 343	16.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	22.7	264 of 339	22.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	26.6	272 of 346	21.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	34.1	260 of 343	24.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2026	46.6	128 of 298	57.0%	★★★☆☆
2025	32.7	189 of 302	37.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	35.8	171 of 289	40.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	26.3	218 of 301	27.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	23.0	271 of 339	20.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	34.5	253 of 348	27.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	29.5	269 of 344	21.8%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2026	25.5	232 of 302	23.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	9.3	274 of 298	8.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	10.4	275 of 302	8.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	5.7	289 of 301	4.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	4.3	292 of 300	2.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	13.0	280 of 302	7.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	12.8	287 of 303	5.3%	☆☆☆☆☆

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)

Hispanic (2026)61st percentile+22 vs school

Special Education (2026)57th percentile+18 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)46th percentile+7 vs school

Male (2026)44th percentile+5 vs school

Female (2026)31st percentile-8 vs school

Disabled (2022)27th percentile+10 vs school

White (2026)23rd percentile-16 vs school

By subject vs Massachusetts (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts41%-4 vs state

Mathematics35%-8 vs state

Science28%-12 vs state

Biology27%-10 vs state

★

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Schools Near Pathfinder Vocational Technical

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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 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 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 Civics 8th Grade	Total
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	49.3%	549 (83.2%)	9 (1.4%)	72 (10.9%)	3 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	25 (3.8%)	37.8	215^th of 353 public high schools	39.1%		21.9	274^th of 349 public high schools	21.5%	59			41.1				35.5			28.4		27.5		$27,372
Palmer High	Public	7-12	4105 Main Street	Palmer	01069	Hampden County	Palmer	No	No	No	Yes	(413) 283-6511	416	47	8.8	36.7%	291 (70.0%)	14 (3.4%)	73 (17.5%)	15 (3.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (5.3%)	26.3	265^th of 353 public high schools	24.9%		46.1	197^th of 349 public high schools	43.6%	68	22.6	22.2	29.0	22.4	35.7	29.9	35.5	32.5	21.9	12.0	21.9		22.0	$24,284
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	22.0%	230 (82.1%)	5 (1.8%)	28 (10.0%)	1 (0.4%)	2 (0.7%)	1 (0.4%)	12 (4.3%)	33.5	232^nd of 353 public high schools	34.3%		44.1	206^th of 349 public high schools	41.0%	26	19.1	17.9	38.9	18.6	21.5	35.7	31.4	28.1	23.2	25.0	23.2	25.8	12.7	$23,749
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	30.8%	571 (77.6%)	18 (2.4%)	124 (16.8%)	7 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (2.2%)	53	158^th of 353 public high schools	55.2%		41.3	211^th of 349 public high schools	39.5%	53			49.7				43.1			40.5		33.7		$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	16.9%	482 (84.1%)	13 (2.3%)	43 (7.5%)	9 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	22 (3.8%)	86.8	52^nd of 353 public high schools	85.3%		81	73^rd of 349 public high schools	79.1%	21			67.4				58.1			67.9		67.2		$18,208
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	52.5%	334 (78.6%)	9 (2.1%)	56 (13.2%)	2 (0.5%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	22 (5.2%)	24.1	274^th of 353 public high schools	22.4%		24.9	268^th of 349 public high schools	23.2%	6	21.4	29.0	23.6	24.7	12.5	10.1	29.6	11.5	43.9	27.1	43.9	6.7	20.9	$20,526
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	16.0%	732 (73.9%)	48 (4.8%)	132 (13.3%)	30 (3.0%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	43 (4.3%)	76	83^rd of 353 public high schools	76.5%		73.8	96^th of 349 public high schools	72.5%	13			55.6				61.0			55.8		47.4		$18,325
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	75.2%	10 (15.4%)	9 (13.8%)	45 (69.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.5%)								(n/a)														$43,270
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	48.6%	274 (82.0%)	4 (1.2%)	32 (9.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (5.7%)	21.1	288^th of 353 public high schools	18.4%		28.6	253^rd of 349 public high schools	27.5%	35			27.6				15.8			23.9		21.6		$26,375
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	26.8%	230 (79.3%)	0 (0.0%)	42 (14.5%)	8 (2.8%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (3.1%)	30.6	242^nd of 353 public high schools	31.4%		27	259^th of 349 public high schools	25.8%	17	32.7	26.3	39.0	29.5	30.9	22.4	29.3	26.6	32.2	25.0	32.2	20.6	22.0	$19,646

Frequently Asked Questions about Pathfinder Vocational Technical

What district is Pathfinder Vocational Technical in?

Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical

How many students attend Pathfinder Vocational Technical?

In the 2024-25 school year, 660 students attended Pathfinder Vocational Technical.

What is the racial makeup of Pathfinder Vocational Technical?

Students at Pathfinder Vocational Technical are 83% White, 11% Hispanic, 4% Two or more races, 1% African American.

Is Pathfinder Vocational Technical a good school?

Pathfinder Vocational Technical ranks 215^th of 353 Massachusetts high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Rate Pathfinder Vocational Technical!

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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.