Best Public Schools in Palmer, MA

The city of Palmer, Massachusetts has 3 schools serving students from elementary through high school, including 1 elementary school, 2 high schools, and no middle schools or alternative schools. The data reveals a mixed picture of school performance in the area, with standout schools like Pathfinder Vocational Technical showing high graduation rates but low test scores, while Palmer High has more balanced but still below-average academic outcomes.

Pathfinder Vocational Technical stands out with a 91.5% 4-year graduation rate, significantly above the state average, but its test scores are quite low, with only 42.42% of 10th graders proficient or better in ELA, 29.7% in Math, and 35.71% in Science. In contrast, Palmer High has a lower 4-year graduation rate of 85.1%, but its 10th-grade test scores are mixed, performing better than the state average in ELA (42%) but significantly worse in Math (19.61%) and Science (10.64%).

The data also reveals significant disparities in spending per student, with Pathfinder Vocational Technical spending $24,624 per student, compared to $17,518 at Old Mill Pond and $17,532 at Palmer High. These funding differences may be contributing to the performance gaps observed across the district's schools.