Amherst

Public school district · Hampshire County · Massachusetts · NCES district ID 2501890

Amherst spent $30,818 per student on current operations in fiscal year 2022-23, more than 97% of the other Massachusetts districts with at least 1,000 students in fall 2022 (median $21,173). Its 3 schools enrolled 1,038 students in 2024-25; 69.9% of its revenue came from the state. Census Bureau figures for 2023-24 put it at $35,225 per student, up 14.3% on the year before (U.S. $17,619 that year).

NCES F-33 finance survey, fiscal year 2022-23 · Census Bureau school finances 2023-24 · NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25 · method

Spending per student among Massachusetts districts of similar size

Current spending per student excludes construction and debt. The 9 districts closest to Amherst in enrollment (1,018 to 1,105 students) and Amherst itself.

Current spending per student, Massachusetts districts closest in size to Amherst, FY23Lincoln Public Schools $31,767; Amherst $30,818; Alma del Mar Charter School (District) $24,075; Harvard Public Schools $23,413; Old Rochester $23,004; South Shore Charter Public School $21,767; Norfolk Public Schools $19,829; Berlin-Boylston Regional $19,139; Hopedale Public Schools $18,706; Somerset Berkley Regional $18,281; State median, 1,000+ students $21,173.15k20k25k30k35kLincoln Public Schools$31,767Amherst$30,818Alma del Mar Charter School (D…$24,075Harvard Public Schools$23,413Old Rochester$23,004South Shore Charter Public Sch…$21,767Norfolk Public Schools$19,829Berlin-Boylston Regional$19,139Hopedale Public Schools$18,706Somerset Berkley Regional$18,281State median, 1,000+ students $21,173
Current spending per student, Massachusetts districts closest in size to Amherst, FY23Lincoln Public Schools $31,767; Amherst $30,818; Alma del Mar Charter School (District) $24,075; Harvard Public Schools $23,413; Old Rochester $23,004; South Shore Charter Public School $21,767; Norfolk Public Schools $19,829; Berlin-Boylston Regional $19,139; Hopedale Public Schools $18,706; Somerset Berkley Regional $18,281; State median, 1,000+ students $21,173.15k20k25k30k35kLincoln Public Schools$31,767Amherst$30,818Alma del Mar Charter School (Distri…$24,075Harvard Public Schools$23,413Old Rochester$23,004South Shore Charter Public School$21,767Norfolk Public Schools$19,829Berlin-Boylston Regional$19,139Hopedale Public Schools$18,706Somerset Berkley Regional$18,281State median, 1,000+ students $21,173
Current spending per student, Massachusetts districts closest in size to Amherst, FY23Lincoln Public Schools $31,767; Amherst $30,818; Alma del Mar Charter School (District) $24,075; Harvard Public Schools $23,413; Old Rochester $23,004; South Shore Charter Public School $21,767; Norfolk Public Schools $19,829; Berlin-Boylston Regional $19,139; Hopedale Public Schools $18,706; Somerset Berkley Regional $18,281; State median, 1,000+ students $21,173.15k25k35kLincoln Public Schools$31,767Amherst$30,818Alma del Mar Charter School (District)$24,075Harvard Public Schools$23,413Old Rochester$23,004South Shore Charter Public School$21,767Norfolk Public Schools$19,829Berlin-Boylston Regional$19,139Hopedale Public Schools$18,706Somerset Berkley Regional$18,281State median, 1,000+ students $21,173
Current spending per student, Massachusetts districts closest in size to Amherst, FY23Lincoln Public Schools $31,767; Amherst $30,818; Alma del Mar Charter School (District) $24,075; Harvard Public Schools $23,413; Old Rochester $23,004; South Shore Charter Public School $21,767; Norfolk Public Schools $19,829; Berlin-Boylston Regional $19,139; Hopedale Public Schools $18,706; Somerset Berkley Regional $18,281; State median, 1,000+ students $21,173.15k25k35kLincoln Public Schools$31,767Amherst$30,818Alma del Mar Charter School (District)$24,075Harvard Public Schools$23,413Old Rochester$23,004South Shore Charter Public School$21,767Norfolk Public Schools$19,829Berlin-Boylston Regional$19,139Hopedale Public Schools$18,706Somerset Berkley Regional$18,281State median, 1,000+ students $21,173

Where the money came from

$15,728,000 in revenue: 69.9% state, 17.5% local and 12.6% federal. Total spending including $512,000 of capital outlay was $35,397,000, or $33,583 per student; the figure above leaves capital out.

Amherst revenue by source, fiscal year 2022-23State $10,988,000; Local $2,751,000; Federal $1,989,000; total $15,728,000.
  • State$10,988,000 70%
  • Local$2,751,000 17%
  • Federal$1,989,000 13%

Source: NCES F-33 school district finance survey, fiscal year 2022-23: current expenditures for elementary and secondary education divided by fall membership; the state median covers 243 districts with at least 1,000 students in fall 2022. Revenue by source (TOTALREV, TFEDREV, TSTREV, TLOCREV).

Enrollment fell from 2022-23 to 2024-25

1,050 students in 2022-23, 983 students in 2023-24, 1,038 students in 2024-25, counted across the schools that reported each year.

Amherst enrollment by school year2022-23: 1,050, 2023-24: 983, 2024-25: 1,03805001k1.5k2022-231,0502023-249832024-251,038
Amherst enrollment by school year2022-23: 1,050, 2023-24: 983, 2024-25: 1,03805001k1.5k2022-231,0502023-249832024-251,038
Amherst enrollment by school year2022-23: 1,050, 2023-24: 983, 2024-25: 1,03805001k1.5k2022-231,0502023-249832024-251,038
Amherst enrollment by school year2022-23: 1,050, 2023-24: 983, 2024-25: 1,03805001k1.5k2022-231,0502023-249832024-251,038

Teachers and students per teacher

School yearStudentsTeachers (FTE)Per teacher
2022-231,050110.49.5
2023-24983111.28.8
2024-251,038110.29.4

Source: NCES Common Core of Data membership and staff files, 2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25; sums over the schools reporting each year.

$8,619,000 in teacher salaries in fiscal year 2022-23, $8,177 per student

Amherst booked $8,619,000 of teacher salaries in its 2022-23 finance report and counted 110 full-time teachers in its Common Core of Data district staff file for 2022-23 (the school files behind the staffing figures on this page count teachers separately, so the two can differ), or $78,078 of salary spending per teacher. That is more than 34 in 100 Massachusetts districts with a figure (state median $83,840, 276 districts). It is spending, not what a teacher is paid: the salary lines and the teacher count come from different files, so the result can differ widely from the average salary the district publishes (its salary schedule gives pay); benefits are left out, and states book salaries differently, so compare districts within one state. For pay, the National Education Association put the average Massachusetts teacher salary at $88,903 in 2021-22 (NCES Digest table 211.60).

ProgramTeacher salariesShare
Regular programs$5,663,00065.7%
Special education$2,956,00034.3%

Teacher salaries per student, fiscal years 2018-19 to 2022-23

The district's teacher salary bill divided by its fall enrollment each year: $7,581 in 2018-19, $8,059 in 2019-20, $8,697 in 2020-21, $8,361 in 2021-22, $8,177 in 2022-23.

Amherst teacher salaries per student by fiscal year2018-19: $7,581, 2019-20: $8,059, 2020-21: $8,697, 2021-22: $8,361, 2022-23: $8,17702.5k5k7.5k10k2018-19$7,5812019-20$8,0592020-21$8,6972021-22$8,3612022-23$8,177
Amherst teacher salaries per student by fiscal year2018-19: $7,581, 2019-20: $8,059, 2020-21: $8,697, 2021-22: $8,361, 2022-23: $8,17702.5k5k7.5k10k2018-19$7,5812019-20$8,0592020-21$8,6972021-22$8,3612022-23$8,177
Amherst teacher salaries per student by fiscal year2018-19: $7,581, 2019-20: $8,059, 2020-21: $8,697, 2021-22: $8,361, 2022-23: $8,17702.5k5k7.5k10k2018-19$7,5812019-20$8,0592020-21$8,6972021-22$8,3612022-23$8,177
Amherst teacher salaries per student by fiscal year2018-19: $7,581, 2019-20: $8,059, 2020-21: $8,697, 2021-22: $8,361, 2022-23: $8,17702.5k5k7.5k10k2018-19$7,5812019-20$8,0592020-21$8,6972021-22$8,3612022-23$8,177

Source: NCES F-33 school district finance survey, fiscal years 2019 to 2023: teacher salaries in regular, special, vocational and other programs (Z35 to Z38) and fall membership (V33); NCES Common Core of Data LEA staff file 2022-23, teachers (full-time equivalent).

State test results, 2021-22

In 2021-22, the students tested in Amherst scored proficient or above: 48% in reading and 43% in math, against 43.7% in reading and 40.7% in math across Massachusetts. Each state writes its own test and sets its own proficiency bar, so compare these within Massachusetts, not across states.

Students proficient or above, 2021-22
SubjectThis districtMassachusettsStudents tested
Reading and language arts48%43.7%555
Math43%40.7%545

Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts state assessment results 2021-22, all students, from ED Data Express (the Data Rescue Project archive; ED has no 2022-23 result for this district): ED shows district results as ranges (for example 20-24%) to protect small groups.

3 elementary schools, 1,038 students

SchoolStudentsPer teacherFree lunchTitle I, 2021‑22
Fort River Elementary3719.3All free (CEP)Targeted program
Crocker Farm Elementary3539.7All free (CEP)Targeted program
Wildwood Elementary3149.3All free (CEP)Targeted program

Source: NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25; Title I status CCD 2021-22, the last year NCES published it. All free (CEP): every student eats free under the Community Eligibility Provision, so the school reports no free-lunch count; not reported: the school sent NCES no meal count.

Contact Amherst

Source: NCES Common Core of Data, local education agency directory 2024-25. Enrollment, boundaries and school assignment are the district's to confirm.

What to look at next about Amherst

  1. Massachusetts districts by spending per studentAmherst ranks 8 of 243 Massachusetts districts with at least 1,000 students in fall 2022 on current spending per student in fiscal year 2022-23 ($30,818).#8 of 243
  2. Every school district in MassachusettsAmherst is the number 236 by size of 397 Massachusetts districts, with 1,054 students in fall 2022 (F-33).#236 of 397
  3. Berlin-Boylston Regional School DistrictThe next larger Massachusetts district: 1,084 students in fall 2022, $19,139 per student in fiscal year 2022-23.$19,139
  4. Old RochesterThe next smaller Massachusetts district: 1,051 students in fall 2022, $23,004 per student in fiscal year 2022-23.$23,004
  5. Compare Amherst with Berlin-Boylston Regional School DistrictEnrollment, spending, revenue sources and schools, side by side.
  6. Teacher salary spending across MassachusettsAmherst spent $78,078 in salaries per full-time teacher in fiscal year 2022-23 (state median $83,840); spending, not a salary.$78,078
  7. Find the school district for an addressA home's district decides which public schools it can enroll in.

Source: NCES F-33 finance survey, fiscal year 2022-23 (spending per student and fall 2022 membership; ranks among the state's districts that reported them); NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25 (schools).

Questions about Amherst

  1. How many schools and students are in Amherst?
    3 schools were open in 2024-25 (3 elementary), enrolling 1,038 students, according to the NCES Common Core of Data.
  2. How much does Amherst spend per student?
    $30,818 per student on current operations in fiscal year 2022-23 (NCES F-33), which leaves out construction and debt; the Massachusetts median for districts with at least 1,000 students in fall 2022 is $21,173 and the U.S. figure is $16,260. Census Bureau figures for 2023-24 put it at $35,225 per student, up 14.3% on the year before (U.S. $17,619 that year).
  3. Where does Amherst's money come from?
    $15,728,000 in revenue in fiscal year 2022-23: 69.9% state, 17.5% local and 12.6% federal (NCES F-33).
  4. How many children in Amherst live in poverty?
    The Census Bureau estimates that 152 of the 1,300 children aged 5 to 17 living within the district's boundaries in 2024, 11.7%, were in families in poverty (Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). It is a model-based estimate for everyone living in the district, not a count of its students; the free-meal shares in the school tables are counts of enrolled students.
  5. How much does Amherst spend on teacher salaries?
    $8,619,000 in fiscal year 2022-23 (NCES F-33), or $8,177 per student. Divided by the 110 full-time teachers in the NCES Common Core of Data for 2022-23 that is $78,078 per teacher, more than 34 in 100 Massachusetts districts (state median $83,840). That is spending, not what a teacher is paid: the salary lines and the teacher count come from different files, and the result can differ widely from the average salary a district publishes. The district's salary schedule gives pay. For pay, the National Education Association put the average Massachusetts teacher salary at $88,903 in 2021-22 (NCES Digest table 211.60).
  6. How do students in Amherst do on state tests?
    In 2021-22, the students tested in Amherst scored proficient or above: 48% in reading and 43% in math, against 43.7% in reading and 40.7% in math across Massachusetts. Massachusetts's own test sets what proficient means, so results compare within the state, not across states. Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts state assessment results, 2021-22.
  7. What is Amherst's NCES district ID?
    2501890. Each of its schools' 12-digit NCES IDs begins with these seven digits.

Reading these figures: how to choose a school district, what Title I means and what an absenteeism rate means. They are for information and are not a substitute for the school's or district's own records.

Sources

Every federal file behind this record
  • NCES Common Core of Data, 2024-25: directory, membership, staff and lunch files. nces.ed.gov
  • NCES Common Core of Data, 2021-22 school characteristics: Title I status. nces.ed.gov
  • Civil Rights Data Collection, 2021-22: AP courses, gifted programs, counselors, discipline. civilrightsdata.ed.gov
  • EDFacts, 2022-23: chronic absenteeism. ed.gov
  • EDFacts state assessment results, 2021-22: reading and math proficiency for the district and its state (ED Data Express). eddataexpress.ed.gov
  • NCES Digest of Education Statistics, table 211.60 (2021-22): the state's average teacher salary, from the National Education Association. nces.ed.gov
  • U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024: children aged 5 to 17 and those in families in poverty, by school district. census.gov
  • U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances, fiscal year 2023-24: per pupil current spending for 2023-24 and 2022-23. census.gov
  • NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, fiscal year 2022-23: district spending and revenue. nces.ed.gov
  • U.S. Census Bureau geocoder and TIGER school districts: the district boundary used by the district finder. census.gov

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances Per pupil current spending by school system · FY 2023-24

Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey Revenue and expenditures by district · FY 2022-23

Source: NCES Common Core of Data School directory, membership, staff and lunch files · 2024-25

Compiled from official source data by .