Melrose

Melrose, Massachusetts — 8 schools

3,895
Total Enrollment
8
Schools
$19,985
Per-Pupil Spending
Elementary, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Melrose operates 8 public schools serving 3,895 students, placing it among the smaller districts in Massachusetts. The school portfolio breaks down into 5 elementary, 1 high, 1 middle, 1 other schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. Aggregated across those campuses, enrollment totals 3,815 pupils using the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 release, and the district is geographically located in Middlesex County County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $19,985 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, which aggregates every revenue and spending line reported under federal accounting standards. The funding mix is 64.2% local, 28.0% state, and 7.8% federal — a breakdown that matters because districts leaning heavily on local revenue are more exposed to property-tax swings, while higher federal shares typically track Title I concentration. Average teacher compensation clocks in at $104,204 per NCES F-33, a signal of the district's ability to recruit and retain staff against neighbouring districts. The district's equity score — 16/100, ranked #340 of 362 in Massachusetts against a state average of 38 — measures how evenly funding reaches schools within its boundaries.

Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 8 schools offering Advanced Placement (24 AP courses district-wide), a 359.4:1 student-counselor ratio, above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 15.2% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 74.6% White, 7.4% Asian, 7.1% Hispanic or Latino across the district's schools.

Melrose High accounts for 25.3% of all Melrose student enrollment

That concentration — well above the 8.4% national median for largest-entity share — means Melrose-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: high. A single dominant campus often anchors a district's program offerings and staffing patterns; the share helps explain why district-wide averages may not reflect the typical neighbourhood-school experience. When one entity dominates a region's footprint, its programmatic and budget decisions effectively set policy for a majority of the affected population.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Melrose school enrollment varies 3.9× across entities

Melrose school enrollment ranges from 246 students (lowest) to 967 students (highest), a spread of 721 students. That relatively narrow ratio reflects an unusually homogeneous campus portfolio — most districts have a wider mix of school sizes. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Melrose student-counselor ratio is 359:1 — high (typically associated with staffing constraints that limit per-student counselor time; CRDC data shows higher ratios cluster in larger urban systems)

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment — districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Melrose chronic absenteeism rate is 15.2% — near the typical range (US average ~28) — aligned with the national post-pandemic baseline of roughly 28% chronic absenteeism

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason — illness, family obligations, or disengagement Variation between sub-units within Melrose is typically wider than the Melrose-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

7.8%
Federal
28.0%
State
64.2%
Local

Funding Equity

16
Equity Score
340 / 362
State Rank
38
State Average

This district scores below average on funding equity. High reliance on local revenue or lower spending may contribute.

Local Rent Costs

Fair Market Rents in Middlesex County county, where this district is located.

$2,359
Studio/mo
$2,476
1 BR/mo
$2,941
2 BR/mo
$3,526
3 BR/mo
$3,894
4 BR/mo

Average Teacher Salary

$104,204
Average annual teacher salary

Source: NCES CCD F-33 (Finance Survey).

Teacher salary data from NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 8 schools in Melrose.

White 74.6%
Hispanic or Latino 7.1%
African American 4.8%
Asian 7.4%
Multiracial 5.9%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

1 / 8
Schools with AP
24 AP courses total
359.4:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
15.2%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in Melrose

School Enrollment
Melrose High
967
Melrose Middle
886
Roosevelt
406
Lincoln
404
Winthrop
392
Herbert Clark Hoover
260
Horace Mann
254
Early Childhood Center
246

Nearby Districts in Massachusetts

Top districts in the same state — compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Boston
46,367 students · 109 schools · $47,393/pupil
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Worcester
24,707 students · 46 schools · $28,304/pupil
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Springfield
23,873 students · 66 schools · $33,774/pupil
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Lynn
15,556 students · 27 schools · $23,095/pupil
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Brockton
14,999 students · 24 schools · $24,398/pupil
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Compare Melrose

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Melrose?

Melrose has 8 schools, including 1 high, 1 middle, 5 elementary, 1 other. Total enrollment is 3,895 students.

How much does Melrose spend per student?

Melrose spends $19,985 per student. The district has an equity score of 16/100, ranking #340 in Massachusetts.

What is the average teacher salary in Melrose?

The average teacher salary in Melrose is $104,204 per year, according to the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

What is the average rent near Melrose?

The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Middlesex County County is $N/A/month (2026). This affects housing affordability for families in the district.

What is the demographic composition of Melrose?

Melrose students are 74.6% White, 7.4% Asian, 7.1% Hispanic or Latino, 4.8% African American, averaged across 8 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Melrose?

Melrose has an equity score of 16/100, ranking #340 out of 362 districts in Massachusetts. This score measures resource distribution fairness across schools in the district.

Federal data Last updated 2026 Free public data

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