North Middlesex

Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. District totals are aggregated directly from the schools reporting under this district in the source records. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.

Townsend, Massachusetts - 7 schools

An equity score of 35/100 ranks North Middlesex #209 of 362 districts in Massachusetts (state average 38). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $19,769 per pupil, North Middlesex ranks #262 of 396 Massachusetts districts by per-pupil spending (Massachusetts districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

3,074
Total Enrollment
7
Schools
$19,769
Per-Pupil Spending
Elementary, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

North Middlesex operates 7 public schools serving 3,074 students, placing it among the smallest districts in Massachusetts. The school portfolio breaks down into 5 elementary, 1 high, 1 combined schools, a small enough portfolio that most families will interact with nearly every campus in the district at some point. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Middlesex County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $19,769 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the lower half of 396 Massachusetts districts by per-pupil spending. See how Massachusetts compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 53.3% local, 40.0% state, and 6.8% federal, a local-revenue-heavy mix that leaves the district more exposed to property-tax swings and local ballot measures than state-funded peers. The district's equity score is 35/100, ranked #209 of 362 in Massachusetts against a state average of 38, in line with the typical spread seen across the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 7 schools offering Advanced Placement (35 AP courses district-wide), a 216.4:1 student-counselor ratio, that meets the ASCA-recommended benchmark, and 23.4% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 80.7% White, 10.1% Hispanic or Latino, 2.9% African American across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Squannacook Early Childhood Center, with a diversity index of 40.0/100.

Its largest campus is North Middlesex Regional, enrolling 711 students (24% of the district's total enrollment). Its smallest is Squannacook Early Childhood Center, at 89 students, a 8x enrollment spread across the district's campuses.

North Middlesex Regional accounts for 23.1% of all North Middlesex student enrollment

That concentration means North Middlesex-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

North Middlesex school enrollment varies 8.0× across entities

North Middlesex school enrollment ranges from 89 students (lowest) to 711 students (highest), a spread of 622 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

North Middlesex student-counselor ratio is 216:1 — low (typically associated with meeting or exceeding the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) recommended 250:1 benchmark, which correlates with stronger college and career counseling capacity)

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 Lower values often correlate with smaller scale and population characteristics rather than higher resource budgets per se.

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

North Middlesex chronic absenteeism rate is 23.4% — 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 North Middlesex is typically wider than the North Middlesex-aggregate figure suggests.

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

Where does the funding come from?

6.8%
Federal
40.0%
State
53.3%
Local

Funding Equity

35
Equity Score
209 / 362
State Rank
38
State Average

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

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 7 schools in North Middlesex.

White 80.7%
Hispanic or Latino 10.1%
African American 2.9%
Asian 2.3%
Multiracial 3.9%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 33.5/100

Average Simpson diversity index across North Middlesex's schools, below the Massachusetts average of 47.3.

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Squannacook Early Childhood Center 40.0
  2. 2 Nissitissit Middle School 37.9
  3. 3 Varnum Brook 36.2
  4. 4 North Middlesex Regional 32.6
  5. 5 Spaulding Memorial 31.4

Programs & Resources

1 / 7
Schools with AP
35 AP courses total
216.4:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
23.4%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in North Middlesex

School Enrollment
North Middlesex Regional
711
Varnum Brook
606
Nissitissit Middle School
494
Hawthorne Brook
449
Spaulding Memorial
413
Ashby Elementary
152
Squannacook Early Childhood Center
89

How North Middlesex Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Massachusetts districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Middleborough Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded
Nashoba Similar size Similar spending More locally funded
Grafton Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Falmouth Similar size Higher spending More locally funded
Tec Connections Academy Commonwealth Virtual School District Similar size Lower spending More locally funded

Comparisons are relative to North Middlesex's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data and the F-33 Finance Survey.

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 · $34,835/pupil
Compare vs North Middlesex →
Worcester
24,707 students · 46 schools · $20,642/pupil
Compare vs North Middlesex →
Springfield
23,873 students · 66 schools · $23,067/pupil
Compare vs North Middlesex →
Lynn
15,556 students · 27 schools · $19,669/pupil
Compare vs North Middlesex →
Brockton
14,999 students · 24 schools · $21,147/pupil
Compare vs North Middlesex →

Compare North Middlesex

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

Compare vs Boston →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in North Middlesex?

North Middlesex has 7 schools, including 1 high, 5 elementary, 1 combined. Total enrollment is 3,074 students.

How much does North Middlesex spend per student?

North Middlesex spends $19,769 per student. The district has an equity score of 35/100, ranking #209 in Massachusetts.

What is the demographic composition of North Middlesex?

North Middlesex students are 80.7% White, 10.1% Hispanic or Latino, 2.9% African American, 2.3% Asian, averaged across 7 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for North Middlesex?

North Middlesex has an equity score of 35/100, ranking #209 out of 362 districts in Massachusetts.