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.
Worcester, Massachusetts - 46 schools
An equity score of 37/100 ranks Worcester #182 of 362 districts in Massachusetts (state average 38). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.
At $20,642 per pupil, Worcester ranks #222 of 396 Massachusetts districts by per-pupil spending (Massachusetts districts). NCES F-33 finance data.
Worcester operates 46 public schools serving 24,707 students, placing it in the mid-size range in Massachusetts. The school portfolio breaks down into 22 combined, 15 elementary, 5 high, 4 middle schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Worcester County.
Per-pupil expenditure runs $20,642 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 13.5% local, 70.1% state, and 16.4% federal, a state-revenue-heavy mix that insulates the district somewhat from local property-tax volatility, though it ties funding to state budget cycles. The district's equity score is 37/100, ranked #182 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 7 of 46 schools offering Advanced Placement (110 AP courses district-wide), a 259.4:1 student-counselor ratio, somewhat above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 28.1% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 46.1% Hispanic or Latino, 25.3% White, 17.9% African American across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Roosevelt, with a diversity index of 72.9/100.
Its largest campus is South High Community, enrolling 1,800 students (7% of the district's total enrollment). Its smallest is Wawecus Road School, at 155 students, a 12x enrollment spread across the district's campuses.
Worcester school enrollment ranges from 155 students (lowest) to 1,800 students (highest), a spread of 1,645 students. That spread reflects typical mixed-portfolio variation between specialty programs and large neighbourhood schools. 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
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 Variation between sub-units within Worcester is typically wider than the Worcester-aggregate figure suggests.
Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection NCES Civil Rights Data Collection
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 Worcester is typically wider than the Worcester-aggregate figure suggests.
Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22
This district scores below average on funding equity. High reliance on local revenue or lower spending may contribute.
Average demographic composition across 46 schools in Worcester.
Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.
Average Simpson diversity index across Worcester's schools, above the Massachusetts average of 47.3.
Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.
The Massachusetts districts closest to this one in total enrollment.
| District | Enrollment | Spending | Funding Mix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Springfield | Similar size | Similar spending | Less locally funded |
| Lynn | Smaller | Similar spending | Less locally funded |
| Brockton | Smaller | Similar spending | Similar funding mix |
| Lowell | Smaller | Similar spending | Similar funding mix |
| Lawrence | Smaller | Similar spending | Less locally funded |
Comparisons are relative to Worcester's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data and the F-33 Finance Survey.
Top districts in the same state, compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.
See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.
Compare vs Boston →Worcester has 46 schools, including 5 high, 4 middle, 22 combined, 15 elementary. Total enrollment is 24,707 students.
Worcester spends $20,642 per student. The district has an equity score of 37/100, ranking #182 in Massachusetts.
Worcester students are 46.1% Hispanic or Latino, 25.3% White, 17.9% African American, 6.3% Asian, averaged across 46 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.
Worcester has an equity score of 37/100, ranking #182 out of 362 districts in Massachusetts.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.