School district or education agency · NCES 2509540

Petersham

Petersham, MA

District overview See comparisons

Students133

Student membership reported by NCES for 2023–24.

Schools1

operational schools · 2023–24

Students133

students in linked records

Latest attendance year2022–23

federal comparable series

Latest finance record$18,142

per student

Profile coverage

8 of 8 core data areas available

Each area is matched to this district’s NCES ID. Dates show the reporting year. Source links and coverage were last checked August 26, 2026.

✓Academic results2025Current release✓Attendance2022–23Current release✓Spending2022–23Current release✓Enrollment & staffing2023–24Current release✓Student support2021–22Older federal release✓Safety & civil rights2021–22Older federal release✓Community context2023Current release✓Programs & opportunities2021–22Older federal release

Five things to know

The district at a glance

Every answer links to the underlying measure. Reporting years stay attached to the data.

01Comparable nationwide

Student outcomes

How are students doing?

Four views answer different questions. State test percentages show grade-level expectations; the national research trend shows change over time; graduation and dropout measures describe high-school outcomes.

Nationally comparable trend · 2019–2025

Are results improving over time?

76^thlatest estimated national standing

20192022202320242025

8 percentile points higher than 2019.

State proficiency standards differ and should not be used for cross-state rankings. Graduation ranges and privacy protections are preserved exactly. The academic trend uses Stanford Education Data Archive estimates and is not a state proficiency percentage.

What has changed?

The district’s recent direction

Each card uses its own clearly labeled period. Measures from different sources are never blended.

Academic standing8 percentile points

Higher than the first comparable year.

2019–2025 · Stanford research estimate

Chronic absence14.9 points

Higher than the first year. More students were chronically absent.

2020–21–2022–23

Enrollment+17.7%

Student enrollment grew.

2021–22 to 2023–24 · NCES

Operating spending-12.8%

Spending per student decreased before adjusting for inflation.

FY 2022 to FY 2023 · NCES F-33

Enrollment 2023–24Finance 2022–23Attendance 2022–23State tests 2024–25 where published

Enrollment · 2023–24

Who attends this district?

Kindergarten–grade 5120 students

90.2%

Grades 6–813 students

9.8%

See enrollment for every grade

Kindergarten19

Grade 119

Grade 219

Grade 319

Grade 418

Grade 526

Grade 613

Students by race and ethnicity

White118 (88.7%)

Hispanic/Latino10 (7.5%)

Black or African American3 (2.3%)

Two or more races2 (1.5%)

Final NCES Common Core of Data membership file, 2023–24. Suppressed or missing cells are not estimated.

Current staffing · 2023–24

How many staff members support students?

25.1All district staff, full-time equivalent

11.4Teachers, full-time equivalent

1School counselors, full-time equivalent

6.5Instructional aides, full-time equivalent

2.2School administrators, full-time equivalent

1.5Student support staff, full-time equivalent

See detailed staffing

Kindergarten teachers1.5 FTE

Elementary teachers10 FTE

Elementary school counselors1 FTE

Instructional coordinators0.2 FTE

District administrators0.6 FTE

District administrative support0.2 FTE

School administrative support1.5 FTE

Final NCES Common Core of Data staff file, 2023–24. These are full-time-equivalent positions, not employee headcounts, vacancies or caseloads.

Teachers and staff

Teacher workforce

Loading the district’s workforce comparison…

Community context · 2024

How many school-age children live in poverty?

This Census estimate provides context about families in the district. It does not measure school quality or describe every student enrolled in the district.

71children ages 5 to 17

7estimated to live in families below the poverty line

9.9%about 1 in 10 school-age children

District9.9%

MA10.4%

United States14.4%

U.S. Census Bureau Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024. The estimate covers related children ages 5 to 17 in families in poverty and uses 2024–25 district boundaries.

District geography · 2024–25

What area does this district cover?

NCES publishes a geographic boundary for traditional school districts. Charter agencies and some special-purpose agencies may not have one.

Loading the official district boundary…

Source: NCES EDGE School District Boundaries, school year 2024–25.

Comparable districts

Districts serving a similar student population

These peers are matched using enrollment and available student population measures. Districts in MA receive geographic preference, but a closer national match may appear when it is more comparable. Open any profile for a full comparison.

New Salem-WendellNew Salem, MA

Students: 137
Community poverty: 11.7%
Special education: 22.0%

Matched on enrollment, community poverty, special-education enrollment · View →PelhamPelham, MA

Students: 129
Community poverty: 6.6%
English learners: 1.7%
Special education: 19.0%

Matched on enrollment, community poverty, English-learner enrollment · View →Farmington River RegionalOtis, MA

Students: 129
Community poverty: 7.5%
Special education: 25.5%

Matched on enrollment, community poverty, special-education enrollment · View →Chesterfield-GoshenChesterfield, MA

Students: 139
Community poverty: 6.2%
Special education: 16.8%

Matched on enrollment, community poverty, special-education enrollment · View →ProvincetownProvincetown, MA

Students: 137
Community poverty: 12.4%
English learners: 16.7%
Special education: 21.7%

Matched on enrollment, community poverty, English-learner enrollment · View →

District, state and country

How does this district compare?

State and national figures use the same measure and reporting period. They are weighted by students or staffing whenever the source provides a denominator.

MeasureDistrictMAUnited States

Academic standing2025Stronger than benchmarks

76th percentile55th percentile45th percentile

This district is 21 percentile points higher than the state figure and 31 percentile points higher than the U.S. figure.

Students chronically absent2022–23Stronger than benchmarks

19.8%22.8%27.8%

This district is 3.0 percentage points lower than the state figure and 8.0 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.

Revenue per studentFY 2023Context only

$15,228$24,997$19,509

This district is $9,769 per student lower than the state figure and $4,281 per student lower than the U.S. figure.

Spending per studentFY 2023Context only

$18,142$22,954$15,859

This district is $4,812 per student lower than the state figure and $2,283 per student higher than the U.S. figure.

Capital outlay per studentFY 2023Context only

$323$1,661$1,964

This district is $1,338 per student lower than the state figure and $1,641 per student lower than the U.S. figure.

Equipment spending per studentFY 2023Context only

$323$103$336

This district is $220 per student higher than the state figure and $13 per student lower than the U.S. figure.

Special-education spending per studentFY 2023Context only

$3,449$4,157$1,793

This district is $708 per student lower than the state figure and $1,656 per student higher than the U.S. figure.

Salaries per studentFY 2023Context only

$10,276$13,633$8,742

This district is $3,357 per student lower than the state figure and $1,534 per student higher than the U.S. figure.

Benefits per studentFY 2023Context only

$4,543$5,688$3,769

This district is $1,145 per student lower than the state figure and $774 per student higher than the U.S. figure.

Debt outstanding per studentFY 2023Context only

$1,535$8,192$11,715

This district is $6,657 per student lower than the state figure and $10,180 per student lower than the U.S. figure.

Debt retired per studentFY 2023Context only

$709$467$869

This district is $242 per student higher than the state figure and $160 per student lower than the U.S. figure.

Students per teacher2023–24Stronger than benchmarks

12:112:115:1

This district is about the same as the state figure and 3.0 students per teacher lower than the U.S. figure.

Students per counselor2023–24Stronger than benchmarks

133:1339:1376:1

This district is 206 students per counselor lower than the state figure and 243 students per counselor lower than the U.S. figure.

District staff per 1,000 students2023–24Stronger than benchmarks

188.9161.4138.9

This district is 27.5 staff per 1,000 students higher than the state figure and 50.0 staff per 1,000 students higher than the U.S. figure.

Instructional aides per 1,000 students2023–24Stronger than benchmarks

48.930.918.5

This district is 18.0 aides per 1,000 students higher than the state figure and 30.4 aides per 1,000 students higher than the U.S. figure.

School psychologists per 1,000 students2023–24Needs attention

0.01.50.9

This district is 1.5 psychologists per 1,000 students lower than the state figure and 0.9 psychologists per 1,000 students lower than the U.S. figure.

Students learning English2021–22 · reporting schoolsContext only

0.9%11.1%12.0%

This district is 10.2 percentage points lower than the state figure and 11.1 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.

Students receiving IDEA services2021–22 · reporting schoolsContext only

19.5%17.8%14.0%

This district is 1.6 percentage points higher than the state figure and 5.5 percentage points higher than the U.S. figure.

Students with Section 504 plans2021–22 · reporting schoolsContext only

1.8%5.0%3.9%

This district is 3.2 percentage points lower than the state figure and 2.1 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.

Teachers reported as certified2021–22 · reporting schoolsContext only

100.0%93.7%95.8%

This district is 6.3 percentage points higher than the state figure and 4.2 percentage points higher than the U.S. figure.

Enrollment change2021–22 to 2023–24Context only

+17.7%+0.5%+0.5%

This district is 17.2 percentage points higher than the state figure and 17.2 percentage points higher than the U.S. figure.

Out-of-school suspension rate · students without disabilities2021–22 · matched enrollmentStronger than benchmarks

0.0%2.7%4.5%

This district is 2.7 percentage points lower than the state figure and 4.5 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.

Out-of-school suspension rate · students receiving IDEA services2021–22 · matched enrollmentStronger than benchmarks

0.0%7.1%9.0%

This district is 7.1 percentage points lower than the state figure and 9.0 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.

Out-of-school suspension rate · students with Section 504 plans2021–22 · matched enrollmentStronger than benchmarks

0.0%4.3%6.7%

This district is 4.3 percentage points lower than the state figure and 6.7 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.

School-age children in poverty2024 Census estimateStronger than benchmarks

9.9%10.4%14.4%

This district is 0.5 percentage points lower than the state figure and 4.5 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.

Learning support · 2021–22 federal snapshot

How many students may need specialized support?

Counts and shares use only schools with a usable value for that measure. The reporting-school denominator prevents missing schools from being counted as zero.

0.9%Students learning English1 students · 1 of 1 schools reported both this measure and enrollment

District0.9%

MA11.1%

U.S.12.0%

19.5%Students receiving IDEA special-education services22 students · 1 of 1 schools reported both this measure and enrollment

District19.5%

MA17.8%

U.S.14.0%

1.8%Students with Section 504 plans2 students · 1 of 1 schools reported both this measure and enrollment

District1.8%

MA5.0%

U.S.3.9%

0.0%English learners also receiving IDEA services0 students · 1 of 1 schools reported both this measure and enrollment

District0.0%

MA2.3%

U.S.1.7%

U.S. Department of Education Civil Rights Data Collection, 2021–22. Public-use counts are privacy-protected. These figures describe the reporting year, not current enrollment, diagnoses, service quality or unmet need.

Teacher quality and early learning · 2021–22

What did the district report about teachers and preschool?

100.0%Teachers reported as certified

Teacher certification comparison

District100.0%

MA93.7%

United States95.8%

U.S. Department of Education Civil Rights Data Collection, 2021–22. Certification status is district-reported and may not match current staffing. Preschool counts cover the federal reporting year and are not a measure of available seats.

Academic results · 2025

How do results differ among student groups?

Fem54 assessments

95 out of 100

Students not economically disadvantaged75 assessments

81 out of 100

White students149 assessments

79 out of 100

Mal71 assessments

67 out of 100

Economically disadvantaged students48 assessments

66 out of 100

A score of 50 marks the national 2019 midpoint. Higher numbers indicate stronger results on the comparable Stanford research scale. This is not a state proficiency rate.

District makeup

What kinds of schools are in the district?

1Elementary schools

1Rural setting

School levels, settings and types use the NCES 2021–22 directory matched to the federal civil-rights collection.

District finances

How is the district funded, and how does it spend?

Sources of funds

Where the money comes from

Share of district revenue supplied by each level of government.

9.9%Federal

38.8%State

51.3%Local

Uses of funds

Where the money goes

Annual spending for each enrolled student.

$18,142Total current spending per student

$10,559Instruction per student

$7,583Support services per student

Revenue by source: percentages and dollars

$191KFederal revenue9.9% of total revenue

$750KState revenue38.8% of total revenue

$993KLocal revenue51.3% of total revenue

How operating money was used

$10,559Instructionper student

$7,583Student and instructional supportper student

$3,449Special educationper student

$1,724Building operations and maintenanceper student

$1,362Student transportationper student

$0Food servicesper student

$220Technologyper student

People costs

$1.3MSalaries$10,276 per student

$577KEmployee benefits$4,543 per student

Equipment, buildings and debt

$41KEquipmentFY 2023

$41KCapital outlay$323 per student

$0Constructionincluded in capital outlay

$195KDebt outstanding at year end$1,535 per student

$0New debt issuedFY 2023

$90KDebt principal retiredFY 2023

$12KInterest paid on debtFY 2023

Selected federal program revenue

$21KTitle I$165 per student

$9KIDEA special education$71 per student

$112KChild nutrition$882 per student

What changed since FY 2022

Operating spending per student

FY 2022$20,814

FY 2023$18,142-12.8% year over year

Capital spending per student

FY 2022$257

FY 2023$323+25.7% year over year

Debt outstanding per student

FY 2022$2,522

FY 2023$1,535-39.1% year over year

Revenue shares and spending categories answer different questions and should not be added together. Source: NCES F-33 district finance, FY 2023.

Attendance

How has chronic absence changed?

2020–214.9%

6 of 123 students

2021–220%

0 of 113 students

2022–2319.8%

25 of 126 students

Specialized support and security · 2021–22

What specialized roles were reported?

0Sworn law-enforcement officer FTE1 reporting schools

0Security staff FTE1 reporting schools

Staffing is reported as full-time equivalents in the 2021–22 CRDC collection.

Learning opportunities

What do district schools offer?

Gifted programs1 reporting schools

Shares use only schools for which the program was applicable and reported. A districtwide percentage does not guarantee availability at every grade or campus. Source: 2021–22 CRDC.

Safety and discipline

What was reported across district schools?

0Out-of-school suspensions1 reporting schoolsSee schools →0In-school suspensions1 reporting schoolsSee schools →0Law-enforcement referrals1 reporting schoolsSee schools →0School-related arrests1 reporting schoolsSee schools →

Counts are from the 2021–22 CRDC collection. Open a measure to see the schools behind the district total.

Technology and safety · 2021–22

What access and incident data is available?

100%Schools reporting Wi-Fi1 reporting schools

100%Schools reporting fiber1 reporting schools

1Student devices reported1 reporting schools

0Weapon-possession reports1 reporting schoolsSee schools →0Threats involving a weapon1 reporting schoolsSee schools →0Threats without a weapon1 reporting schoolsSee schools →0Attacks involving a weapon1 reporting schoolsSee schools →0Attacks without a weapon1 reporting schoolsSee schools →0Firearm incidents1 reporting schoolsSee schools →0Robberies without a weapon1 reporting schoolsSee schools →0Robberies involving a weapon1 reporting schoolsSee schools →0Homicide incidents1 reporting schoolsSee schools →

Technology and incident figures are from the 2021–22 CRDC collection. Device counts describe the reporting year, not current inventory.

Data status

8 of 8 national data layers are matched to this NCES district ID. Identity and school counts use NCES records. Academic estimates use SEDA, attendance uses EDFacts, finance uses NCES F-33, staffing and enrollment use 2023–24 NCES CCD where available, teacher certification, preschool and policy fields use the 2021–22 CRDC, and community poverty context uses Census SAIPE. Four-year graduation rates use 2022–23 EDFacts. Every detailed view preserves its reporting year.

See all sources →