Charlton, Massachusetts
The Dudley-Charlton Regional Schools by the Numbers
A snapshot of one district that educates about 3,425 students across two towns. Detailed figures come from the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).
District Snapshot
Sources: Massachusetts DESE, school and district profiles.
High needs is a state count, not a score. It includes every student who is from a low income household, learning English, or receiving special education services, and counts each one only once. Across the whole state, DESE counts 55.4 percent of students as high needs.
District Overview
| District | Dudley-Charlton Regional |
| Enrollment | 3,425 |
| Schools | 7 |
| High school | Shepherd Hill Regional High School, Dudley |
Student Population
For the precise current breakdown, see the DESE district profile.
| English learners | 3.9% |
| First language not English | 8.9% |
| Low income | 32.0% |
| High needs | 45.6% |
| Per-pupil spending (in-district) | $16,665.90 |
| Per-pupil spending (total) | $17,572.38 |
Academic Performance & Context
The district’s four-year graduation rate was 90.6%. MCAS results, graduation rates, and accountability data are published and updated each year by DESE. Because these change annually, this guide links to the live state profile rather than reprinting numbers that quickly go stale.
One thing the DESE profile will not tell you: Charlton students have a second public option. The town elects two members to the Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School District committee, and a Bay Path student representative sits with the Charlton Select Board alongside the Dudley-Charlton one. Every figure on this page describes the Dudley-Charlton district only.
MassCivics last checked this page on September 26, 2026.
Sources
- Schools and districts: Massachusetts DESE, Dudley-Charlton Reg, district profile, as of October 1, 2025.
- Schools and districts: Massachusetts DESE, Per Pupil Expenditures, All Funds, as of June 30, 2024.
- Schools and districts: Massachusetts DESE, Selected Populations (2025-26), as of October 1, 2025.