Palmer, Massachusetts
Palmer Students, by the Numbers
Palmer Public Schools graduates a higher share of its students in four years than Massachusetts does as a whole, and it does it while spending close to the state average per pupil. These are the state’s own figures, published by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, and they are the numbers the School Committee argues over every spring.
The District at a Glance
Sources: Massachusetts DESE, school and district profiles.
The two schools are Old Mill Pond and Palmer High. Palmer students may also attend Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical High School, which is its own district.
Who the Students Are
| Students with disabilities | 21.1% |
| Low income | 54.2% |
| High needs | 62.3% |
| English learners | 4.3% |
| First language not English | 6.8% |
The state counts a student as high needs if they are low income, an English learner or a former English learner, or a student with disabilities. Palmer’s 62.3% runs well above the statewide 46.7 percent, and that figure is what drives a large share of the district’s state aid.
Outcomes and Spending
| Four-year graduation rate | 94.9% (state: 89.3%) |
| Per-pupil spending (in district) | $23,154.60 |
| Per-pupil spending (total) | $23,575.39 (state: $23,165) |
Per-pupil spending is one of the few school numbers a town can move on its own, through the budget the School Committee approves and the Town Council funds. Both of those votes happen in public meetings you can attend.
Academic Performance and Context
MCAS results, graduation rates and accountability data are published and updated each year by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Because these change annually, this guide links to the live state profile rather than reprinting numbers that quickly go stale. The district also posts its own DESE District Report Card from its homepage.
Sources
MA DESE, Palmer Public Schools Student Profile (code 02270000). Accessed 2026. Statewide comparators from the State Total rows of the same DESE tables.