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Economically Disadvantaged Students
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Source: Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education

What does this measure?

The share of elementary and secondary students who are economically disadvantaged. Economic disadvantage is based on a student's participation in social safety net programs.

Why is this important?

This measure not only shows the proportion of students and families with low incomes in an area, it is also an indication of the potential challenges facing schools as they work to educate children who have fewer resources.

How is our county performing?

In 2023, 43% of students in Worcester County were economically disadvantaged, similar to the statewide rate of 42%. Worcester County's rate has increased from 36% in 2013, rising at a similar rate to the state.

Economically disadvantaged students made up more than 25% of the student bodies in nearly all (46) of the 50 districts and charter schools in Worcester County with data in 2023; 14 districts had rates of 50% or more.

The Southbridge School District had the highest share of economically disadvantaged students at 84%, followed by Seven Hills Charter Public at 79% and Fitchburg School District at 74%. The Massachusetts Academy for Math and Sciences had the lowest share at 2% followed by the Southborough and Harvard School Districts, with 8% each.

Notes about the data

Data is from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Students are considered economically disadvantaged if they participate in one or more of the following state-administered programs: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); Transitional Assistance for Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC); Department of Children and Families' (DCF) foster care program; and MassHealth (Medicaid). It is important to note that a lower share of students is identified as economically disadvantaged under this measure than was identified under the previously used free or reduced-price lunch measure. National data is not available for this measure.

Economically Disadvantaged Students
200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023
Worcester County23%22%22%23%24%25%26%27%28%29%32%34%35%36%37%26%28%31%32%32%33%37%45%43%
Worcester School District54%52%53%56%60%61%62%63%65%66%72%70%72%73%73%49%52%57%60%58%60%64%74%73%
Athol-Royalston School District28%30%32%32%32%36%34%39%42%45%49%51%53%57%57%44%43%49%51%49%54%55%66%64%
Clinton School District25%23%30%30%32%34%32%38%38%41%42%46%46%49%48%32%33%34%36%36%39%44%54%53%
Fitchburg School District47%50%47%50%50%54%54%56%60%59%66%68%73%77%77%53%53%59%62%61%62%66%75%74%
Gardner School District22%21%22%19%26%28%32%33%35%40%46%49%51%56%59%43%44%50%51%53%52%57%67%64%
Northbridge School District28%21%21%20%22%23%20%23%21%23%25%25%28%29%32%22%24%28%28%29%29%34%40%40%
Southbridge School District37%36%40%50%48%54%57%62%64%64%63%69%68%70%76%61%61%67%71%70%72%77%85%84%
Spencer-East Brookfield School District17%20%13%17%19%19%21%21%23%26%29%33%34%37%41%28%30%33%35%35%37%44%50%48%
Webster School District28%35%31%32%37%34%42%41%42%44%48%52%56%57%58%44%46%50%53%53%57%62%73%73%
Westborough School District3%4%4%4%6%5%6%6%5%5%8%8%9%10%10%6%7%8%9%8%11%13%16%16%
Massachusetts25%25%25%26%27%28%28%29%30%31%33%34%35%37%38%26%27%30%32%31%33%37%44%42%
Additional Worcester County school districts
Quabbin School District12%12%13%14%11%11%14%14%13%16%19%21%22%23%26%19%23%25%27%23%26%31%39%36%
Seven Hills Charter Public51%55%57%58%59%64%72%70%75%79%79%83%76%78%83%47%51%55%62%60%59%70%83%79%
Abby Kelley Foster Charter Public District28%25%24%26%32%49%48%46%53%54%45%59%61%63%62%31%33%37%40%38%39%48%69%59%
Ashburnham-Westminster School District7%7%7%7%8%9%10%10%11%11%16%19%19%20%21%14%14%16%16%16%16%20%26%26%
Auburn School District8%10%9%11%10%10%11%13%13%14%17%19%21%23%27%14%17%17%19%18%20%22%31%28%
Berlin School District10%9%3%5%6%3%4%3%4%3%6%4%6%10%7%11%17%18%18%15%
Berlin-Boylston School District2%3%5%5%4%3%5%6%8%8%10%10%10%11%12%7%8%9%11%12%13%14%17%16%
Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical12%11%11%9%13%13%16%15%15%16%16%18%16%15%13%9%10%10%10%10%10%10%16%15%
Blackstone-Millville School District8%8%8%7%9%10%12%11%14%17%18%23%24%25%26%16%18%20%22%22%25%27%36%33%
Boylston School District2%2%2%2%4%2%1%3%2%3%2%1%1%10%8%8%9%9%8%8%
Brookfield School District22%15%23%24%19%22%19%20%19%19%28%25%27%30%33%23%24%25%29%30%32%29%40%39%
Douglas School District9%6%6%7%8%7%8%8%9%12%12%15%14%16%15%13%15%15%16%15%17%19%26%24%
Dudley-Charlton Regional School District10%9%1%5%9%8%9%10%10%11%14%15%17%19%22%17%18%19%21%21%23%26%34%33%
Grafton School District8%8%8%9%8%9%8%10%10%10%11%10%11%12%12%8%11%12%12%12%13%15%20%17%
Harvard School District0%0%1%1%1%1%0%0%0%0%0%0%2%3%4%3%4%5%5%5%6%8%8%8%
Hopedale School District4%3%4%4%5%4%4%5%5%6%8%10%9%11%12%9%9%10%12%11%13%17%23%22%
Leicester School District14%14%14%13%12%12%15%15%18%20%21%27%28%29%31%18%19%22%25%26%26%30%38%38%
Leominster School District28%25%27%29%28%31%31%33%35%38%36%44%44%46%48%33%35%37%39%39%41%47%58%55%
Lunenburg School District5%5%5%7%7%6%6%8%10%8%9%10%9%14%16%12%15%16%16%17%17%21%26%25%
Mendon-Upton School District3%5%3%2%2%3%4%3%3%3%5%6%8%10%10%8%10%9%9%9%10%11%14%16%
Milford School District15%15%14%16%14%16%20%19%20%22%26%28%31%30%32%26%28%32%34%33%40%46%55%56%
Millbury School District11%11%11%11%14%14%17%18%18%19%23%21%25%24%28%20%25%24%26%26%26%29%35%35%
Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical19%17%16%19%25%25%25%29%25%31%33%31%35%31%32%21%19%23%26%24%25%28%37%40%
Narragansett School District16%16%14%18%16%15%19%20%21%22%23%26%31%26%33%23%25%25%29%29%31%33%42%39%
Nashoba School District5%4%5%4%4%4%4%6%5%6%8%8%7%5%7%5%6%7%8%8%9%10%13%12%
North Brookfield School District19%20%20%21%26%25%25%26%26%26%30%36%36%39%33%27%33%35%33%32%32%35%53%51%
Northborough School District3%3%3%4%4%3%4%4%5%5%6%8%9%10%10%9%10%10%11%11%12%15%20%19%
Northborough-Southborough School District0%1%1%2%2%2%2%3%3%3%4%4%6%5%5%6%6%6%7%6%7%9%13%12%
Oxford School District20%16%15%13%14%17%18%20%21%24%28%29%32%33%31%27%29%34%34%33%33%37%45%44%
Petersham School District16%15%9%11%13%7%10%16%18%18%30%39%27%23%23%14%14%18%27%24%29%30%39%34%
Shrewsbury School District6%6%4%5%7%7%8%9%9%9%11%13%13%15%15%7%8%9%10%11%11%14%18%17%
Southborough School District1%1%2%3%2%2%1%2%2%2%2%3%3%2%3%3%4%4%5%6%6%7%9%8%
Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational Technical,18%18%19%19%22%20%25%24%26%29%35%35%33%32%35%23%24%27%26%23%22%26%36%35%
Sturbridge School District7%10%14%15%7%7%7%7%9%9%11%11%12%12%14%15%16%15%16%16%15%18%22%22%
Sutton School District5%4%4%3%4%4%6%6%8%9%9%9%10%10%10%7%8%8%10%10%13%15%18%18%
Uxbridge School District9%10%10%11%11%12%13%13%15%14%17%16%17%18%21%16%17%20%20%19%21%25%30%28%
Wachusett School District4%3%3%4%3%4%4%5%6%6%7%7%9%8%9%7%8%10%10%10%11%14%17%16%
Quaboag Regional School District20%19%19%20%22%22%21%25%30%30%32%39%38%43%45%32%33%37%36%36%38%42%49%47%
West Boylston School District5%4%5%5%6%7%6%9%11%12%14%12%14%12%10%13%17%18%20%20%22%25%30%31%
Winchendon School District25%24%27%24%24%24%27%28%30%41%42%46%45%44%45%33%36%40%43%41%44%50%60%56%
The Sizer School: A North Central Charter Essential District27%34%32%31%31%33%35%44%46%49%53%45%27%29%31%34%35%38%42%53%50%
Spirit of Knowledge Charter School District77%76%81%
Ma Academy For Math And Science5%4%5%4%2%2%2%3%2%

Source: Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education




Number of Economically Disadvantaged Students
200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023
Worcester County29,86529,68829,23331,39232,82933,67534,75835,77736,70938,18742,23644,00345,56047,35248,29333,70635,73539,26840,90040,13041,82644,54053,88152,687
Worcester School District13,70713,53313,62214,46615,14214,98314,96114,97614,92015,21717,21416,96317,59318,08217,92312,47813,15014,56515,05214,72614,94415,42517,63817,636
Athol-Royalston School District6226607167126977667027687827558278258108428206176097157617088217901,0221,007
Clinton School District4974625536016476676527857618378448918839279195886216446836717317981,0321,039
Fitchburg School District2,8093,1262,9153,0062,8953,0403,0763,0723,1823,0313,2963,3163,6553,7823,8592,6672,7613,1033,3093,2643,3063,3983,9003,797
Gardner School District6966606786138358889709791,0151,0931,1821,2601,2961,4131,4621,0651,0721,1821,1831,2151,2171,2531,5061,523
Northbridge School District681493514496557617530614545571644640735756838535569639599611580653797777
Southbridge School District9259251,0681,3101,2491,3491,3101,3731,3841,3571,3541,5251,5051,5871,7091,3481,3421,4221,4211,3971,3651,4401,5271,512
Spencer-East Brookfield School District378428282384434428464463490554572650678720746477475463471484515585702663
Webster School District5706625625906776347908018018579389831,0321,0661,0768258749329859681,0511,0491,2361,235
Westborough School District108119119132196172218223192176267265309336362229253304343323413480602600
Massachusetts245,754245,882246,808257,368266,294270,660274,524280,238283,827294,692315,161327,044335,213353,420365,885251,026260,998288,465305,203297,120310,873333,843399,140386,060
Additional Worcester County school districts
Quabbin School District389383403433365374444444426497585608596601647475540550596494548649861780
Seven Hills Charter Public339363372386379425474474511536533551507517553314351369414403392467557528
Abby Kelley Foster Charter Public District178180189219283528564533752772648846865897881436473530568538552684982837
Ashburnham-Westminster School District163178159178201209250245274275384440435452491324328374371373368437593590
Auburn School District204240223256234239255296310327412452501546623336408427488483513559788714
Berlin School District242061214897881281222142131343228
Berlin-Boylston School District912212317132327373943414048633743556871134147178175
Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical100949774105112144152158171186203180173151103114121125120117128192185
Blackstone-Millville School District184175178168196230251244292364380458457471478289311357379374404428558480
Boylston School District997914951061082237262427252425
Brookfield School District745170715971575551568581889510575787890969877111112
Douglas School District120787896128116141147150208219254246272246196217210213199214216303286
Dudley-Charlton Regional School District412380501983823674014224574985876386897689036757137538197998338801,1871,125
Grafton School District178179176209186226215265285295306299310364368254360379371376419468611514
Harvard School District359988321111213943294752505063828576
Hopedale School District4036515357465160688199121111132149109105117133118135188252242
Leicester School District265272270254229224295281342372399499494504502281309353396395393414524510
Leominster School District1,7511,5751,6101,7671,7701,9271,8992,0312,1972,3632,2802,7262,7352,8642,9312,0202,1032,2492,3102,3272,4792,7333,4193,288
Lunenburg School District8590100138121115109151183142156167145221243187230263264276278329409389
Mendon-Upton School District6110365606067102899290145173208263234178217203194210215233303331
Milford School District6486665536435876548247978369251,0791,1771,2711,2571,3341,0721,1371,3251,4041,4211,7711,9482,3632,489
Millbury School District212209205207273276343343353364428389448429497349425422454446438465567565
Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical222195182216294305313373328416452428503438460300277329370338361395522559
Narragansett School District246238215286264259330346347359369389459363445309333353411407450431589567
Nashoba School District145130136109114124141183160203258277243181247178199245254252296316413375
North Brookfield School District148162165170206196192187180169186211205225189155187197185182176178239222
Northborough School District556769797667677190101119146170179178156167167184172195221307298
Northborough-Southborough School District312142022243038354160638273808389801068993125160145
Oxford School District438347326286310383393432431480577585633634593506525588573532523535666636
Petersham School District16171012158132022183244312726161722312738374443
Shrewsbury School District2502722122683883934435395555426267987809099034385075666336497148151,062981
Southborough School District1916284224271827283738503932444448507070788711095
Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational Technical,183179193195226205262262292321385376350353389259265298290262255303421410
Sturbridge School District528011812860596059778197100111118135147158137145138132143182191
Sutton School District846463486058104100137145144150155156149104113119140141171194223238
Uxbridge School District214245243265252261278258297291341317327333390299319363357325356411482459
Wachusett School District2392101682602402612893664194245215316426306445375947397327307849091,1641,088
Quaboag Regional School District310290294300325321312375425424469567525577625441467524488465465487564551
West Boylston School District5852605870757210111712213711713711491124152164177180197221267266
Winchendon School District471467499447443431474477493684682714667630612448464503547517536585717688
The Sizer School: A North Central Charter Essential District63103106113108107125163170176183149100101115121129133153186173
Spirit of Knowledge Charter School District122132135
Ma Academy For Math And Science545422232

Source: Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education




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INDICATORS TREND
Arts, Entertainment and Recreation Establishments 1
Increasing
Average Charitable Contribution 0
Maintaining
Households With Internet Access 1
Increasing
Protected Land 10 Not Applicable*
Voter Participation Rate -1
Decreasing
Voter Registration Rate 0
Maintaining
Arrest Rate by Race/Ethnicity -1
Decreasing
Change in Total Population 1
Increasing
Change in Population by Race/Ethnicity 1
Increasing
Foreign-Born Population 1
Increasing
Language Diversity 1
Increasing
Population by Age -1
Decreasing
Households by Type 0
Maintaining
Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity -1
Decreasing
Median Household Income 0
Maintaining
Household Income by Race/Ethnicity 0
Maintaining
80/20 Income Ratio 0
Maintaining
Income in Relation to Poverty Level 0
Maintaining
People Living in Poverty 0
Maintaining
People Living in Poverty, by Education Level 1
Increasing
People Living in Poverty, by Age 1
Increasing
People Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity 1
Increasing
Homeownership Rates, by Race/Ethnicity 1
Increasing
Overall Housing Cost Burden -1
Decreasing
Cost of Rent, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Median Home Value by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Homelessness 10 Not Applicable*
Households Receiving SNAP by Race/Ethnicity 1
Increasing
Household Receiving Temporary Assistance 0
Maintaining
Households Without Vehicles 0
Maintaining
Education Levels of Adults by Race/Ethnicity 1
Increasing
Change in Employment by Sector 10 Not Applicable*
Change in Average Salary by Sector 10 Not Applicable*
Female to Male Earnings Ratio 0
Maintaining
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity -1
Decreasing
Employer Size 1
Increasing
Business Ownership, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Self-Employment Revenue 0
Maintaining
People Entering/Leaving County for Work 1
Increasing
Early Prenatal Care by Mother's Race/Ethnicity 1
Increasing
Preterm Births 10 Not Applicable*
Infant Mortality by Mother's Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Children with Elevated Blood Lead Levels -1
Decreasing
Prevalence of Children with Asthma 1
Increasing
People with Disabilities 1
Increasing
People Without Health Insurance -1
Decreasing
Cancer Incidence 0
Maintaining
Diabetes Incidence -1
Decreasing
Substance Abuse Treatment Admissions -1
Decreasing
Opioid Overdose Mortality Rate 1
Increasing
Children Living in Poverty 0
Maintaining
Children Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity -1
Decreasing
Economically Disadvantaged Students 1
Increasing
Disengaged Youth -1
Decreasing
Prekindergarten Participation -1
Decreasing
Student Performance on Grade 3 English, by Student Subgroup -1
Decreasing
Student Performance on Grade 8 Math, by Student Subgroup -1
Decreasing
Student Performance on Grade 10 English, by Student Subgroup -1
Decreasing
Student Performance on Grade 10 Math, by Student Subgroup -1
Decreasing
High School Cohort Graduation Rate, by Student Group 1
Increasing
Arrest Rate by Race/Ethnicity -1
Decreasing
Change in Population by Race/Ethnicity 1
Increasing
Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity -1
Decreasing
Household Income by Race/Ethnicity 0
Maintaining
People Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity 1
Increasing
Homeownership Rates, by Race/Ethnicity 1
Increasing
Cost of Rent, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Median Home Value by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Households Receiving SNAP by Race/Ethnicity 1
Increasing
Education Levels of Adults by Race/Ethnicity 1
Increasing
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity -1
Decreasing
Business Ownership, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Early Prenatal Care by Mother's Race/Ethnicity 1
Increasing
Infant Mortality by Mother's Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Children Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity -1
Decreasing
Student Performance on Grade 3 English, by Student Subgroup -1
Decreasing
Student Performance on Grade 8 Math, by Student Subgroup -1
Decreasing
Student Performance on Grade 10 English, by Student Subgroup -1
Decreasing
Student Performance on Grade 10 Math, by Student Subgroup -1
Decreasing
High School Cohort Graduation Rate, by Student Group 1
Increasing



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