Of the 212 students who took part in the Science portion of the MCAS, 78.8% scored below proficiency in the 2023-24 school year, according to the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
In comparison, 20.3% met the subject benchmarks and 0.9% exceeded them.
The number of Palmer Public School District students who failed their Science assessments rose by 6.4% from the previous school year.
Palmer Public School District roughly covers schools within Hampden County and has a main office in Palmer.
In the 2023-24 school year, 199,813 students took the Science test in Massachusetts with 55.6% failing the exam, 2.8% less than the year before.
Massachusetts spends more money on K-12 education per pupil than most other states, ranking fifth in the nation, according to a 2025 report. The state allocates over $24,000 per pupil, totaling $22.5 billion annually.
| School Name | Students who did not meet standards (%) |
|---|---|
| Old Mill Pond School | 68.3% |
| Palmer High School | 85.4% |
