Ayer Shirley Regional Middle School

Summary:

Ayer Shirley Regional Middle School is a public middle school serving grades 6-8 in Shirley, MA, with a student population of 367 as of the 2022-2023 school year. The school is part of the Ayer Shirley School District, which is ranked 156 out of 351 districts in Massachusetts and has a 3-star rating.

Academically, Ayer Shirley Regional Middle School has consistently ranked in the middle tier of Massachusetts middle schools, typically ranking between 181-246 out of 497-501 schools over the past several years. Its performance on MCAS Next Generation assessments is generally on par with or slightly above the state averages in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science. The school performs relatively well for its Hispanic and female student populations, ranking in the top half of Massachusetts middle schools for these subgroups, but its performance for White, special education, and low socioeconomic status students is in the lower half of the state.

When compared to nearby middle schools, Ayer Shirley Regional Middle School generally performs better than the lower-ranked schools in Fitchburg and Leominster, but lags behind the higher-performing schools in Westford, Lunenburg, and the Nashoba Regional district. The school's per-student spending and student-teacher ratio have fluctuated over the years, which may have contributed to the variations in its academic performance and ranking.


Detail:

Public 6-8

 1 Hospital Road
       Shirley, MA  01464


(978) 772-8600

District: Ayer Shirley School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
194th of 493 Massachusetts Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $17,653 Help


Students who attend Ayer Shirley Regional Middle School usually attend:

High:    Ayer Shirley Regional High School

Feeder schools for Ayer Shirley Regional Middle School:

Elementary:    Lura A. White Elementary School
    Page Hilltop Elementary School

Student/teacher ratio:  11.4 Help
Number of students:  379

Racial breakdown:

White:
71.8%
Hispanic:
14.2%
Two or more races:
5.5%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  32.8% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Ayer Shirley Regional Middle School ranks better than 60.6% of middle schools in Massachusetts. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 56.35. (See more...)
Student Body
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Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (71.8%), Hispanic (14.2%), two or more races (5.5%). (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Ayer Shirley Regional Middle School is 11.4. (See more...)
Help
Compare Ayer Shirley Regional Middle School employs 33.2 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Ayer Shirley Regional Middle School is $17,653.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Ayer Shirley Regional Middle School:

SchoolDigger ranks Ayer Shirley Regional Middle School 194th of 493 Massachusetts public middle schools. (See Ayer Shirley Regional Middle School in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


Ayer Shirley School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Ayer Shirley School District 156th of 351 Massachusetts school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Ayer Shirley Regional Middle School

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Ayer Shirley Regional Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2014 40.98 289th 455 36.5%
2015 57.35 187th 441 57.6%
2016 53.85 228th 482 52.7%
2017 51.94 235th 487 51.7%
2018 40.53 294th 484 39.3%
2019 54.08 224th 498 55.0%
2021 48.04 246th 501 50.9%
2022 57.72 181st 497 63.6%
2023 58.69 187th 501 62.7%
2024 56.35 194th 493 60.6%
See the entire list of Massachusetts Middle School Rankings!

Rank History for Special Education students at Ayer Shirley Regional Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 35.51 324th 467 30.6%
2019 53.49 195th 484 59.7%
2021 38.68 288th 489 41.1%
2022 39.54 294th 503 41.6%
2023 42.12 214th 444 51.8%
2024 38.18 232nd 441 47.4%
See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Middle Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Ayer Shirley Regional Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 48.54 233rd 438 46.8%
2019 65.89 117th 452 74.1%
2021 53.25 183rd 462 60.4%
2022 46.90 243rd 489 50.3%
2023 42.24 269th 481 44.1%
2024 57.60 166th 469 64.6%
See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Middle Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Ayer Shirley Regional Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 40.55 285th 463 38.4%
2019 47.44 262nd 478 45.2%
2021 45.77 252nd 483 47.8%
2022 61.51 168th 494 66.0%
2023 62.58 159th 489 67.5%
2024 59.05 185th 481 61.5%
See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Middle Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at Ayer Shirley Regional Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 30.21 293rd 417 29.7%
2019 51.52 151st 424 64.4%
2021 50.97 145th 431 66.4%
2022 44.90 187th 445 58.0%
See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Middle Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Male students at Ayer Shirley Regional Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 40.26 282nd 466 39.5%
2019 57.96 188th 478 60.7%
2021 49.99 228th 485 53.0%
2022 52.52 210th 497 57.7%
2023 53.14 208th 489 57.5%
2024 51.76 207th 483 57.1%
See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Middle Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Tested In Person students at Ayer Shirley Regional Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 48.68 240th 491 51.1%
See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Middle Schools for Tested In Person Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Ayer Shirley Regional Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 68.25 72nd 309 76.7%
2019 69.40 76th 322 76.4%
2021 49.97 140th 335 58.2%
2022 49.75 141st 368 61.7%
2023 54.03 140th 364 61.5%
2024 48.76 149th 378 60.6%
See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Middle Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Ayer Shirley Regional Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 28.58 296th 395 25.1%
2019 40.44 240th 396 39.4%
2021 36.83 252nd 401 37.2%
2022 50.36 187th 404 53.7%
2023 46.82 196th 403 51.4%
2024 45.77 198th 392 49.5%
See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Middle Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Ayer Shirley Regional Middle School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 






Data source: Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

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Enrollment information for Ayer Shirley Regional Middle School

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
2012 320 23 3 30 1 2 19 0 398
2013 337 21 1 34 2 2 21 0 418
2014 330 25 4 35 0 1 16 0 411
2015 316 23 12 37 2 0 22 0 412
2016 287 21 12 29 3 1 26 0 379
2017 297 19 8 42 3 3 23 0 395
2018 289 14 9 37 4 4 13 0 370
2019 323 14 9 50 5 3 12 0 416
2020 307 14 12 56 3 2 13 0 407
2021 310 19 8 58 4 1 10 0 410
2022 289 20 12 59 1 1 8 0 390
2023 276 14 10 48 2 2 15 0 367
2024 272 17 12 54 2 1 21 0 379

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Ayer Shirley Regional Middle School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
2012 398 36.2 10.9 36.9
2013 418 34.1 12.2 37.8
2014 411 34.1 12.0 43.3
2015 412 31.0 13.2 32.8
2016 379 29.0 13.0 n/a
2017 395 34.2 11.5 n/a
2018 370 31.5 11.7 n/a
2019 416 32.1 12.9 n/a
2020 407 32.6 12.4 n/a
2021 410 33.6 12.1 n/a
2022 390 33.7 11.5 n/a
2023 367 33.7 10.8 n/a
2024 379 33.2 11.4 n/a

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Ayer Shirley Regional Middle School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
2012 398 36.2 10.9 36.9
2013 418 34.1 12.2 37.8
2014 411 34.1 12.0 43.3
2015 412 31.0 13.2 32.8
2016 379 29.0 13.0 n/a
2017 395 34.2 11.5 n/a
2018 370 31.5 11.7 n/a
2019 416 32.1 12.9 n/a
2020 407 32.6 12.4 n/a
2021 410 33.6 12.1 n/a
2022 390 33.7 11.5 n/a
2023 367 33.7 10.8 n/a
2024 379 33.2 11.4 n/a

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Ayer Shirley Regional Middle School

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $657 (4.4%) $14,385 (95.6%) $15,042
2020 $2,074 (7.7%) $24,957 (92.3%) $27,031
2021 $1,352 (7.7%) $16,302 (92.3%) $17,653

Data source: Massachusetts Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Ayer Shirley Regional Middle School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 224th of 498 Middle schoolsRanks 187th of 501 Middle schools
 7.7%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
6th Grade English Language Arts (Ayer Shirley Regional Middle School)5046.8
 3.2%
   6th Grade English Language Arts (Ayer Shirley School District)4846.3
 1.7%
   6th Grade English Language Arts (Massachusetts)5442.3
 11.7%
6th Grade Mathematics (Ayer Shirley Regional Middle School)4441.3
 2.7%
   6th Grade Mathematics (Ayer Shirley School District)4442.5
 1.5%
   6th Grade Mathematics (Massachusetts)5141
 10%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Ayer Shirley Regional Middle School)3939.8
 0.8%
   7th Grade English Language Arts (Ayer Shirley School District)3739.1
 2.1%
   7th Grade English Language Arts (Massachusetts)4840.5
 7.5%
7th Grade Mathematics (Ayer Shirley Regional Middle School)4838.9
 9.1%
   7th Grade Mathematics (Ayer Shirley School District)4638.2
 7.8%
   7th Grade Mathematics (Massachusetts)4838.1
 9.9%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Ayer Shirley Regional Middle School)5844.6
 13.4%
   8th Grade English Language Arts (Ayer Shirley School District)5743.7
 13.4%
   8th Grade English Language Arts (Massachusetts)5143.7
 7.3%
8th Grade Mathematics (Ayer Shirley Regional Middle School)4833.9
 14.1%
   8th Grade Mathematics (Ayer Shirley School District)4633.3
 12.7%
   8th Grade Mathematics (Massachusetts)4737.7
 9.3%
8th Grade Science (Ayer Shirley Regional Middle School)6152.1
 8.9%
   8th Grade Science (Ayer Shirley School District)5950.8
 8.2%
   8th Grade Science (Massachusetts)4640.9
 5.1%
All Grades English Language Arts (Ayer Shirley Regional Middle School)4943.9
 5.1%
   All Grades English Language Arts (Ayer Shirley School District)5046.2
 3.8%
   All Grades English Language Arts (Massachusetts)5242.3
 9.7%
All Grades Mathematics (Ayer Shirley Regional Middle School)4738
 9%
   All Grades Mathematics (Ayer Shirley School District)4740.9
 6.1%
   All Grades Mathematics (Massachusetts)4940.6
 8.4%
All Grades Science (Ayer Shirley Regional Middle School)6152.1
 8.9%
   All Grades Science (Ayer Shirley School District)5747.5
 9.5%
   All Grades Science (Massachusetts)4741.2
 5.8%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students416367
 11.8%
African American1414
American Indian52
 60%
Asian910
 11.1%
Hispanic5048
 4%
Pacific Islander32
 33.3%
White323276
 14.6%
Two or More Races1215
 25%


Schools Near Ayer Shirley Regional Middle School









Frequently Asked Questions about Ayer Shirley Regional Middle School

In the 2023-24 school year, 379 students attended Ayer Shirley Regional Middle School.

Ayer Shirley Regional Middle School ranks 194th of 493 Massachusetts middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Students at Ayer Shirley Regional Middle School are 72% White, 14% Hispanic, 6% Two or more races, 4% African American, 3% Asian.

Students who attend Ayer Shirley Regional Middle School usually go on to attend Ayer Shirley Regional High School


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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