School spending

Comparison districts

Of six districts this project chose to compare, Lunenburg spent the least a pupil in FY2025.

1 · The facts

  • $18,027

    Lunenburg, a pupil, all funds, FY2025

  • $18,142

    Ashburnham-Westminster, next above

  • $115

    between the two (our arithmetic)

  • $25,565

    Harvard, the highest of the six

  • 6 of 6

    Lunenburg’s place, FY2025

  • 5th

    its best place among the six, FY2009 to FY2025

2 · What it shows

  1. 1

    Lunenburg spent $18,027 a pupil, sixth of six; Ashburnham-Westminster spent $115 more.

  2. 2

    In 17 years its place among the six was never better than 5th.

  3. 3

    Harvard spent the most, $25,565; the statewide rank does not depend on this set.

The six districts, FY2025
A pupilAll fundsFTE pupils
Harvard$25,565$27,236,2381,065.4
Groton-Dunstable$22,664$54,106,5172,387.4
North Middlesex$21,528$65,728,7953,053.2
Ayer Shirley School District$20,428$38,561,5811,887.6
Ashburnham-Westminster$18,142$41,432,6962,283.8
Lunenburg$18,027$30,031,2421,665.9

DESE’s end-of-year finance collection and RADAR. Ayer stands in for Ayer Shirley before the two regionalised for FY2012.

What was said

  • “neighboring districts such as Lancaster, Ayer/Shirley, Groton, Pepperell, Townsend, Leominster, and Fitchburg have faced similar challenges while achieving stronger outcomes”

    School Committee minutes, 2026-06-24

Sources

What changed

Version 15 — updated September 20, 2026