I Analyzed 9 Elite MA School Districts. The $700K 'Prestige Premium' Is a Scam.

Families pay $700K-$1.4M premiums for 'elite' districts delivering college rates within 4.5 points and AP rates within 3 points of moderate suburbs. Prestige districts spend 31.5% more per student for statistically identical outcomes.

Families considering $700K+ premiums for Dover-Sherborn/Weston/Wellesley versus moderate alternatives.

• •College matriculation: Elite 82.8% vs Value 83.8%—value districts average 1.0 point HIGHER
• •AP pass rates within 3 percentage points—$700K premium buys no meaningful advantage
• •Dover-Sherborn costs $1.33M more than Sharon for functionally identical outcomes
• •Prestige districts spend $5,851 more/student (31.5%) with no outcome improvement
• •You're buying richer neighbors and status signaling, not better teaching