School District Report Card 2026: Which Towns Are Rising (And Falling) This Year

Under 1 min read

•February 11, 2026

THE BOTTOM LINE

Annual school district analysis reveals Hopkinton maintains #1 ranking (9.1/10), while Reading (+0.3 to 8.8/10) and Franklin (+0.2 to 8.3/10) show strongest improvement. Declining districts: Newton (-0.2 to 9.3/10) and Brookline (-0.1 to 9.2/10) still elite but losing ground. Value markets with improving schools (Reading, Franklin, Medway) show +6-8% appreciation vs. +3-4% for prestige markets with stable ratings.

WHO NEEDS THIS

Greater Boston buyers evaluating school districts who want to understand which districts are improving (buying opportunity) vs. declining (value risk), and how school rating changes impact property values.

KEY INSIGHTS

•Hopkinton maintains #1 MA ranking (9.1/10, #1 Niche 2024), justifying premium pricing
•Rising districts: Reading (+0.3), Franklin (+0.2), Medway (+0.2) show value opportunity
•Stable elite: Lexington (9.8/10), Winchester (9.5/10), Wellesley (9.6/10) maintain ratings
•Declining elite: Newton (-0.2), Brookline (-0.1) still strong but losing ground
•School improvements correlate with +2-4% price appreciation in following year

DO THIS NEXT

Use [Town Finder](https://bmas.dwellchecker.app/discover-towns) to identify towns with improving schools. Compare districts using [School District Guide](https://bmas.dwellchecker.app/blog/greater-boston-school-districts-poverty-rate-prestige-premium-2025). Check [Town Comparison Tool](https://bmas.dwellchecker.app/neighborhoods/compare) for side-by-side school ratings.

Want the full analysis?

Read the complete 22-minute post with detailed insights and data.

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