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The Student Growth Percentile: Why Moderate-Income Districts Teach Just as Well

Under 1 min read
•November 15, 2025
THE BOTTOM LINE

MA DESE: 'Little correlation between low income and growth.' Student Growth Percentile proves Hopkinton and Dover-Sherborn teach equally well despite $900K home price difference. Growth metrics isolate teaching quality from wealth effects.

WHO NEEDS THIS

Buyers questioning whether moderate-income districts teach as well as wealthy prestige districts.

KEY INSIGHTS
  • •Student Growth Percentile measures year-over-year learning gains, not absolute scores
  • •Growth controls for student starting points—isolates teaching quality from demographics
  • •MA DESE: 'Little correlation between low income and growth'—teaching independent of wealth
  • •Hopkinton and Dover-Sherborn show equivalent growth despite $900K price gap
  • •Absolute MCAS measures what students bring; growth percentiles measure what schools add
DO THIS NEXT

Prioritize districts with high growth percentiles over high proficiency when evaluating teaching quality.

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