The $700K Prestige Premium: Why Ultra-Low Poverty School Districts Don't Deliver Better Education in Greater Boston

The poverty rate divide is stark: Prestige markets like Winchester (5%), Dover-Sherborn (3%), and Weston (8%) have 5-14× lower poverty rates than value markets like Reading (17%), Franklin (16%), and Sudbury (11%). Critical finding: These ultra-low poverty rates don't correlate with superior educational outcomes. Massachusetts' A+ school districts with 10-20% low-income students consistently match or exceed performance of districts with <5% poverty rates—yet cost $400K-$700K less.