A multi-stage parallel spectroscopy system has a plurality of dispersion stages, with the output of one dispersion stage serving as input to the next dispersion stage. Each dispersion stage separates input radiation into respective spectral components along a respective dispersion axis. In embodiments, the dispersion axes for the dispersion stages are substantially parallel to each other. Thus, the disclosed systems may be considered single-axis parallel spectroscopy configurations, in contrast to cross-axis parallel spectroscopy configurations. An optical system disposed in an optical path between dispersion stages can spatially filter a set of wavelengths from the input to the next dispersion stage to increase spectral extinction without sacrificing throughput or parallel operation. In some embodiments, the same dispersive element provides the spectral separation for multiple dispersion stages, by way of a recirculating optical system that redirects the spectral output from the dispersive element back to its input.