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Essex County

Massachusetts · Public K-12

Essex County's public schools, 221 in all, serve approximately 113,427 K-12 students inside Massachusetts, with Lynn the largest district by enrollment. By level, that breaks down as 132 elementary, 40 middle, and 40 high schools.

7-year change in Essex County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
112,529
-3,059 (-3%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
214
-8 (-4%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
47%
was 56%
% Hispanic
42%
was 33%
% Black
5%
was 4%
% Asian
4%
was 4%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Residents
813,054
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
221
41 districts
Enrollment
113,427
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$101,883
Above Massachusetts avg
Free/reduced lunch
·
Enrollment-weighted
Elementary
132
53,290 students
Middle
40
22,410 students
High
40
33,625 students
Combined / other
9
4,102 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Lynn
16,364 students · 41 districts in Essex County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of Essex County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".

County residents
White
68%
Hispanic
24%
Black
4%
Asian
4%
Two or more
12%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
47%
Hispanic
42%
Black
4%
Asian
4%
Two or more
3%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
Bachelor's+
43.0%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
6.7%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
5.1%
civilian labor
Median age
41
20.8% under 18

Test scores in Essex County

Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 178 schools ranked. Massachusetts state average: 43.8%.

Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
  1. Francis M Leahy· 5.0%
  2. Gerard A. Guilmette· 7.0%
  3. Leonard Middle School· 7.0%
  4. Cobbet Elementary· 8.0%
  5. Ingalls· 8.0%

See all 178 schools in Essex County ranked by score →

All schools (221)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
Spark AcademyLawrenceMiddle06-08443·
Annie L Sargent SchoolNorth AndoverElementary01-05441·
Summer StreetLynnfieldElementaryKG-04440·
South ElementaryAndoverElementaryKG-05438·
Pine GroveRowleyElementaryPK-06429·
Newbury ElementaryNewburyElementaryPK-06424·
Huckleberry HillLynnfieldElementaryKG-04416·
Charles C Cashman ElementaryAmesburyElementary03-05413·
Saltonstall SchoolSalemElementaryKG-08412·
Marblehead Veterans Middle SchoolMarbleheadMiddle07-08411·
Spofford PondBoxfordElementary03-06411·
BatesSalemElementaryPK-05410·
Robert L FordLynnElementary01-05410·
William A Welch SrPeabodyElementaryKG-05408·
TracyLynnElementary01-05397·
Cove ElementaryBeverlyElementaryKG-04394·
Manchester Essex Regional High SchoolManchesterHigh09-12392·
Miles River MiddleHamiltonMiddle06-08391·
Ivan G SmithDanversElementaryKG-05389·
Ayers/Ryal Side SchoolBeverlyElementaryKG-04388·
Salisbury ElementarySalisburyElementaryPK-06386·
HighlandsDanversElementaryKG-05385·
John E. McCarthyPeabodyElementaryKG-05385·
FranklinNorth AndoverElementary01-05383·
West ParishGloucesterElementaryKG-05382·
Ipswich Middle SchoolIpswichMiddle06-08377·
Julia F CallahanLynnElementaryPK-05373·
WinthropIpswichElementaryPK-05373·
Captain Samuel BrownPeabodyElementaryKG-05369·
Harry Lee ColeBoxfordElementaryPK-02367·
Rockport Middle HighRockportHigh06-12367·
Paul F Doyon MemorialIpswichElementaryPK-05366·
Amesbury MiddleAmesburyMiddle06-08364·
Capt William G ShoemakerLynnElementaryPK-05361·
HadleySwampscottElementaryKG-04356·
North Beverly ElementaryBeverlyElementaryKG-04356·
RiversideDanversElementaryPK-05350·
Oliver Middle SchoolLawrenceMiddle06-08348·
Steward ElementaryTopsfieldElementaryPK-03347·
Pentucket Regional MiddleWest NewburyMiddle07-08335·
Henry C Sanborn ElementaryAndoverElementaryKG-05332·
Winthrop SchoolSouth HamiltonElementaryPK-05329·
Centerville ElementaryBeverlyElementaryKG-04327·
Dr John C Page SchoolWest NewburyElementaryPK-06327·
Brickett ElementaryLynnElementaryKG-05318·
GloverMarbleheadElementaryPK-03318·
Wood Hill Middle SchoolAndoverMiddle06-08317·
Hannah ElementaryBeverlyElementaryKG-04312·
Edward G. Molin Elementary SchoolNewburyportElementary04-05310·
Leonard Middle SchoolLawrenceMiddle06-08310·
Hill View Montessori Charter Public SchoolHaverhillElementaryKG-08306·
Manchester Memorial ElementaryManchesterElementaryPK-05304·
James F HennesseyLawrenceElementaryPK-02300·
Sewell-AndersonLynnElementaryPK-05300·
Triton Regional Middle SchoolByfieldMiddle07-08297·
John E BurkePeabodyElementaryKG-05294·
ThomsonNorth AndoverElementary01-05294·
West MemorialPeabodyElementaryPK-05294·
Willis E ThorpeDanversElementaryKG-05294·
Horace Mann LaboratorySalemElementaryPK-05293·
Beeman MemorialGloucesterElementaryKG-05292·
Great OakDanversElementaryKG-05291·
River Valley Charter SchoolNewburyportElementaryKG-08288·
Bentley Academy Innovation SchoolSalemElementaryPK-05286·
John K TarboxLawrenceElementary01-05281·
Manchester Essex Regional Middle SchoolManchesterMiddle06-08279·
AtkinsonNorth AndoverElementary01-05274·
Fuller MeadowMiddletonElementaryKG-02269·
Georgetown High SchoolGeorgetownHigh09-12268·
Rockport ElementaryRockportElementaryPK-05264·
Helen R Donaghue SchoolMerrimacElementary03-06262·
John Breen SchoolLawrenceElementaryPK-KG262·
Bessie Buker ElementaryWenhamElementaryKG-05255·
Proctor ElementaryTopsfieldMiddle04-06251·
CarltonSalemElementaryKG-05247·
Cutler SchoolSouth HamiltonElementaryKG-05246·
Fredrick Douglass Collegiate AcademyLynnHigh09-11235·
AbornLynnElementaryKG-05224·
Lincoln-ThomsonLynnElementaryKG-05219·
Dr Frederick N SweetsirMerrimacElementaryPK-02217·
Plum Cove SchoolGloucesterElementaryKG-05217·
Essex ElementaryEssexElementaryKG-05215·
KittredgeNorth AndoverElementary01-05211·
ClarkeSwampscottElementaryKG-04206·
Lawlor Early Childhood CenterLawrenceElementaryPK-KG205·
Lawrence Family Public AcademyLawrenceElementaryPK-KG202·
High School Learning CenterLawrenceHigh09-12198·
Marblehead Community Charter Public SchoolMarbleheadMiddle04-08192·
Georgetown Middle SchoolGeorgetownMiddle07-08187·
Moody Preschool ExtensionHaverhillElementaryPK-PK174·
Rockport MiddleRockportMiddle06-08173·
MoodyHaverhillElementaryPK-KG167·
Early Childhood CenterMethuenElementaryPK-KG163·
JohnsonNahantElementaryPK-06163·
StanleySwampscottElementary01-04163·
Walnut SquareHaverhillElementaryKG-03161·
Rollins Early Childhood CenterLawrenceElementaryPK-KG157·
Gateway AcademyHaverhillHigh07-12156·
Lynn WoodsLynnElementaryKG-05153·
Phoenix Academy Public Charter High School LawrenceLawrenceHigh09-12140·

Cities in Essex County

Lawrence29 schoolsLynn28 schoolsHaverhill17 schoolsSalem12 schoolsAndover11 schoolsPeabody11 schoolsGloucester9 schoolsBeverly8 schoolsNorth Andover8 schoolsDanvers7 schoolsMarblehead6 schoolsMethuen6 schoolsSwampscott6 schoolsAmesbury5 schoolsLynnfield5 schoolsNewburyport5 schoolsSaugus5 schoolsGeorgetown4 schoolsIpswich4 schoolsBoxford3 schoolsManchester3 schoolsRockport3 schoolsSouth Hamilton3 schoolsWest Newbury3 schoolsBradford2 schoolsByfield2 schoolsMerrimac2 schoolsMiddleton2 schoolsTopsfield2 schoolsBoxford Ma1 schoolEssex1 schoolGroveland1 schoolHamilton1 schoolHathorne1 schoolNahant1 schoolNewbury1 schoolRowley1 schoolSalisbury1 schoolWenham1 school

About Essex County

Across the sprawling Massachusetts county of Essex County of about 813,054 residents, the public-school footprint covers 221 schools and about 113,427 students.

For perspective, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $101,883, 43% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and roughly 7% of residents live below the federal poverty line.

Looking at the level breakdown, Essex County covers 132 elementary schools (53,290 students), 40 middle schools (22,410), 40 high schools (33,625), and 9 combined or other schools.

Lynn is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 16,364 students across Essex County.

Trend over the past 7 years. Across the same 7-year window, public-school enrollment declined 3%: 115,588 students in SY 2017-18 versus 112,529 in SY 2024-25. Essex County now counts 214 public schools, down from 222 in SY 2017-18. On the demographic side, White enrollment moved from 56% to 47% over the same window.

In the discussion threads here, the community for Essex County discusses enrollment trends, district policy changes, and bus-route updates. Members of the local community share what they see day-to-day.

Frequently asked questions

How many public schools are in Essex County?
Essex County, Massachusetts has 221 public K-12 schools serving approximately 113,427 students.
How many high schools are in Essex County?
Essex County, Massachusetts has 40 public high schools, serving approximately 33,625 students.
How many middle schools are in Essex County?
Essex County, Massachusetts has 40 public middle schools, serving approximately 22,410 students.
How many elementary schools are in Essex County?
Essex County, Massachusetts has 132 public elementary schools, serving approximately 53,290 students.
What is the largest school district in Essex County?
Lynn is the largest school district in Essex County, serving approximately 16,364 students. The county contains 41 school districts overall.
What is the population of Essex County?
Essex County, Massachusetts has a population of approximately 813,054, with a median age of 41. About 20.8% of residents are under 18.
What is the median household income in Essex County?
Median household income in Essex County is $101,883, above the Massachusetts average of $101,772. About 6.7% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Essex County?
Approximately 43.0% of adults 25 and older in Essex County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Essex County schools?
Across Essex County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 12.1 to 1.
What is the racial makeup of Essex County?
Essex County residents are approximately 68% White, 24% Hispanic, 4% Black, 4% Asian, 12% two or more races according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.

Essex County school rankings

Largest schoolsAll rankings →
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data