For the 2026 school year, there are 214 public schools serving 112,093 students in Essex County, MA (there are 95 private schools, serving 18,214 private students). 86% of all K-12 students in Essex County, MA are educated in public schools (compared to the MA state average of 88%).
The top-ranked public schools in Essex County, MA are Masconomet Regional High School, Hamilton-wenham Regional High School and Lynnfield High School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Essex County, MA public schools have an average math proficiency score of 37% (versus the Massachusetts public school average of 43%), and reading proficiency score of 40% (versus the 45% statewide average). Schools in Essex County have an average ranking of 5/10, which is in the bottom 50% of Massachusetts public schools.
Minority enrollment is 52% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the Massachusetts public school average of 49% (majority Hispanic).
Best Public Schools in Essex County (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Masconomet Regional High School
(Math: 80% | Reading: 82%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
20 Endicott Rd
Boxford, MA 01921
(978) 887-2323
Boxford, MA 01921
(978) 887-2323
Gr: 9-12 | 924 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 12%
Rank: #22.
Hamilton-wenham Regional High School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
775 Bay Rd
South Hamilton, MA 01982
(978) 468-0400
South Hamilton, MA 01982
(978) 468-0400
Gr: 9-12 | 448 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 11%
Rank: #33.
Lynnfield High School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
275 Essex Street
Lynnfield, MA 01940
(781) 334-5820
Lynnfield, MA 01940
(781) 334-5820
Gr: 9-12 | 588 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 22%
Rank: #44.
Kittredge
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
601 Main Street
North Andover, MA 01845
(978) 794-1688
North Andover, MA 01845
(978) 794-1688
Gr: 1-5 | 211 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 26%
Rank: #55.
Manchester Essex Regional High School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
36 Lincoln Street
Manchester, MA 01944
(978) 526-4412
Manchester, MA 01944
(978) 526-4412
Gr: 9-12 | 392 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 4%
Rank: #66.
Henry C Sanborn Elementary School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
90 Lovejoy Road
Andover, MA 01810
(978) 247-9700
Andover, MA 01810
(978) 247-9700
Gr: K-5 | 332 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 39%
Rank: #77.
Andover High School
(Math: 75% | Reading: 76%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
80 Shawsheen Road
Andover, MA 01810
(978) 247-5500
Andover, MA 01810
(978) 247-5500
Gr: 9-12 | 1,609 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 37%
Rank: #8 - 98. - 9.
Ipswich High School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
134 High Street
Ipswich, MA 01938
(978) 356-3137
Ipswich, MA 01938
(978) 356-3137
Gr: 9-12 | 447 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 17%
Rank: #8 - 98. - 9.
Marblehead High School
(Math: 78% | Reading: 68%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
2 Humphrey Street
Marblehead, MA 01945
(781) 639-3100
Marblehead, MA 01945
(781) 639-3100
Gr: 9-12 | 861 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 16%
Rank: #1010.
Summer Street
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
262 Summer Street
Lynnfield, MA 01940
(781) 334-5830
Lynnfield, MA 01940
(781) 334-5830
Gr: K-4 | 440 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 15%
Rank: #1111.
Newburyport High School
(Math: 71% | Reading: 72%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
241 High Street
Newburyport, MA 01950
(978) 465-4440
Newburyport, MA 01950
(978) 465-4440
Gr: 9-12 | 743 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 10%
Rank: #1212.
South Elementary School
(Math: 73% | Reading: 71%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
55 Woburn Street
Andover, MA 01810
(978) 247-9800
Andover, MA 01810
(978) 247-9800
Gr: K-5 | 438 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 33%
Rank: #1313.
Manchester Memorial Elementary School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
43 Lincoln Street
Manchester, MA 01944
(978) 526-1908
Manchester, MA 01944
(978) 526-1908
Gr: PK-5 | 304 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 7%
Rank: #1414.
Pioneer Charter School Of Science Ii
Charter School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 66%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
97 Main Street
Saugus, MA 01906
(781) 666-3945
Saugus, MA 01906
(781) 666-3945
Gr: K-12 | 621 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 77%
Rank: #1515.
Wood Hill Middle School
(Math: 72% | Reading: 67%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
11 Cross Street
Andover, MA 01810
(978) 247-8800
Andover, MA 01810
(978) 247-8800
Gr: 6-8 | 317 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 54%
Rank: #1616.
High Plain Elementary School
(Math: 67% | Reading: 69%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
333 High Plain Road
Andover, MA 01810
(978) 247-8600
Andover, MA 01810
(978) 247-8600
Gr: K-5 | 505 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 53%
Rank: #17 - 1817. - 18.
Bessie Buker Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
1 School Street
Wenham, MA 01984
(978) 468-5324
Wenham, MA 01984
(978) 468-5324
Gr: K-5 | 255 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 12%
Rank: #17 - 1817. - 18.
Pentucket Regional Sr High School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
24 Main Street
West Newbury, MA 01985
(978) 363-5507
West Newbury, MA 01985
(978) 363-5507
Gr: 9-12 | 578 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 12%
Rank: #1919.
Miles River Middle School
(Math: 64% | Reading: 70%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
787 Bay Rd
South Hamilton, MA 01982
(978) 468-0362
South Hamilton, MA 01982
(978) 468-0362
Gr: 6-8 | 391 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 16%
Rank: #2020.
Doherty Middle School
(Math: 63% | Reading: 67%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
50 Bartlet Street
Andover, MA 01810
(978) 247-9400
Andover, MA 01810
(978) 247-9400
Gr: 6-8 | 493 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 25%
Rank: #21 - 2221. - 22.
Essex North Shore Agricultural And Technical School
Vocational School
(Math: 56% | Reading: 81%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
565 Maple Street
Hathorne, MA 01937
(978) 304-4700
Hathorne, MA 01937
(978) 304-4700
Gr: 9-12 | 1,830 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 28%
Rank: #21 - 2221. - 22.
Steward Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
261 Perkins Row
Topsfield, MA 01983
(978) 887-1538
Topsfield, MA 01983
(978) 887-1538
Gr: PK-3 | 347 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 8%
Rank: #2323.
Franklin
(Math: 72% | Reading: 59%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
2 Cypress Terrace
North Andover, MA 01845
(978) 794-1990
North Andover, MA 01845
(978) 794-1990
Gr: 1-5 | 383 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 27%
Rank: #2424.
Marblehead Veterans Middle School
(Math: 66% | Reading: 64%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
217 Pleasant Street
Marblehead, MA 01945
(781) 639-3120
Marblehead, MA 01945
(781) 639-3120
Gr: 7-8 | 411 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 16%
Rank: #2525.
North Andover High School
(Math: 64% | Reading: 64%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
430 Osgood Street
North Andover, MA 01845
(978) 794-1711
North Andover, MA 01845
(978) 794-1711
Gr: 9-12 | 1,328 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 33%
Rank: #2626.
Andover West Middle School
(Math: 63% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
70 Shawsheen Road
Andover, MA 01810
(978) 247-5400
Andover, MA 01810
(978) 247-5400
Gr: 6-8 | 508 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 37%
Rank: #27 - 3027. - 30.
Amesbury High School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
5 Highland Street
Amesbury, MA 01913
(978) 388-4800
Amesbury, MA 01913
(978) 388-4800
Gr: 9-12 | 481 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 20%
Rank: #27 - 3027. - 30.
Spofford Pond
(Math: 62% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
31 Spofford Road
Boxford, MA 01921
(978) 352-8616
Boxford, MA 01921
(978) 352-8616
Gr: 3-6 | 411 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 13%
Rank: #27 - 3027. - 30.
Swampscott High School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
200 Essex Street
Swampscott, MA 01907
(781) 596-8830
Swampscott, MA 01907
(781) 596-8830
Gr: 9-12 | 706 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 27%
Rank: #27 - 3027. - 30.
Winthrop School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
325 Bay Rd
South Hamilton, MA 01982
(978) 468-5340
South Hamilton, MA 01982
(978) 468-5340
Gr: PK-5 | 329 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 14%
Rank: #3131.
Lynnfield Middle School
(Math: 63% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
505 Main Street
Lynnfield, MA 01940
(781) 334-5810
Lynnfield, MA 01940
(781) 334-5810
Gr: 5-8 | 698 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 23%
Rank: #3232.
Rockport Middle High School
(Math: 50-59% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
24 Jerdens Lane
Rockport, MA 01966
(978) 546-1234
Rockport, MA 01966
(978) 546-1234
Gr: 6-12 | 367 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 6%
Rank: #3333.
Huckleberry Hill
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
5 Knoll Road
Lynnfield, MA 01940
(781) 334-5835
Lynnfield, MA 01940
(781) 334-5835
Gr: K-4 | 416 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 28%
Rank: #34 - 3534. - 35.
Newbury Elementary School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
63 Hanover Street
Newbury, MA 01951
(978) 465-5353
Newbury, MA 01951
(978) 465-5353
Gr: PK-6 | 424 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 11%
Rank: #34 - 3534. - 35.
Triton Regional High School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
112 Elm Street
Byfield, MA 01922
(978) 462-8171
Byfield, MA 01922
(978) 462-8171
Gr: 9-12 | 538 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 13%
Show 100 more public schools in Essex County, MA (out of 214 total schools)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top-ranked public schools in Essex County, MA?
The top-ranked public schools in Essex County, MA include Masconomet Regional High School, Hamilton-wenham Regional High School and Lynnfield High School.
How many public schools are located in Essex County?
216 public schools are located in Essex County.
What percentage of students in Essex County go to public school?
86% of all K-12 students in Essex County are educated in public schools (compared to the MA state average of 88%).
What is the racial composition of students in Essex County?
Essex County public schools minority enrollment is 52% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the Massachusetts public schools average of 49% (majority Hispanic).
Which public schools in Essex County are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public schools in Essex County include: Amesbury Innovation High School vs. Amesbury High School, Summer Street vs. Huckleberry Hill, Huckleberry Hill vs. Summer Street
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