Public School Review - Established 2003

Best Essex County Public Middle Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 60 public middle schools serving 36,016 students in Essex County, MA.
The top-ranked public middle schools in Essex County, MA are Pioneer Charter School Of Science Ii, Wood Hill Middle School and Miles River Middle School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Essex County, MA public middle schools have an average math proficiency score of 34% (versus the Massachusetts public middle school average of 39%), and reading proficiency score of 37% (versus the 42% statewide average). Middle schools in Essex County have an average ranking of 5/10, which is in the bottom 50% of Massachusetts public middle schools.
Minority enrollment is 61% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the Massachusetts public middle school average of 53% (majority Hispanic).

Best Public Middle Schools in Essex County (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Pioneer Charter School Of Science Ii
Charter School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 66%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
97 Main Street
Saugus, MA 01906
(781) 666-3945
Gr: K-12 | 621 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 77%
Rank: #22.
Wood Hill Middle School
(Math: 72% | Reading: 67%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
11 Cross Street
Andover, MA 01810
(978) 247-8800
Gr: 6-8 | 317 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 54%
Rank: #33.
Miles River Middle School
(Math: 64% | Reading: 70%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
787 Bay Rd
South Hamilton, MA 01982
(978) 468-0362
Gr: 6-8 | 391 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 16%
Rank: #44.
Doherty Middle School
(Math: 63% | Reading: 67%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
50 Bartlet Street
Andover, MA 01810
(978) 247-9400
Gr: 6-8 | 493 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 25%
Rank: #55.
Marblehead Veterans Middle School
(Math: 66% | Reading: 64%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
217 Pleasant Street
Marblehead, MA 01945
(781) 639-3120
Gr: 7-8 | 411 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 16%
Rank: #66.
Andover West Middle School
(Math: 63% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
70 Shawsheen Road
Andover, MA 01810
(978) 247-5400
Gr: 6-8 | 508 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 37%
Rank: #77.
Lynnfield Middle School
(Math: 63% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
505 Main Street
Lynnfield, MA 01940
(781) 334-5810
Gr: 5-8 | 698 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 23%
Rank: #88.
Rockport Middle High School
(Math: 50-59% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
24 Jerdens Lane
Rockport, MA 01966
(978) 546-1234
Gr: 6-12 | 367 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 6%
Rank: #99.
Manchester Essex Regional Middle School
(Math: 60% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
36 Lincoln Street
Manchester, MA 01944
(978) 526-2022
Gr: 6-8 | 279 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 5%
Rank: #1010.
Masconomet Regional Middle School
(Math: 57% | Reading: 61%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
20 Endicott Road
Boxford, MA 01921
(978) 887-2323
Gr: 7-8 | 553 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 11%
Rank: #1111.
Ipswich Middle School
(Math: 56% | Reading: 61%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
130 High Street
Ipswich, MA 01938
(978) 356-3535
Gr: 6-8 | 377 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 17%
Rank: #1212.
North Andover Middle School
(Math: 59% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
495 Main Street
North Andover, MA 01845
(978) 794-1870
Gr: 6-8 | 1,023 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 32%
Rank: #1313.
River Valley Charter School
Charter School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
2 Perry Way
Newburyport, MA 01950
(978) 465-0065
Gr: K-8 | 288 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 16%
Rank: #1414.
Greenleaf Academy
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
58 Chadwick Street
Haverhill, MA 01835
(978) 374-3487
Gr: 6-12 | 34 students Student-teacher ratio: 7:1 Minority enrollment: 56%
Rank: #1515.
Rupert A Nock Middle School
(Math: 49% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
70 Low Street
Newburyport, MA 01950
(978) 465-4447
Gr: 6-8 | 470 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 11%
Rank: #1616.
Pentucket Regional Middle School
(Math: 46% | Reading: 51%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
24 Main Street
West Newbury, MA 01985
(978) 363-5507
Gr: 7-8 | 335 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 10%
Rank: #1717.
Swampscott Middle School
(Math: 42% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
207 Forest Avenue
Swampscott, MA 01907
(781) 596-8820
Gr: 5-8 | 654 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 24%
Rank: #1818.
Community Day Charter Public School
Charter School
(Math: 48% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
73 Prospect Street
Lawrence, MA 01841
(978) 681-9910
Gr: PK-8 | 1,200 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
Rank: #1919.
Triton Regional Middle School
(Math: 44% | Reading: 45%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
112 Elm Street
Byfield, MA 01922
(978) 463-5845
Gr: 7-8 | 297 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 14%
Rank: #2020.
Georgetown Middle School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
11 Winter Street
Georgetown, MA 01833
(978) 352-5790
Gr: 7-8 | 187 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 10%
Rank: #2121.
Beverly Middle School
(Math: 42% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
502 Cabot Street
Beverly, MA 01915
(978) 921-6103
Gr: 5-8 | 1,388 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 26%
Rank: #2222.
Salem Academy Charter School
Charter School
(Math: 33% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
45 Congress St., Shetland Park
Salem, MA 01970
(978) 744-2105
Gr: 6-12 | 480 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 73%
Rank: #2323.
Amesbury Middle School
(Math: 43% | Reading: 39%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
220 Main Street
Amesbury, MA 01913
(978) 388-0515
Gr: 6-8 | 364 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 22%
Rank: #2424.
Marblehead Community Charter Public School
Charter School
(Math: 35% | Reading: 45%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
17 Lime Street
Marblehead, MA 01945
(781) 631-0777
Gr: 4-8 | 192 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 29%
Rank: #2525.
Marsh Grammar School
(Math: 37% | Reading: 40%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
309 Pelham Street
Methuen, MA 01844
(978) 722-9076
Gr: K-8 | 996 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 57%
Rank: #2626.
Kipp Academy Lynn Charter School
Charter School
(Math: 39% | Reading: 37%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
90 High Rock Street
Lynn, MA 01902
(781) 598-1609
Gr: K-12 | 1,637 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 95%
Rank: #2727.
Bartlett School And Assessment Center
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
551 Washington Street
Haverhill, MA 01830
(978) 469-8735
Gr: 1-12 | 45 students Student-teacher ratio: 6:1 Minority enrollment: 55%
Rank: #2828.
Holten Richmond Middle School
(Math: 32% | Reading: 38%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
55 Conant Street
Danvers, MA 01923
(978) 774-8590
Gr: 6-8 | 745 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 23%
Rank: #2929.
Fecteau-leary Junior/senior High School
(Math: <50% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
33 North Common Street
Lynn, MA 01902
(781) 268-3007
Gr: 6-12 | 94 students Student-teacher ratio: 3:1 Minority enrollment: 76%
Rank: #3030.
Comprehensive Grammar School
(Math: 31% | Reading: 38%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
100 Howe Street
Methuen, MA 01844
(978) 722-9051
Gr: K-8 | 1,046 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 67%
Rank: #3131.
Caleb Dustin Hunking School
(Math: 35% | Reading: 32%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
480 So. Main Street
Haverhill, MA 01835
(978) 374-5787
Gr: K-8 | 1,062 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 44%
Rank: #3232.
J Henry Higgins Middle School
(Math: 33% | Reading: 33%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
85 Perkins Street
Peabody, MA 01960
(978) 536-4800
Gr: 6-8 | 1,320 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 35%
Rank: #3333.
Ralph B O'maley Middle School
(Math: 30% | Reading: 34%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
32 Cherry Street
Gloucester, MA 01930
(978) 281-9850
Gr: 6-8 | 619 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 23%
Rank: #3434.
Lawrence Family Development Charter School
Charter School
(Math: 21% | Reading: 39%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
34 West Street
Lawrence, MA 01841
(978) 689-9863
Gr: PK-8 | 899 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1
Rank: #3535.
Saltonstall School
(Math: 21% | Reading: 38%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
211 Lafayette Street
Salem, MA 01970
(978) 740-1297
Gr: K-8 | 412 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 67%
Show 25 more public schools in Essex County, MA (out of 60 total schools)
Loading...

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked public middle schools in Essex County, MA?
The top-ranked public middle schools in Essex County, MA include Pioneer Charter School Of Science Ii, Wood Hill Middle School and Miles River Middle School.
How many public middle schools are located in Essex County?
62 public middle schools are located in Essex County.
What is the racial composition of students in Essex County?
Essex County public middle schools minority enrollment is 61% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the Massachusetts public middle schools average of 53% (majority Hispanic).
Which public middle schools in Essex County are often viewed compared to one another?

Recent Articles

AI Report Cards: Should Schools Evaluate AI Use?
AI Report Cards: Should Schools Evaluate AI Use?
Explore whether schools should assess student AI use, the benefits, risks, and what responsible AI report cards could look like in 2026.
The Parent’s Guide to School Cell Phone Bans in 2026
The Parent’s Guide to School Cell Phone Bans in 2026
Learn how school cell phone bans work in 2026, why districts are adopting them, and what parents should expect.
Parental Involvement in Public Schools: 2026 Update
Parental Involvement in Public Schools: 2026 Update
Explore the latest 2026 trends, research, and strategies shaping parental involvement in public schools and student success.

Quick Links

School Search Tools:
School by Type (MA):
Private & Boarding Schools:
State Links:

Most Popular Articles

Year-Round vs Traditional School Calendar: 2025 Insights
Year-Round vs Traditional School Calendar: 2025 Insights
 The Impact of Social Media on Students – 2025 Updated Insights
The Impact of Social Media on Students – 2025 Updated Insights
School Rankings by Category
School Rankings by Category
 Education Funding in America (2025 Update)
Education Funding in America (2025 Update)
 Uniforms in U.S. Public Schools: 2025 Pros & Cons
Uniforms in U.S. Public Schools: 2025 Pros & Cons

More Articles

Local School Topics
Public School Jobs
Parenting and Learning Issues
Scholarships
Evaluating Public Schools