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Essex, MassachusettsPhoto: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0
A
Schools in Essex · Manchester Essex Regional School District

Essex’s public schools outscore 88% of Massachusetts districts

Math proficiency in Essex’s districts is 62%, above the Massachusetts average (41%). The grade covers the public school district serving Essex, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Massachusetts, not nationally.

#32of 283 Massachusetts townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Massachusetts state tests taken in spring 2022, when 98% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
64%
▲ 20 pts vs MA 44%
2021–22
Math proficiency
62%
▲ 21 pts vs MA 41%
2021–22
Graduate on time
95–100%
▲ 6–11 pts vs MA 89%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$28.0K
▲ 5% vs MA $26.5K
FY2024
Students per teacher
9.7
MA 11.9 · smaller classes
Schools in town
1
886 students on the public path
In brief

Essex’s schools, in brief

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 64% and math 62% in spring 2022, against 44% and 41% statewide; 95–100% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 89%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $27,988 per student, against $26,530 across Massachusetts (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then one middle and one high school

From grade 6 the district’s path is Manchester Essex Regional Middle School, then Manchester Essex Regional High School. Enrollment is down 6% since 2020–21. See the path ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Essex’s grade

A Test scoresB+ Graduation

A: better than 88% of Massachusetts school districts, #32 of 283 Massachusetts towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the Massachusetts average; test scores are the stronger of the two.

Massachusetts school districts we grade (394)Better than 88%
Lower resultsHigher results
Massachusetts towns with similar household incomes (193)Better than 85%
Towns in Essex County (24)Better than 83%
A−AA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 638 test results and a graduating class of 125 could put Essex anywhere from A− to A. The tests are from spring 2022, when 98% of Essex’s students in the tested grades sat them (638 in math, 638 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Essex, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
K–5Essex ElementaryManchester Essex Regional School DistrictB+
6–8Manchester Essex Regional Middle Schoolin ManchesterB+
9–12Manchester Essex Regional High Schoolin ManchesterA+

Essex’s public schools are run by Manchester Essex Regional School District, which also serves Manchester-by-the-Sea. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Manchester Essex Regional School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 4 schools · 1,190 students, down 6% since 2020–21 · 9.7 per teacher (MA 11.9)
$27,988MA $26,530 · FY2024
A
Test scores · 2021–22

Well above the state in reading

Reading64%
State average 43.7% · 638 students tested
Math62%
State average 40.7% · 638 students tested

Essex vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Massachusetts towns that share Essex’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
EssexAManchester Essex Regional
IpswichB+Ipswich
HamiltonA−Hamilton-Wenham
GloucesterCGloucester
Manchester-by-the-SeaAManchester Essex Regional

Every school in Essex

3 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Massachusetts’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Essexby address
Essex Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–5
B+
215 students10:1Rate it →
Also serving Essexin other towns
Manchester Essex Regional Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Manchester
B+
279 students9:1Rate it →
Manchester Essex Regional High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Manchester
A+
392 students10:1Rate it →

Questions about Essex’s schools

Are Essex’s schools good?

By Massachusetts’s own tests, yes: the public schools Essex children attend outscore 88% of Massachusetts’s school districts on tests and graduation, an A Schools grade, #32 of 283 Massachusetts towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 85%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Essex in?

Manchester Essex Regional School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 1,190 students in 4 schools (2024–25).

Where do Essex kids go to high school?

Manchester Essex Regional High School in Manchester, with 392 students; its own test results earn an A+.

What is Essex’s graduation rate?

95–100% of the class of 2023 in Manchester Essex Regional School District graduated in four years, against 89% across Massachusetts.

How much does Essex spend per student?

$27,988 in Manchester Essex Regional School District (FY2024), against $26,530 across Massachusetts. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Essex families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Essex → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Massachusetts. Stars are from neighbors.