Ten Pound Island Light · Photo: Unitzebra3 at en.wikipedia · Public domainManchester-by-the-Sea’s public schools outscore 88% of Massachusetts districts
On the state math tests, 62% of Manchester-by-the-Sea’s students scored proficient, above the Massachusetts average (41%). The grade covers the public school district serving Manchester-by-the-Sea, 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.
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.
Manchester-by-the-Sea’s schools, in brief
Against towns with similar incomes
Among the 88 Massachusetts towns with household incomes within a quarter of Manchester-by-the-Sea’s, its schools beat 49%, lower than their 88% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓
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 ↓
Choice beyond the district
Brookwood School (private) and Landmark Elementarymiddle School (private) are in town. Every school ↓
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.
What’s behind Manchester-by-the-Sea’s grade
A: better than 88% of Massachusetts school districts, #35 of 283 Massachusetts towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the Massachusetts average; test scores are the stronger of the two.
Where will my kid go?
Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Manchester-by-the-Sea, with each school’s own grade.
Pre-K in Manchester-by-the-Sea
Manchester Memorial Elementary
Grades PK–5 · 304 students · 10:1 students per teacher · in Manchester
Kindergarten in Manchester-by-the-Sea
Manchester Memorial Elementary
Grades PK–5 · 304 students · 10:1 students per teacher · in Manchester
1st grade in Manchester-by-the-Sea
Manchester Memorial Elementary
Grades PK–5 · 304 students · 10:1 students per teacher · in Manchester
2nd grade in Manchester-by-the-Sea
Manchester Memorial Elementary
Grades PK–5 · 304 students · 10:1 students per teacher · in Manchester
3rd grade in Manchester-by-the-Sea
Manchester Memorial Elementary
Grades PK–5 · 304 students · 10:1 students per teacher · in Manchester
4th grade in Manchester-by-the-Sea
Manchester Memorial Elementary
Grades PK–5 · 304 students · 10:1 students per teacher · in Manchester
5th grade in Manchester-by-the-Sea
Manchester Memorial Elementary
Grades PK–5 · 304 students · 10:1 students per teacher · in Manchester
6th grade in Manchester-by-the-Sea
Manchester Essex Regional Middle School
Grades 6–8 · 279 students · 9:1 students per teacher · in Manchester
7th grade in Manchester-by-the-Sea
Manchester Essex Regional Middle School
Grades 6–8 · 279 students · 9:1 students per teacher · in Manchester
8th grade in Manchester-by-the-Sea
Manchester Essex Regional Middle School
Grades 6–8 · 279 students · 9:1 students per teacher · in Manchester
9th grade in Manchester-by-the-Sea
Manchester Essex Regional High School
Grades 9–12 · 392 students · 10:1 students per teacher · in Manchester
10th grade in Manchester-by-the-Sea
Manchester Essex Regional High School
Grades 9–12 · 392 students · 10:1 students per teacher · in Manchester
11th grade in Manchester-by-the-Sea
Manchester Essex Regional High School
Grades 9–12 · 392 students · 10:1 students per teacher · in Manchester
12th grade in Manchester-by-the-Sea
Manchester Essex Regional High School
Grades 9–12 · 392 students · 10:1 students per teacher · in Manchester
Manchester-by-the-Sea’s public schools are run by Manchester Essex Regional School District, which also serves Essex. 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.
Well above the state in reading
Manchester-by-the-Sea vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the Massachusetts towns that share Manchester-by-the-Sea’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| Manchester-by-the-Sea | A | Manchester Essex Regional |
| Beverly | B− | Beverly |
| Gloucester | C | Gloucester |
| Essex | A | Manchester Essex Regional |
| Hamilton | A− | Hamilton-Wenham |
| Wenham | A− | Hamilton-Wenham |
Every school in Manchester-by-the-Sea
5 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).
Questions about Manchester-by-the-Sea’s schools
Are Manchester-by-the-Sea’s schools good?
By Massachusetts’s own tests, yes: the public schools Manchester-by-the-Sea children attend outscore 88% of Massachusetts’s school districts on tests and graduation, an A Schools grade, #35 of 283 Massachusetts towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 49%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is Manchester-by-the-Sea in?
Manchester Essex Regional School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 1,190 students in 4 schools (2024–25).
Where do Manchester-by-the-Sea kids go to high school?
Manchester Essex Regional High School in Manchester, with 392 students; its own test results earn an A+.
What is Manchester-by-the-Sea’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 Manchester-by-the-Sea spend per student?
$27,988 in Manchester Essex Regional School District (FY2024), against $26,530 across Massachusetts. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Are there private schools in Manchester-by-the-Sea?
Yes: Brookwood School (nonsectarian, grades PK–8, 289 students) and Landmark Elementarymiddle School (special education, grades 2–8, 174 students).
Parents talk
What Manchester-by-the-Sea families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near Manchester-by-the-Sea → 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.