Impact Essex County

Why is this important?

Early literacy skills are critical to a successful school experience. Third grade is considered an important milestone in a student's career in terms of reading proficiency and is correlated to whether a student will graduate high school. Up through 3rd grade, students are learning to read; after 3rd grade, they must be able to read in order to learn. There are persistent gaps in academic achievement among students of different races, ethnicities and incomes. Notably, racial gaps persist even among students of similar socioeconomic backgrounds.

How is our county doing?

In 2022, 39% of Essex County 3rd graders were considered proficient in reading, down 6 percentage points from 2021 and lower than the state passing rate of 44%. Among districts, rates were highest in 2022 in Boxford (77%), Topsfield (69%), Andover and Ipswich (both at 67%), and lowest in Lawrence (18%), Lynn (20%) and Salem (28%).

In Essex County in 2022, proficiency was lower among Hispanic students (20%), economically disadvantaged students (23%), and African American students (30%) compared with students who are not economically disadvantaged (57%), white (53%) or Asian (55%). Proficiency declined from 2021 among all groups except for students who are not economically disadvantaged (up 12 points). Proficiency declined the most for economically disadvantaged students (down 22 points from 2021).

Why do these disparities exist?

Studies point to a variety of factors believed to contribute to disparities in test scores and other measures of student achievement. School systems in the United States are highly segregated, and students of color disproportionately attend schools with high proportions of low-income students who may not have benefited from early learning opportunities at the same rate as other students. Schools also have different levels of resources ranging from qualified/experienced teachers to advanced courses to facilities and technology, and schools with large Black and Latino populations often have lower levels. In addition, teachers across all school systems tend to be disproportionately white, and teaching practices and curriculum may not be culturally relevant to students of color.

Notes about the data

As assessments vary among states, it is not possible to include comparable data for the nation or other areas in this indicator.

The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education did not administer Spring 2020 MCAS for the 2019-2020 school year due to the cancellation of state assessments and school closures related to COVID-19.

Data prior to 2017 is not comparable due to changes in the state test.

Percent of Students Passing Grade 3 Reading, 2022

	All Students	Asian	Black or African American	Economically Disadvantaged	Hispanic or Latino	Not Economically Disadvantaged	White
Essex County, MA	39%	55%	30%	23%	20%	57%	53%
Middlesex County, MA	53%	64%	32%	26%	25%	66%	59%
Massachusetts	44%	62%	28%	26%	23%	60%	53%
School Districts in Essex
Amesbury	50%			35%	18%	58%	55%
Andover	67%	84%	54%	33%	50%	72%	66%
Beverly	47%		13%	25%	36%	61%	52%
Boxford	77%			60%		79%	75%
Community Day Charter Public School - Gateway	34%			25%	28%	58%
Community Day Charter Public School - Prospect	29%			29%	30%	30%
Community Day Charter Public School - R. Kingman Webster	43%			41%	40%	50%
Danvers	45%			31%	31%	52%	47%
Georgetown	52%			50%		53%	53%
Gloucester	51%			43%	30%	59%	55%
Hamilton-Wenham	63%			29%		69%	63%
Haverhill	30%		29%	23%	19%	44%	41%
Hill View Montessori Charter Public	41%			29%	31%	50%	50%
Ipswich	67%			63%		68%	66%
KIPP Academy Lynn Charter	27%		41%	22%	24%	43%	30%
Lawrence	18%	42%	35%	17%	17%	26%	29%
Lawrence Family Development Charter	40%			40%	40%	42%
Lynn	20%	29%	25%	16%	14%	33%	39%
Lynnfield	61%	79%		43%	20%	64%	64%
Manchester Essex Regional	65%			33%		71%	66%
Marblehead	57%			38%	50%	60%	58%
Methuen	33%	47%	37%	23%	21%	47%	46%
Middleton	49%			24%		54%	46%
Nahant	38%						42%
Newburyport	61%			40%		64%	63%
North Andover	58%	64%	40%	37%	40%	64%	60%
Peabody	34%	73%	44%	24%	15%	45%	37%
Pentucket	54%			37%	53%	58%	54%
River Valley Charter	78%					85%	79%
Rockport	45%			29%		51%	45%
Salem	28%	20%	11%	17%	15%	49%	47%
Saugus	40%	31%		33%	27%	50%	47%
Swampscott	54%			33%	20%	60%	56%
Topsfield	69%					70%	69%
Triton	47%			38%		53%	46%

Source: Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education

Number of Students Passing Grade 3 Reading, 2022

	All Students	Asian	Black or African American	Economically Disadvantaged	Hispanic or Latino	Not Economically Disadvantaged	White
Essex County, MA	3,151	160	82	952	603	2,187	2,090
Middlesex County, MA	8,103	1,445	293	1,344	643	6,753	5,075
Massachusetts	28,404	3,077	1,639	7,800	3,411	20,595	18,623
School Districts in Essex
Amesbury	54			14	2	40	50
Andover	312	76	7	20	24	292	186
Beverly	172		2	35	14	136	149
Boxford	70			6		64	58
Community Day Charter Public School - Gateway	15			8	11	7
Community Day Charter Public School - Prospect	14			11	14	3
Community Day Charter Public School - R. Kingman Webster	19			14	17	5
Danvers	120			26	10	94	101
Georgetown	53			9		44	51
Gloucester	100			45	8	55	85
Hamilton-Wenham	81			6		75	69
Haverhill	178		12	93	52	85	108
Hill View Montessori Charter Public	13			4	4	9	9
Ipswich	71			15		56	60
KIPP Academy Lynn Charter	33		7	20	22	13	3
Lawrence	166	5	6	144	147	22	7
Lawrence Family Development Charter	34			29	33	5
Lynn	229	28	21	150	112	79	58
Lynnfield	104	11		10	2	94	84
Manchester Essex Regional	51			4		47	48
Marblehead	102			10	5	92	86
Methuen	158	8	11	66	50	92	85
Middleton	51			4		47	37
Nahant	5						5
Newburyport	86			8		78	81
North Andover	203	18	6	32	18	171	150
Peabody	158	8	8	59	13	99	123
Pentucket	90			10	9	80	74
River Valley Charter	25					22	23
Rockport	23			4		19	22
Salem	83	2	2	31	19	52	56
Saugus	75	4		32	14	42	44
Swampscott	74			10	3	64	63
Topsfield	56					54	51
Triton	73			23		50	64

Source: Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education

Percent of Students Passing Grade 3 Reading, 2017

	All Students	Asian	Black or African American	Economically Disadvantaged	Hispanic or Latino	Not Economically Disadvantaged	White
Essex County, MA	45%	57%	31%	45%	28%	45%	55%
Middlesex County, MA	54%	67%	35%	54%	30%	54%	57%
Massachusetts	47%	65%	29%	47%	29%	47%	54%
School Districts in Essex
Amesbury	54%			54%	40%	54%	55%
Andover	62%	78%	50%	62%	30%	62%	61%
Beverly	62%			62%	41%	62%	67%
Boxford	59%			59%		59%	58%
Community Day Charter Public School - Gateway	66%			66%	64%	66%
Community Day Charter Public School - Prospect	65%			65%	65%	65%
Community Day Charter Public School - R. Kingman Webster	74%			74%	68%	74%
Danvers	46%			46%	44%	46%	47%
Georgetown	69%			69%		69%	69%
Gloucester	50%			50%	44%	50%	52%
Hamilton-Wenham	64%			64%		64%	63%
Haverhill	30%	24%	22%	30%	20%	30%	37%
Hill View Montessori Charter Public	35%			35%		35%	41%
Ipswich	54%			54%		54%	53%
Lawrence	26%	50%	25%	26%	25%	26%	40%
Lawrence Family Development Charter	63%			63%	62%	63%
Lynn	30%	38%	35%	30%	23%	30%	49%
Lynnfield	85%	94%		85%		85%	85%
Manchester Essex Regional	52%			52%		52%	51%
Marblehead	63%			63%	35%	63%	67%
Methuen	41%	75%		41%	29%	41%	47%
Middleton	77%			77%		77%	82%
Nahant	50%			50%		50%	50%
Newburyport	47%			47%		47%	49%
North Andover	57%	56%	25%	57%	31%	57%	62%
Peabody	49%	45%	32%	49%	28%	49%	53%
Pentucket	39%			39%		39%	37%
River Valley Charter	39%			39%		39%	41%
Rockport	47%			47%		47%	45%
Salem	32%	79%	6%	32%	15%	32%	43%
Saugus	54%			54%	61%	54%	51%
Silver Hill Horace Mann Charter	39%			39%	30%	39%	39%
Swampscott	70%			70%	70%	70%	70%
Topsfield	68%			68%		68%	66%
Triton	48%			48%		48%	51%

Source: Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education

Number of Students Passing Grade 3 Reading, 2017

	All Students	Asian	Black or African American	Economically Disadvantaged	Hispanic or Latino	Not Economically Disadvantaged	White
Essex County, MA	3,955	183	75	3,955	821	3,955	2,636
Middlesex County, MA	8,660	1,386	335	8,660	691	8,660	5,668
Massachusetts	33,549	3,191	1,808	33,549	4,267	33,549	22,769
School Districts in Essex
Amesbury	90			90	6	90	77
Andover	273	59	7	273	9	273	186
Beverly	238			238	21	238	204
Boxford	54			54		54	47
Community Day Charter Public School - Gateway	25			25	23	25
Community Day Charter Public School - Prospect	31			31	31	31
Community Day Charter Public School - R. Kingman Webster	31			31	23	31
Danvers	127			127	8	127	108
Georgetown	82			82		82	78
Gloucester	112			112	8	112	100
Hamilton-Wenham	84			84		84	76
Haverhill	177	4	6	177	51	177	109
Hill View Montessori Charter Public	12			12		12	12
Ipswich	68			68		68	57
Lawrence	283	6	4	283	252	283	18
Lawrence Family Development Charter	52			52	51	52
Lynn	401	46	47	401	192	401	93
Lynnfield	137	16		137		137	110
Manchester Essex Regional	57			57		57	55
Marblehead	140			140	6	140	127
Methuen	223	18		223	60	223	131
Middleton	78			78		78	67
Nahant	7			7		7	7
Newburyport	83			83		83	82
North Andover	205	18	4	205	12	205	157
Peabody	249	5	6	249	17	249	215
Pentucket	57			57		57	51
River Valley Charter	12			12		12	11
Rockport	28			28		28	25
Salem	108	11	1	108	18	108	76
Saugus	112			112	20	112	75
Silver Hill Horace Mann Charter	37			37	6	37	26
Swampscott	121			121	7	121	105
Topsfield	67			67		67	59
Triton	94			94		94	92

Source: Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education

INDICATORS	TREND \| ESSEX COUNTY
People 65 or Older Living Alone	Decreasing
Early Prenatal Care by Mother's Race/Ethnicity	Not Applicable
Prevalence of Overweight Adults	Not Applicable
Preterm Births	Increasing
Infant Mortality Rate	Maintaining
Children with Elevated Blood Lead Levels	Decreasing
Children Living in Poverty	Increasing
Children Living in Poverty by Race/Ethnicity	Not Applicable
Disengaged Youth	Maintaining
Live Births to Teen Mothers	Decreasing
Youth Arrests	Decreasing
Arts, Entertainment and Recreation Establishments	Maintaining
Arts, Entertainment and Recreation Employment	Maintaining
Tourism Spending	Increasing
Voter Participation Rate	Increasing
Charitable Contributions	Maintaining
Protected Land	Not Applicable
Days with Good Air Quality	Increasing
Beach Contamination	Increasing
Daily Water Use per Resident	Decreasing
Crimes Against People	Maintaining
Crimes Against Property	Decreasing
Drug-Related Arrests	Maintaining
Reports of Domestic Violence	Increasing
Incarceration Rates	Decreasing
Recidivism	Decreasing
Households Without Vehicles	Decreasing
Means of Transportation to Work	Not Applicable
Traffic Injuries and Fatalities	Maintaining
Households With Internet Access	Not Applicable
Change in Total Population	Increasing
Change in Population by Age/Sex	Not Applicable
People with Disabilities	Maintaining
Households by Type	Not Applicable
Single-Parent Families by Sex	Not Applicable
Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity	Not Applicable
Change in Population by Race/Ethnicity	Not Applicable
Foreign-Born Population	Increasing
Language Diversity	Increasing
Change in Total Jobs	Increasing
Change in Jobs by Sector	Not Applicable
Change in Average Salary	Increasing
Change in Average Salary by Sector	Not Applicable
Average Salary by Sector	Not Applicable
Median Earnings by Occupation by Gender	Not Applicable
People Entering/Leaving County for Work	Not Applicable
Employer Size	Not Applicable
Self-Employment Revenue	Increasing
Business Ownership by Race/Ethnicity	Not Applicable
Unemployment Rate	Increasing
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity	Not Applicable
Prekindergarten Participation	Not Applicable
Female Enrollment in School	Not Applicable
Chronically Absent Students	Increasing
Per-Student Spending	Increasing
Bullying	Decreasing
Student Performance on Grade 3 Reading	Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 8 Math by Student Group	Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 10 English Language Arts	Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 10 Math	Not Applicable
High School Cohort Graduation Rate	Increasing
High School Cohort Graduation Rate by Student Group	Not Applicable
Education Levels of Adults	Not Applicable
Bachelor's Degree or Higher by Race/Ethnicity	Not Applicable
Income in Relation to Poverty Level	Not Applicable
People Living in Poverty by Race/Ethnicity	Not Applicable
Median Household Income	Increasing
Median Household Income by Race/Ethnicity	Not Applicable
Median Household Income by Household Type	Not Applicable
Living Wage Rate by Household Type	Not Applicable
Access to Financial Services, by Race/Ethnicity	Not Applicable
Households Receiving Temporary Assistance	Increasing
Households Receiving Federal Food Assistance	Increasing
Participation in Food Assistance by Race/Ethnicity	Not Applicable
Earned Income Tax Credit Participation	Decreasing
Economically Disadvantaged Students	Increasing
Median Home Value	Increasing
Cost of Homeownership	Increasing
Cost of Renting	Increasing
Homeownership Rates	Maintaining
Homeownership Rates by Race/Ethnicity	Not Applicable
Homeless Persons	Maintaining
People Without Health Insurance	Decreasing
Medical Care Expenses	Increasing
Prevalence of Children with Asthma	Maintaining
Prevalence of Overweight Children	Maintaining
Diabetes Incidence	Decreasing
Chronic Disease Among Older Adults	Increasing
Cancer Incidence	Decreasing
Cancer Mortality Rate	Decreasing
Heart Disease Mortality Rate	Decreasing
Mortality Rate	Decreasing
People who Smoke	Not Applicable
Use of Illegal Drugs	Not Applicable
Youth Use of Illegal Drugs	Not Applicable
Substance Abuse Treatment Admissions	Not Applicable
Drug Overdose Mortality Rate	Increasing
Prevalence of Mental Illness	Maintaining
Suicide Rate	Maintaining
Children Living in Poverty by Race/Ethnicity	Not Applicable
Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity	Not Applicable
Change in Population by Race/Ethnicity	Not Applicable
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity	Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 3 Reading	Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 8 Math by Student Group	Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 10 English Language Arts	Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 10 Math	Not Applicable
High School Cohort Graduation Rate by Student Group	Not Applicable
Bachelor's Degree or Higher by Race/Ethnicity	Not Applicable
People Living in Poverty by Race/Ethnicity	Not Applicable
Median Household Income by Race/Ethnicity	Not Applicable
Participation in Food Assistance by Race/Ethnicity	Not Applicable
Homeownership Rates by Race/Ethnicity	Not Applicable

INDICATORS

TREND | ESSEX COUNTY