Impact Essex County

Why is this important?

Math skills are critical to a variety of careers and important for life skills ranging from budgeting and smart shopping to understanding the news. The middle school math examination serves as a checkpoint for high school preparation; performance on this exam can help predict high school success in math.

How is our county doing?

In 2025, 35% of 8th graders were considered proficient in Essex County, a decrease of 1 percentage point from 2024, and slightly lower than the state rate of 38%. Among districts, rates were highest in 2025 in River Valley Charter (82%), Hamilton-Wenham (73%) and Manchester Essex Regional (66%), and lowest in Hill View Montessori Charter Public (9%), Lynn (13%), and Lawrence (19%).

In Essex County in 2025, proficiency was lower among low-income (18%), Hispanic (19%) and African American (23%) students compared to those who are Asian (64%), not low-income (50%), or White (46%). While proficiency declined slightly or remained the same among most groups from 2024 to 2025, proficiency among Black or African American students increased by 1 percentage point.

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

The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education defines "Low Income" students as those that meet any of the following criteria: identified as participating in state-administered programs (SNAP, TAFDC, MassHealth, or Foster Care), reported by a district as homeless, or a family income of up to 185% of the Federal Poverty Level.

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

Percent of Students Passing Grade 8 Math, 2025

	All Students	Asian	Black or African American	Hispanic or Latino	Low Income	Non-Low Income	White
Essex County, MA	35%	64%	23%	19%	18%	50%	46%
Middlesex County, MA	51%	77%	27%	23%	24%	64%	57%
Massachusetts	38%	73%	21%	19%	19%	53%	45%
School Districts in Essex
Amesbury	32%			26%	12%	42%	36%
Andover	65%	86%		51%	37%	70%	62%
Beverly	39%		18%	15%	15%	53%	46%
Community Day Charter Public School - Prospect	43%			43%	44%	42%
Danvers	35%		40%	11%	16%	43%	38%
Georgetown	23%				7%	26%	21%
Gloucester	24%			19%	17%	32%	24%
Hamilton-Wenham	73%				67%	74%	71%
Haverhill	27%		14%	17%	16%	44%	41%
Hill View Montessori Charter Public	9%			9%	10%	9%	13%
Ipswich	40%				8%	46%	44%
KIPP Academy Lynn Charter	35%		30%	37%	34%	39%
Lawrence	19%		21%	18%	17%	27%	25%
Lawrence Family Development Charter	39%			39%	35%	50%
Lynn	13%	38%	12%	10%	10%	25%	18%
Lynnfield	61%	83%		27%	25%	65%	62%
Manchester Essex Regional	66%				64%	67%	66%
Marblehead	57%			38%	27%	62%	59%
Marblehead Community Charter Public	46%					56%	59%
Masconomet	53%			25%	26%	56%	53%
Methuen	30%	55%	30%	21%	24%	37%	41%
Newburyport	46%			18%	26%	49%	47%
North Andover	54%	79%	38%	29%	18%	65%	56%
Peabody	33%		26%	16%	18%	47%	39%
Pentucket	47%			46%	28%	51%	46%
River Valley Charter	82%					84%	83%
Rockport	58%				29%	68%	60%
Salem	20%		22%	4%	9%	39%	37%
Salem Academy Charter	40%		58%	20%	34%	50%	67%
Saugus	47%	57%	30%	37%	36%	61%	53%
Swampscott	40%			40%	16%	45%	40%
Triton	44%			25%	33%	50%	46%

Source: Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education

Number of Students Passing Grade 8 Math, 2025

	All Students	Asian	Black or African American	Hispanic or Latino	Low Income	Non-Low Income	White
Essex County, MA	2,822	152	68	619	721	2,096	1,801
Middlesex County, MA	8,124	1,773	254	700	1,210	6,909	4,759
Massachusetts	25,567	3,671	1,415	3,159	5,482	20,080	15,914
School Districts in Essex
Amesbury	43			5	5	38	36
Andover	278	65		20	22	256	176
Beverly	123		2	9	18	105	104
Community Day Charter Public School - Prospect	49			47	33	16
Danvers	86		4	4	12	74	69
Georgetown	19				1	18	16
Gloucester	50			5	17	33	40
Hamilton-Wenham	90				8	82	75
Haverhill	166		6	54	59	107	93
Hill View Montessori Charter Public	3			1	1	2	2
Ipswich	53				2	50	49
KIPP Academy Lynn Charter	44		6	32	27	17
Lawrence	199		4	183	155	44	7
Lawrence Family Development Charter	26			26	16	10
Lynn	149	32	10	78	87	62	22
Lynnfield	98	15		3	4	94	75
Manchester Essex Regional	63				9	54	59
Marblehead	131			6	8	123	117
Marblehead Community Charter Public	11					9	10
Masconomet	150			4	9	141	134
Methuen	165	6	11	59	73	92	84
Newburyport	77			2	6	71	70
North Andover	178	26	6	14	14	164	123
Peabody	140		5	16	36	104	111
Pentucket	74			6	8	66	66
River Valley Charter	23					21	20
Rockport	30				4	26	29
Salem	51		4	5	15	36	37
Salem Academy Charter	30		7	8	16	14	12
Saugus	91	8	3	21	36	55	56
Swampscott	65			8	5	60	51
Triton	67			3	15	52	58

Source: Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education

Percent of Students Passing Grade 8 Math, 2022

	All Students	Asian	Black or African American	Hispanic or Latino	Low Income	Non-Low Income	White
Essex County, MA	34%	58%	22%	18%	19%	48%	43%
Middlesex County, MA	49%	75%	22%	22%	23%	62%	53%
Massachusetts	36%	70%	18%	17%	18%	51%	43%
School Districts in Essex
Amesbury	48%			25%	30%	59%	53%
Andover	66%	88%	60%	33%	33%	72%	65%
Beverly	27%		18%	13%	12%	36%	30%
Community Day Charter Public School - Gateway	56%			55%	59%	50%
Community Day Charter Public School - Prospect	45%			45%	37%	67%
Community Day Charter Public School - R. Kingman Webster	27%			19%	21%
Danvers	27%			14%	22%	29%	27%
Georgetown	35%				30%	36%	33%
Gloucester	29%			12%	19%	39%	32%
Hamilton-Wenham	59%				44%	62%	58%
Haverhill	24%	55%	14%	14%	16%	38%	33%
Hill View Montessori Charter Public	17%					21%	22%
Ipswich	58%				33%	65%	62%
KIPP Academy Lynn Charter	40%		52%	33%	35%	59%
Lawrence	19%		18%	18%	18%	25%	23%
Lawrence Family Development Charter	56%			55%	56%	57%
Lynn	16%	26%	14%	11%	11%	32%	31%
Lynnfield	79%	100%		69%	64%	82%	79%
Manchester Essex Regional	46%				9%	50%	46%
Marblehead	64%			40%	37%	69%	67%
Marblehead Community Charter Public	45%					44%	52%
Masconomet	56%			46%	36%	59%	55%
Methuen	23%	68%	17%	14%	14%	33%	28%
Newburyport	35%				15%	38%	36%
North Andover	49%	57%	45%	19%	28%	57%	54%
Peabody	27%	33%	17%	12%	17%	36%	31%
Pentucket	54%			36%	23%	61%	54%
River Valley Charter	61%					65%	63%
Rockport	25%				17%	32%	25%
Salem	19%		6%	5%	10%	35%	30%
Salem Academy Charter	25%			11%	15%	38%	36%
Saugus	44%		22%	40%	37%	50%	44%
Swampscott	41%			32%	21%	47%	44%
Triton	37%			20%	30%	42%	37%

Source: Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education

Number of Students Passing Grade 8 Math, 2022

	All Students	Asian	Black or African American	Hispanic or Latino	Low Income	Non-Low Income	White
Essex County, MA	2,893	163	63	581	826	2,059	1,901
Middlesex County, MA	7,886	1,656	215	578	1,228	6,656	4,916
Massachusetts	25,399	3,575	1,167	2,736	5,869	19,528	16,776
School Districts in Essex
Amesbury	75			5	18	57	65
Andover	302	78	9	13	23	279	193
Beverly	99		2	7	16	83	84
Community Day Charter Public School - Gateway	18			17	13	5
Community Day Charter Public School - Prospect	19			19	11	8
Community Day Charter Public School - R. Kingman Webster	9			5	5
Danvers	65			3	15	50	56
Georgetown	40				6	34	36
Gloucester	61			3	20	41	54
Hamilton-Wenham	72				8	64	67
Haverhill	157	6	6	42	71	86	98
Hill View Montessori Charter Public	5					5	5
Ipswich	74				9	65	67
KIPP Academy Lynn Charter	49		14	28	33	16
Lawrence	209		2	191	183	26	7
Lawrence Family Development Charter	42			41	34	8
Lynn	185	25	13	88	101	84	46
Lynnfield	125	17		9	16	109	95
Manchester Essex Regional	50				1	49	50
Marblehead	126			6	11	115	111
Marblehead Community Charter Public	15					11	13
Masconomet	178			6	12	166	153
Methuen	134	15	4	37	43	91	71
Newburyport	59				4	55	58
North Andover	180	17	5	11	31	149	135
Peabody	133	5	3	10	40	93	113
Pentucket	81			4	7	74	73
River Valley Charter	17					17	15
Rockport	17				5	12	16
Salem	47		1	5	16	31	35
Salem Academy Charter	17			4	6	11	9
Saugus	94		4	18	39	55	60
Swampscott	71			7	8	63	58
Triton	68			2	21	47	58

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	Maintaining
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	Not Applicable
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