Financial Self-Sufficiency
Economically Disadvantaged Students


Economically Disadvantaged Students

What does this measure?

The share of students who are economically disadvantaged. Economic disadvantage is based on a student's participation in social safety net programs.

Why is this important?

This measure not only shows the proportion of students and families with low incomes in an area, it is also an indication of the potential challenges facing schools as they work to educate children who have fewer resources.

How is our county doing?

In 2023, 47% of students in Essex County were economically disadvantaged, above the statewide rate of 42%. Essex County's rate has increased from 28% in 2015, rising at a similar rate to the state.

Of the 39 school districts and charter schools in Essex County with data in 2023, 19 had economically disadvantaged students make up more than 25% of their student body, and 10 had rates of 50% or more. The Lawrence School District had the highest rate in Essex County at 86%, followed by the Lawrence Family Development Charter at 76%. The Lynn School District and the Community Day Charter Public School-Prospect both had the next highest rates of 74%.

How do we compare to similar counties?

Essex County had an economically disadvantaged rate that was 16 percentage points higher than Middlesex County (31%). Middlesex has increased by 14 percentage points from 2015 to 2023, in comparison to Essex's 19 points.

Notes about the data

Data is from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Students are considered economically disadvantaged if they participate in one or more of the following state-administered programs: the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); the Transitional Assistance for Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC); the Department of Children and Families' (DCF) foster care program; and MassHealth (Medicaid). It is important to note that a lower share of students is identified as economically disadvantaged under this measure than was identified under the previously used free or reduced-price lunch measure. National data is not available for this measure.

Economically Disadvantaged Students
200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023
Essex County, MA25%27%27%27%29%30%31%32%32%34%36%36%38%41%43%28%30%32%34%33%36%40%48%47%
Middlesex County, MA17%17%0%18%18%18%19%19%20%21%22%24%25%26%27%17%18%20%21%21%22%25%32%31%
Massachusetts25%25%25%26%27%28%28%29%30%31%33%34%35%37%38%26%27%30%32%31%33%37%44%42%
School Districts in Essex
Amesbury16%14%14%13%14%13%14%15%15%18%21%23%24%24%27%18%21%22%23%23%23%28%34%34%
Amesbury Academy Charter Public40%60%58%36%50%59%42%53%50%59%59%64%70%52%
Andover3%3%3%3%3%3%3%3%4%5%5%6%6%6%6%6%6%6%7%8%9%10%12%12%
Beverly14%10%12%17%19%20%19%21%22%22%24%23%26%26%24%22%24%26%26%25%26%28%35%33%
Boxford0%0%0%0%1%1%0%1%1%1%2%2%3%2%3%2%3%4%5%4%6%7%9%9%
Community Day Charter Public School - Gateway82%84%55%46%51%51%50%51%65%74%
Community Day Charter Public School - Prospect67%68%67%67%69%68%65%64%64%70%74%70%75%74%81%48%49%48%54%48%49%63%78%74%
Community Day Charter Public School - R. Kingman Webster79%77%47%50%49%52%49%53%60%76%
Danvers7%6%6%6%7%7%9%9%7%12%14%15%19%20%20%16%17%16%16%16%18%21%27%25%
Essex Agricultural Technical30%16%20%18%16%21%26%22%24%30%29%25%21%21%20%18%21%21%18%17%18%19%24%24%
Georgetown3%3%3%3%4%3%4%4%4%7%7%5%8%8%9%7%9%9%9%9%9%11%15%15%
Gloucester19%21%14%17%23%21%25%26%26%30%32%34%40%43%44%31%34%35%37%35%38%41%48%48%
Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical67%57%65%64%64%70%72%76%73%55%72%76%80%78%84%48%48%52%53%50%55%61%71%67%
Hamilton-Wenham3%2%3%3%4%4%3%4%4%4%5%6%6%6%6%6%7%7%7%7%7%7%11%8%
Haverhill27%27%25%28%32%32%33%35%38%41%42%40%48%55%58%38%41%45%47%46%48%54%63%61%
Hill View Montessori Charter Public12%14%23%24%23%26%20%22%19%22%16%16%15%18%17%19%31%37%42%
Ipswich8%8%8%9%9%9%8%8%8%8%9%10%10%11%12%12%12%12%14%14%15%17%21%20%
KIPP Academy Lynn Charter87%88%86%84%88%90%89%84%83%80%43%44%48%51%49%51%58%72%67%
Lawrence77%78%80%69%83%85%84%83%83%87%87%87%87%85%92%62%63%65%64%63%71%79%89%86%
Lawrence Family Development Charter87%85%84%74%79%84%83%88%79%91%92%92%92%92%92%60%55%55%60%55%59%67%84%76%
Lynn47%63%63%66%68%74%74%75%75%77%78%79%82%83%83%46%47%52%59%57%58%65%76%74%
Lynnfield2%2%2%2%2%2%2%3%3%4%5%6%7%7%8%6%7%7%8%7%7%9%11%10%
Manchester Essex Regional6%3%2%6%5%4%6%5%4%4%8%10%9%6%6%8%8%8%8%8%11%14%14%
Marblehead6%5%5%6%6%6%7%6%7%7%8%8%8%9%11%9%9%9%10%9%10%11%14%13%
Marblehead Community Charter Public7%5%1%3%3%3%2%9%9%5%4%6%7%9%5%4%3%11%12%14%17%22%22%
Masconomet2%3%1%1%1%1%2%1%2%3%1%2%3%4%3%4%5%6%6%6%6%8%11%8%
Methuen21%22%19%25%26%25%23%30%26%34%36%30%25%43%44%28%30%32%35%35%36%42%54%53%
Middleton3%3%2%1%40%3%3%4%4%4%3%5%6%7%6%8%8%8%9%8%8%9%12%12%
Nahant7%1%3%4%2%3%6%4%6%5%4%7%9%9%17%16%20%20%17%20%22%24%20%
Newburyport6%2%6%5%5%5%8%7%7%7%9%10%10%9%9%7%8%9%10%8%10%12%13%12%
North Andover4%4%4%4%4%4%5%5%7%8%10%12%13%14%16%11%11%13%14%15%16%19%23%23%
North Shore Regional Vocational Technical24%22%23%22%21%22%23%18%31%33%34%28%31%33%37%
Peabody13%14%16%16%16%20%19%22%23%25%28%31%32%34%35%26%27%30%31%30%32%37%46%46%
Pentucket4%3%4%3%4%5%5%5%4%7%10%9%11%11%12%9%10%10%12%12%11%13%16%16%
River Valley Charter2%1%1%1%2%1%1%0%1%1%6%6%6%8%9%8%8%10%8%
Rockport9%8%9%9%8%9%10%14%12%14%11%10%8%7%15%15%17%17%18%19%20%21%29%28%
Salem36%35%36%37%38%39%42%41%43%50%53%55%58%56%60%43%44%47%49%48%49%55%63%60%
Salem Academy Charter41%42%37%37%44%36%42%45%41%41%27%31%32%31%30%33%38%54%50%
Saugus10%8%9%6%10%12%12%14%15%19%20%20%26%34%32%23%25%27%29%30%33%37%47%46%
Silver Hill Horace Mann Charter46%42%44%46%39%42%27%24%25%29%
Swampscott4%4%3%3%4%4%9%8%9%8%9%11%13%15%15%12%13%14%15%15%16%19%24%21%
Topsfield1%0%1%1%1%0%1%1%1%1%2%3%3%3%3%3%6%7%4%4%4%4%7%6%
Triton13%9%10%10%11%11%12%12%14%14%17%20%19%23%23%15%17%18%21%20%22%25%34%31%
Whittier Regional Vocational Technical29%27%28%27%28%30%30%30%30%32%32%33%36%35%39%23%25%29%30%28%31%34%41%39%

Source: Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education




Number of Economically Disadvantaged Students
200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023
Essex County, MA29,68431,78132,05031,62134,63935,21035,60036,36936,37638,73540,64741,38743,65246,54749,19232,89334,33536,76739,07438,41041,01044,58753,24951,270
Middlesex County, MA35,23436,21734,73637,38338,56939,14040,05540,92142,53943,81047,53450,89054,01156,15457,52037,39439,69343,84646,94745,02748,45953,49967,13865,598
Massachusetts245,754245,882246,808257,368266,294270,660274,524280,238283,827294,692315,161327,044335,213353,420365,885251,026260,998288,465305,203297,120310,873333,843399,140386,060
School Districts in Essex
Amesbury449388384366373351357374361421514546556552623401466482501473465524603602
Amesbury Academy Charter Public1021261825292026252929303324
Andover163165153173184166185202239278333364373366381334382376416449501549673634
Beverly6384805637798458828609089689071,0099841,0981,1321,0599741,0641,1611,1551,1601,2341,3091,6001,497
Boxford434186359121721211419152328392941506365
Community Day Charter Public School - Gateway98135110110142164181204259298
Community Day Charter Public School - Prospect159164181205210209200197212233244231248246268190196193215191196250311885
Community Day Charter Public School - R. Kingman Webster9512393121136167178212241301
Danvers254223218228248256308336233424512559695733723566616547559554598685860813
Essex Agricultural Technical11659787066901119810713213311810310092201254274253243265300402401
Georgetown4244525561576967701231178812112013799125127132123119135192189
Gloucester7918635896989148439349699181,0201,0931,0811,2311,2821,3449289891,0171,0631,0191,0701,1271,3681,332
Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical8858048569019531,0511,0681,1089156388649261,0211,0231,1216516727687967868789941,1681,128
Hamilton-Wenham6447557087857476798799117113126111109128122120126128123179137
Haverhill2,3052,3102,1612,3232,5552,5082,4832,6852,8322,8002,9042,7403,3423,8534,1092,7563,0273,3623,5303,6613,8914,1654,8554,734
Hill View Montessori Charter Public1421435255706064576850504555515895114127
Ipswich156163169188195178169163159169199208205227247220220221246234245263333314
KIPP Academy Lynn Charter671341982552863163293894725793684535756877168249321,1641,076
Lawrence9,6169,74710,1518,73410,34410,35310,30410,14410,19510,64010,64811,14111,21511,15712,4748,5728,6138,9918,8758,6459,57710,08111,35910,995
Lawrence Family Development Charter369408404350406435431512471527549545564583604404383392440416461523669647
Lynn7,1079,5779,6749,9679,98110,34610,34010,23010,16810,15410,47810,65211,31011,68411,9336,8707,1017,9049,0988,9369,36910,15411,99511,447
Lynnfield41303732405052757496111128157165174136157145169158156204233224
Manchester Essex Regional723828686158796350551191511339292113111112108115142169172
Marblehead160136149172178189217186222229247266255291364278276293301288290305361327
Marblehead Community Charter Public1292676517201291316201297242729364949
Masconomet38521112202237193553274466756375103110113100103140172128
Methuen1,4681,5761,3711,7881,8611,8191,7332,2051,8942,5182,6232,1071,7843,0293,0421,9632,1232,1902,4102,3892,4442,7023,4543,403
Middleton2322131031423263332352839465345585755615357628687
Nahant16369561311141210141617292428292631334031
Newburyport14155136120119127177157166159196215225219216174183206225182215245286267
North Andover1861751601571591952162382993814745476116627525135326076946987498401,0501,017
North Shore Regional Vocational Technical10199102939410110382136146154129143156173
Peabody8569461,0481,0311,0401,3231,2161,3931,4701,5651,7251,8591,9152,0512,1321,5611,5921,7891,8391,8111,9452,1592,7242,702
Pentucket145100122118133160188154139230313295320318342235247260290292268290357363
River Valley Charter3223532123161718222523232822
Rockport100828997859599142127136110937466141144159154163172171158213202
Salem1,8011,7451,8071,8241,8471,8471,9381,8091,9052,2302,4012,5152,6292,4562,5891,7921,6571,7591,8081,7931,7842,0552,3132,235
Salem Academy Charter36737692125112130137142152100132141146148161190267245
Saugus3412762842043343893964344375585715697339788876126716897407748478461,1421,132
Silver Hill Horace Mann Charter255233254265225251157138140164
Swampscott888579738384209192208191202260291348352260302315324330355397483421
Topsfield83474364571018171717173644272327254340
Triton459338352352391381424396457431522599575658642420456462529491520546744683
Whittier Regional Vocational Technical375357368364395373341331324374385413449428501294333381373351384430528497

Source: Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education
Financial Self-Sufficiency Indicators


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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


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