Racial Equity
High School Cohort Graduation Rate, by Student Group, 2021


High School Cohort Graduation Rate, by Student Group, 2021

What does this measure?

The number of students graduating after four years of high school, expressed as a percentage of their cohort. A cohort is a class of ninth-graders beginning high school in the same academic year.

Why is this important?

High school graduation is the culmination of a successful K-12 education and the gateway to college or employment. Students who do not graduate face the prospect of unemployment or low-paying jobs. There are persistent gaps in academic achievement among students of different races, ethnicities and incomes.

How is our county doing?

About 90% of the 2017 cohort graduated in Essex County in 2021. Students from low-income backgrounds graduated at a lower rate, 83% in 2021, though that was up significantly from 61% in 2006. Hispanic students in the 2017 cohort graduated at a lower rate (83%) in 2021 compared to 95% of Asian students 93% of white students, and 92% of African American students. These disparities were comparable to rates at the state level, although Essex County's rate among African American students was 8 points higher than the state.

How do we compare to similar counties?

Essex County's overall graduation rate was a bit lower than Middlesex, MA, which had a rate at 93% in 2021. Disparities across groups in Essex and Middlesex were similar. No data was immediately available for Lake, IL or Westchester, NY.

Why do these disparities exist?

Studies point to a variety of factors believed to contribute to disparities in graduation rates 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

Students are included in the cohort based on the year they entered Grade 9. Students are transferred in or out of cohorts if they transfer schools. Students who earn a GED or Certificate of Attainment are not counted as graduates. Students are considered economically disadvantaged if their family participates 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; or MassHealth (Medicaid).

High School Cohort Graduation Rate, by Student Group, 2021
All StudentsAsianBlack or African AmericanHispanic or LatinoLow IncomeWhite
Essex County, MA90%95%92%83%83%93%
Middlesex County, MA93%97%89%82%84%95%
Massachusetts90%96%84%80%82%93%
School Districts in Essex
Amesbury90%85%83%90%
Andover98%98%100%92%93%98%
Beverly92%100%92%81%85%94%
Danvers95%96%89%95%
Essex Agricultural Technical98%100%96%98%
Georgetown97%80%97%
Gloucester81%52%70%86%
Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical98%88%98%98%97%
Hamilton-Wenham97%83%100%100%98%
Haverhill81%86%74%71%85%
Ipswich94%71%80%95%
KIPP Academy Lynn Charter98%96%97%98%100%
Lawrence79%100%71%78%79%71%
Lynn84%92%93%80%83%90%
Lynnfield99%100%100%97%99%
Manchester Essex Regional94%85%94%
Marblehead95%100%100%86%88%96%
Masconomet95%100%85%95%
Methuen91%96%89%88%84%93%
Newburyport93%100%56%75%95%
North Andover97%100%100%91%93%98%
Peabody85%57%88%63%74%90%
Pentucket96%100%86%96%
Rockport93%90%92%
Salem79%92%78%80%74%79%
Salem Academy Charter98%100%96%96%100%
Saugus85%100%89%84%77%84%
Swampscott93%90%79%80%95%
Triton89%80%68%91%
Whittier Regional Vocational Technical99%98%99%98%

Source: Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education
Notes: Years denote 12th grade year for cohort.




Number of Students Graduating from High School, by Student Group, 2021
All StudentsAsianBlack or African AmericanHispanic or LatinoLow IncomeWhite
Essex County, MA8,0133392192,4733,6724,717
Middlesex County, MA15,7551,9409622,0304,96310,125
Massachusetts66,6554,8215,77011,86127,66441,954
School Districts in Essex
Amesbury1451143120
Andover4499882465308
Beverly29491134100230
Danvers2312364195
Essex Agricultural Technical34341101279
Georgetown89887
Gloucester1501477132
Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical370730330855
Hamilton-Wenham1405618120
Haverhill42319127217267
Ipswich133535121
KIPP Academy Lynn Charter1172575919
Lawrence70320565662520
Lynn1,0088288642805169
Lynnfield1668835145
Manchester Essex Regional12423121
Marblehead246671245215
Masconomet2741735243
Methuen445228162209235
Newburyport1987530180
North Andover36829104084284
Peabody3184741147260
Pentucket189831172
Rockport641754
Salem22611710415499
Salem Academy Charter587232523
Saugus156682772111
Swampscott17691937142
Triton145830134
Whittier Regional Vocational Technical26663142186

Source: Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education
Notes: Years denote 12th grade year for cohort.




High School Cohort Graduation Rate, by Student Group, 2006
All StudentsAsianBlack or African AmericanHispanic or LatinoLow IncomeWhite
Essex County, MA77%76%62%57%61%83%
Middlesex County, MA88%86%81%74%76%90%
Massachusetts80%84%64%57%62%85%
School Districts in Essex
Amesbury81%60%82%
Amesbury Academy Charter Public50%50%
Andover95%100%100%78%94%
Beverly78%93%43%59%81%
Danvers87%75%87%
Essex Agricultural Technical89%92%78%90%
Georgetown95%88%89%95%
Gloucester79%50%61%81%
Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical71%71%75%72%
Hamilton-Wenham93%71%93%
Haverhill67%67%57%55%50%70%
Ipswich93%82%93%
Lawrence41%61%30%42%46%20%
Lynn64%67%60%59%63%69%
Lynnfield92%92%
Manchester Essex Regional95%100%95%
Marblehead94%86%100%91%94%
Masconomet94%100%83%94%
Methuen79%90%64%67%82%
Newburyport84%47%84%
North Andover88%100%59%77%89%
North Shore Regional Vocational Technical85%78%82%86%
Peabody79%89%58%66%63%81%
Pentucket92%88%92%
Rockport88%67%87%
Salem69%100%53%72%63%66%
Saugus80%100%75%50%80%
Swampscott86%86%71%88%
Triton84%58%84%
Whittier Regional Vocational Technical85%75%84%78%86%

Source: Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education
Notes: Years denote 12th grade year for cohort.




Number of Students Graduating from High School, by Student Group, 2006
All StudentsAsianBlack or African AmericanHispanic or LatinoLow IncomeWhite
Essex County, MA7,0212211931,0141,8825,432
Middlesex County, MA14,1111,0177899512,78811,049
Massachusetts59,4302,7184,2804,77615,14246,868
School Districts in Essex
Amesbury17325160
Amesbury Academy Charter Public88
Andover445401121390
Beverly26914645240
Danvers22715218
Essex Agricultural Technical82112868
Georgetown917879
Gloucester224448215
Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical23017719648
Hamilton-Wenham1535148
Haverhill3574165694280
Ipswich12914123
Lawrence3152392742969
Lynn757103105214562314
Lynnfield119112
Manchester Essex Regional97996
Marblehead24561320221
Masconomet337710326
Methuen406964102316
Newburyport1859177
North Andover285181020252
North Shore Regional Vocational Technical8872379
Peabody398873179350
Pentucket22115217
Rockport65461
Salem2601189195149
Saugus1958613180
Swampscott164610153
Triton23325229
Whittier Regional Vocational Technical26463890214

Source: Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education
Notes: Years denote 12th grade year for cohort.




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