Racial Equity
Percent of Students Passing Grade 8 Math, 2022


Percent of Students Passing Grade 8 Math, 2022

What does this measure?

The percentage of students considered proficient on one of the state's 8th grade math test, either the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) or the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC).

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 2022, 34% of 8th graders were considered proficient in Essex County, an increase of 5 percentage points from 2021, and slightly lower than the state passing rate of 36%. Among districts, rates were highest in 2022 in Lynnfield (79%), Andover (66%) and Marblehead (64%), and lowest in Lynn (16%), and Salem and Lawrence (both at 19%).

In Essex County in 2022, proficiency was lower among Hispanic (18%), economically disadvantaged (19%), and African American (22%) students compared to those who are Asian (58%), not economically disadvantaged (48%), or white (43%). While gains occurred among most groups from 2021 to 2022, proficiency among economically disadvantaged students decreased 10 points.

How do we compare to similar counties?

Middlesex, MA had a higher proficiency rate in 2022 at 49%. Disparities were similar in both counties.

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 8 Math, 2022
All StudentsAsianBlack or African AmericanEconomically DisadvantagedHispanic or LatinoNot Economically DisadvantagedWhite
Essex County, MA34%58%22%19%18%48%43%
Middlesex County, MA49%75%22%23%22%62%53%
Massachusetts36%70%18%18%17%51%43%
School Districts in Essex
Amesbury48%30%25%59%53%
Andover66%88%60%33%33%72%65%
Beverly27%18%12%13%36%30%
Community Day Charter Public School - Gateway56%59%55%50%
Community Day Charter Public School - Prospect45%37%45%67%
Community Day Charter Public School - R. Kingman Webster27%21%19%
Danvers27%22%14%29%27%
Georgetown35%30%36%33%
Gloucester29%19%12%39%32%
Hamilton-Wenham59%44%62%58%
Haverhill24%55%14%16%14%38%33%
Hill View Montessori Charter Public17%21%22%
Ipswich58%33%65%62%
KIPP Academy Lynn Charter40%52%35%33%59%
Lawrence19%18%18%18%25%23%
Lawrence Family Development Charter56%56%55%57%
Lynn16%26%14%11%11%32%31%
Lynnfield79%100%64%69%82%79%
Manchester Essex Regional46%9%50%46%
Marblehead64%37%40%69%67%
Marblehead Community Charter Public45%44%52%
Masconomet56%36%46%59%55%
Methuen23%68%17%14%14%33%28%
Newburyport35%15%38%36%
North Andover49%57%45%28%19%57%54%
Peabody27%33%17%17%12%36%31%
Pentucket54%23%36%61%54%
River Valley Charter61%65%63%
Rockport25%17%32%25%
Salem19%6%10%5%35%30%
Salem Academy Charter25%15%11%38%36%
Saugus44%22%37%40%50%44%
Swampscott41%21%32%47%44%
Triton37%30%20%42%37%

Source: Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education




Number of Students Passing Grade 8 Math, 2022
All StudentsAsianBlack or African AmericanEconomically DisadvantagedHispanic or LatinoNot Economically DisadvantagedWhite
Essex County, MA2,893163638265812,0591,901
Middlesex County, MA7,8861,6562151,2285786,6564,916
Massachusetts25,3993,5751,1675,8692,73619,52816,776
School Districts in Essex
Amesbury751855765
Andover3027892313279193
Beverly9921678384
Community Day Charter Public School - Gateway1813175
Community Day Charter Public School - Prospect1911198
Community Day Charter Public School - R. Kingman Webster955
Danvers651535056
Georgetown4063436
Gloucester612034154
Hamilton-Wenham7286467
Haverhill1576671428698
Hill View Montessori Charter Public555
Ipswich7496567
KIPP Academy Lynn Charter4914332816
Lawrence2092183191267
Lawrence Family Development Charter4234418
Lynn1852513101888446
Lynnfield1251716910995
Manchester Essex Regional5014950
Marblehead126116115111
Marblehead Community Charter Public151113
Masconomet178126166153
Methuen13415443379171
Newburyport5945558
North Andover1801753111149135
Peabody13353401093113
Pentucket81747473
River Valley Charter171715
Rockport1751216
Salem4711653135
Salem Academy Charter1764119
Saugus94439185560
Swampscott71876358
Triton682124758

Source: Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education




Percent of Students Passing Grade 8 Math, 2017
All StudentsAsianBlack or African AmericanEconomically DisadvantagedHispanic or LatinoNot Economically DisadvantagedWhite
Essex County, MA48%71%34%48%33%48%54%
Middlesex County, MA57%78%32%57%30%57%61%
Massachusetts48%74%24%48%27%48%54%
School Districts in Essex
Amesbury57%57%36%57%60%
Andover63%90%36%63%19%63%60%
Beverly50%70%40%50%38%50%51%
Community Day Charter Public School - Prospect54%54%52%54%
Danvers44%44%18%44%47%
Georgetown60%60%60%61%
Gloucester45%45%26%45%47%
Hamilton-Wenham54%54%54%54%
Haverhill40%38%40%24%40%47%
Hill View Montessori Charter Public21%21%21%20%
Ipswich54%54%54%57%
KIPP Academy Lynn Charter74%60%74%79%74%
Lawrence36%77%30%36%34%36%49%
Lawrence Family Development Charter67%67%67%67%
Lynn34%45%28%34%28%34%47%
Lynnfield70%70%70%69%
Manchester Essex Regional57%57%57%56%
Marblehead62%62%38%62%64%
Marblehead Community Charter Public69%69%69%67%
Masconomet64%71%64%64%63%
Methuen41%56%41%25%41%50%
Newburyport68%68%68%69%
North Andover65%94%30%65%26%65%67%
Peabody40%18%40%17%40%45%
Pentucket35%35%35%35%
River Valley Charter78%78%78%77%
Rockport47%47%47%47%
Salem40%40%29%40%50%
Salem Academy Charter60%60%34%60%87%
Saugus35%35%26%35%36%
Swampscott69%69%38%69%73%
Triton38%38%38%40%

Source: Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education




Number of Students Passing Grade 8 Math, 2017
All StudentsAsianBlack or African AmericanEconomically DisadvantagedHispanic or LatinoNot Economically DisadvantagedWhite
Essex County, MA4,140207614,1408144,1402,862
Middlesex County, MA9,1641,4003019,1645489,1646,409
Massachusetts33,9033,4171,42533,9033,30233,90324,601
School Districts in Essex
Amesbury999959986
Andover3268543264326227
Beverly1657416514165135
Community Day Charter Public School - Prospect25252325
Danvers1251254125115
Georgetown70707069
Gloucester888868878
Hamilton-Wenham75757565
Haverhill248624846248191
Hill View Montessori Charter Public7775
Ipswich88888884
KIPP Academy Lynn Charter8515855985
Lawrence38120338133238125
Lawrence Family Development Charter37373637
Lynn317412431715531787
Lynnfield135135135120
Manchester Essex Regional74747470
Marblehead1611616161142
Marblehead Community Charter Public27272724
Masconomet21310213213190
Methuen2351423550235162
Newburyport132132132124
North Andover27130327110271224
Peabody17621769176160
Pentucket83838377
River Valley Charter25252520
Rockport37373736
Salem1031032910366
Salem Academy Charter4343104326
Saugus777787762
Swampscott1391398139120
Triton73737372

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