Education
High School Cohort Graduation Rate


High School Cohort Graduation Rate

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.

How is our county doing?

About 90% of the 2017 cohort graduated in Essex County in 2021, the same rate as the state. This was a 13 percentage-point increase from 2006 for the county and a gain of 10 points for the state. Fourteen districts or schools in the county had graduation rates of 95% or higher and two reported graduating 99% of students - Lynnfield and Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School.

The lowest graduation rates were in Salem and Lawrence, both at 79%. Lawrence, however, had the largest gain since 2006, with a 38-point increase. There were also large increases at Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical (up 26 points to 98%), Lynn (up 20 points to 84%), Beverly (up 15 points to 92%) and Haverhill (up 15 points to 81%).

How do we compare to similar counties?

Essex County's rate was slightly lower than Westchester, NY (91%) and Middlesex, MA, which had a rate at 93% in 2021, a 5 percentage-point increase since 2006. No data was immediately available for Lake, IL.

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
2006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021
Essex County, MA77%79%78%79%80%82%84%84%86%87%87%87%86%87%88%90%
Middlesex County, MA88%88%89%88%87%88%89%89%90%91%92%92%91%92%92%93%
Westchester County, NY82%85%86%87%85%87%88%89%90%88%90%90%91%
Massachusetts80%81%81%82%82%83%85%85%86%87%88%88%88%88%89%90%
School Districts in Essex
Amesbury81%85%85%85%82%83%84%87%89%89%91%88%83%88%88%90%
Amesbury Academy Charter Public50%50%44%64%71%65%55%76%50%79%
Andover95%95%95%95%95%95%96%95%95%95%94%96%94%97%95%98%
Beverly78%83%86%81%86%86%81%89%91%92%90%88%88%91%91%92%
Danvers87%85%85%86%89%89%90%89%93%93%94%94%92%91%96%95%
Essex Agricultural Technical89%95%93%90%94%97%97%97%99%99%98%97%99%97%100%98%
Georgetown95%93%91%97%95%90%92%96%94%97%96%96%96%99%96%97%
Gloucester79%85%85%82%87%86%86%83%90%92%87%89%86%86%84%81%
Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical71%76%76%75%77%82%87%89%93%94%96%93%94%96%96%98%
Hamilton-Wenham93%96%94%97%94%96%97%95%97%96%98%99%93%94%97%97%
Haverhill67%69%69%64%66%67%70%73%75%73%74%80%81%81%80%81%
Ipswich93%91%90%90%96%94%95%90%95%94%94%95%94%93%91%94%
KIPP Academy Lynn Charter89%88%88%88%90%98%98%
Lawrence41%41%36%48%47%52%61%61%67%72%71%72%72%71%73%79%
Lynn64%69%71%71%69%69%74%76%76%75%75%74%74%75%79%84%
Lynnfield92%91%94%96%97%97%98%99%95%99%99%97%97%97%98%99%
Manchester Essex Regional95%93%98%94%95%96%93%88%97%96%97%97%96%98%99%94%
Marblehead94%96%92%88%90%97%96%95%97%97%96%97%97%96%95%95%
Masconomet94%97%95%98%96%99%97%97%99%96%97%98%95%96%96%95%
Methuen79%76%77%77%79%81%79%82%86%87%87%86%89%88%93%91%
Newburyport84%90%90%93%90%94%94%94%96%96%96%94%95%93%95%93%
North Andover88%95%92%97%96%94%93%94%95%94%94%96%96%97%97%97%
North Shore Regional Vocational Technical85%94%94%98%97%97%97%98%99%
Peabody79%80%80%79%78%81%83%81%88%87%87%86%83%86%88%85%
Pentucket92%91%91%88%89%91%93%91%93%95%91%95%95%93%95%96%
Rockport88%87%88%87%88%90%91%89%96%92%94%94%96%98%95%93%
Salem69%73%68%75%79%81%78%86%85%89%83%82%82%81%74%79%
Salem Academy Charter100%93%87%96%88%89%94%87%92%86%96%82%98%
Saugus80%74%80%82%81%79%85%84%82%87%86%89%84%84%88%85%
Swampscott86%97%94%89%94%96%96%94%98%94%94%95%94%95%96%93%
Triton84%84%82%85%88%85%90%89%86%88%90%87%91%94%90%89%
Whittier Regional Vocational Technical85%94%96%95%96%98%98%98%99%97%99%99%97%98%99%99%

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




Number of High School Graduates
2006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021
Essex County, MA7,0217,3527,1977,3247,3427,2437,2237,3907,6417,5977,7527,8497,7597,7797,8938,013
Middlesex County, MA14,11114,34314,85514,76414,64914,72214,68214,96315,06815,14115,54015,48815,65515,83715,91915,755
Westchester County, NY9,3889,4379,7289,5669,6989,7909,7689,9939,99710,14410,00510,30210,261
Massachusetts59,43061,41362,83562,78662,64961,97262,24063,35662,99863,27064,78964,67965,60966,05966,06666,655
School Districts in Essex
Amesbury173143154142146141130132144128159154133133145145
Amesbury Academy Charter Public858712111116311
Andover445436431403430434421457427418428457407437420449
Beverly269312300265312262269295302312324306317266282294
Danvers227231231213245235216241233266248254224231227231
Essex Agricultural Technical8298978187109109111107229230248320321332343
Georgetown91112909810891117951059299891079910789
Gloucester224312249255250259211221222217208181201200159150
Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical230285280229226211241268279294305307305348354370
Hamilton-Wenham153175178183165162178164174161161155131144139140
Haverhill357379422383348325332353363340370420372365395423
Ipswich129158149161144151163146162147126155115116129133
KIPP Academy Lynn Charter70688497103107117
Lawrence315330309440462473530614690653656676728653716703
Lynn7578087698247677538108218247068618289199019911,008
Lynnfield119128158150165174149162145150163152156164155166
Manchester Essex Regional9799929710110911210711311211210996100110124
Marblehead245234226213227252231206248234253273239257250246
Masconomet337330307364359335326303341317355330291264279274
Methuen406359422431419386369366399406425394440479451445
Newburyport185175187169161177160180156189173204189178176198
North Andover285313319317335296312299332365322315367392324368
North Shore Regional Vocational Technical88103991029710694115102
Peabody398425380413378407391387417414388388353324329318
Pentucket221213219200168209175181180196171179179148178189
Rockport65717183807367696980757866827564
Salem260268256270276265230274258280226213216223204226
Salem Academy Charter7142725213132413637476258
Saugus195157158205178177160157148162165189131159157156
Swampscott164194213184203155179199195147158181156166156176
Triton233223204203219184185158175176165160167165170145
Whittier Regional Vocational Technical264277219232261294320271296291314334300314314266

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