Impact Essex County

Why is this important?

Early literacy skills are critical to a successful school experience. Third grade is considered an important milestone in a student's career in terms of reading proficiency and is correlated to whether a student will graduate high school. Up through 3rd grade, students are learning to read; after 3rd grade, they must be able to read in order to learn. There are persistent gaps in academic achievement among students of different races, ethnicities and incomes. Notably, racial gaps persist even among students of similar socioeconomic backgrounds.

How is our county doing?

In 2025, 37% of Essex County 3rd graders were considered proficient in reading, up almost 3 percentage points from 2024 but lower than the state proficiency rate of 42%. Among districts, rates were highest in 2025 in Manchester Essex Regional (69%), Marblehead (67%), and Topsfield (65%) and lowest in Hill View Montessori Charter Public (12%), Lynn (17%), and Lawrence (18%).

In Essex County in 2025, proficiency was lower among Hispanic students and low-income students (both 20%), and African American students (23%) compared with students who are not low-income (54%), White (52%) or Asian (51%). Proficiency increased from 2024 among all groups except for Asian and African American students (both slightly declining 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 3 Reading, 2025

	All Students	Asian	Black or African American	Hispanic or Latino	Low Income	Non-Low Income	White
Essex County, MA	37%	51%	23%	20%	20%	54%	52%
Middlesex County, MA	50%	63%	32%	25%	25%	62%	58%
Massachusetts	42%	59%	26%	23%	23%	58%	52%
School Districts in Essex
Amesbury	45%			30%	28%	57%	48%
Andover	61%	74%		33%	28%	67%	63%
Beverly	56%		17%	16%	24%	73%	66%
Boxford	61%			38%	40%	63%	64%
Community Day Charter Public School - Prospect	40%			37%	38%	46%
Danvers	38%		23%	28%	20%	46%	40%
Georgetown	55%					57%	55%
Gloucester	28%			12%	20%	34%	32%
Hamilton-Wenham	62%			42%	25%	65%	63%
Haverhill	34%	45%	28%	25%	27%	47%	45%
Hill View Montessori Charter Public	12%			7%	17%	10%	21%
Ipswich	58%			47%	34%	66%	61%
KIPP Academy Lynn Charter	24%			18%	19%	38%
Lawrence	18%		15%	18%	17%	29%	25%
Lawrence Family Development Charter	19%			19%	17%	30%
Lynn	17%	21%	17%	14%	14%	28%	34%
Lynnfield	62%	73%		58%	39%	65%	62%
Manchester Essex Regional	69%				50%	73%	69%
Marblehead	67%			53%	41%	71%	69%
Methuen	30%	40%	29%	24%	17%	50%	41%
Middleton	45%				17%	49%	45%
Nahant	47%					50%	43%
Newburyport	42%			14%	17%	48%	43%
North Andover	52%	68%	42%	38%	24%	62%	54%
Peabody	35%	40%	21%	23%	21%	48%	42%
Pentucket	51%			31%	35%	54%	51%
River Valley Charter	59%					61%	62%
Rockport	50%				29%	63%	50%
Salem	30%		38%	15%	19%	48%	45%
Saugus	36%	60%	18%	22%	25%	46%	42%
Swampscott	53%			35%	21%	58%	57%
Topsfield	65%					68%	65%
Triton	55%			33%	27%	66%	55%

Source: Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education

Number of Students Passing Grade 3 Reading, 2025

	All Students	Asian	Black or African American	Hispanic or Latino	Low Income	Non-Low Income	White
Essex County, MA	3,025	115	63	669	800	2,215	1,994
Middlesex County, MA	7,953	1,416	301	789	1,267	6,681	4,743
Massachusetts	28,167	2,889	1,647	3,829	6,897	21,259	18,018
School Districts in Essex
Amesbury	57			6	15	42	49
Andover	256	51		14	17	239	169
Beverly	190		2	7	28	160	171
Boxford	64			5	4	60	53
Community Day Charter Public School - Prospect	49			42	38	11
Danvers	96		3	14	15	81	72
Georgetown	50					49	46
Gloucester	63			3	20	43	58
Hamilton-Wenham	95			5	3	92	85
Haverhill	196	5	12	69	104	92	106
Hill View Montessori Charter Public	4			1	2	2	3
Ipswich	73			7	11	62	63
KIPP Academy Lynn Charter	29			17	17	12
Lawrence	169		2	156	141	28	6
Lawrence Family Development Charter	20			20	14	6
Lynn	199	14	15	122	129	70	43
Lynnfield	112	11		7	7	105	86
Manchester Essex Regional	52				6	46	50
Marblehead	112			9	9	103	96
Methuen	143	6	10	62	48	95	60
Middleton	45				3	39	37
Nahant	7					7	6
Newburyport	59			2	5	54	50
North Andover	169	13	5	19	20	149	125
Peabody	176	6	6	32	47	129	122
Pentucket	105			5	14	91	95
River Valley Charter	19					19	18
Rockport	21				5	15	17
Salem	93		6	20	36	57	62
Saugus	71	9	2	13	24	46	44
Swampscott	79			8	4	75	65
Topsfield	59					57	54
Triton	93			4	14	79	83

Source: Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education

Percent of Students Passing Grade 3 Reading, 2022

	All Students	Asian	Black or African American	Hispanic or Latino	Low Income	Non-Low Income	White
Essex County, MA	39%	55%	30%	20%	23%	57%	53%
Middlesex County, MA	53%	64%	32%	25%	26%	66%	59%
Massachusetts	44%	62%	28%	23%	26%	60%	53%
School Districts in Essex
Amesbury	50%			18%	35%	58%	55%
Andover	67%	84%	54%	50%	33%	72%	66%
Beverly	47%		13%	36%	25%	61%	52%
Boxford	77%				60%	79%	75%
Community Day Charter Public School - Gateway	34%			28%	25%	58%
Community Day Charter Public School - Prospect	29%			30%	29%	30%
Community Day Charter Public School - R. Kingman Webster	43%			40%	41%	50%
Danvers	45%			31%	31%	52%	47%
Georgetown	52%				50%	53%	53%
Gloucester	51%			30%	43%	59%	55%
Hamilton-Wenham	63%				29%	69%	63%
Haverhill	30%		29%	19%	23%	44%	41%
Hill View Montessori Charter Public	41%			31%	29%	50%	50%
Ipswich	67%				63%	68%	66%
KIPP Academy Lynn Charter	27%		41%	24%	22%	43%	30%
Lawrence	18%	42%	35%	17%	17%	26%	29%
Lawrence Family Development Charter	40%			40%	40%	42%
Lynn	20%	29%	25%	14%	16%	33%	39%
Lynnfield	61%	79%		20%	43%	64%	64%
Manchester Essex Regional	65%				33%	71%	66%
Marblehead	57%			50%	38%	60%	58%
Methuen	33%	47%	37%	21%	23%	47%	46%
Middleton	49%				24%	54%	46%
Nahant	38%						42%
Newburyport	61%				40%	64%	63%
North Andover	58%	64%	40%	40%	37%	64%	60%
Peabody	34%	73%	44%	15%	24%	45%	37%
Pentucket	54%			53%	37%	58%	54%
River Valley Charter	78%					85%	79%
Rockport	45%				29%	51%	45%
Salem	28%	20%	11%	15%	17%	49%	47%
Saugus	40%	31%		27%	33%	50%	47%
Swampscott	54%			20%	33%	60%	56%
Topsfield	69%					70%	69%
Triton	47%				38%	53%	46%

Source: Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education

Number of Students Passing Grade 3 Reading, 2022

	All Students	Asian	Black or African American	Hispanic or Latino	Low Income	Non-Low Income	White
Essex County, MA	3,151	160	82	603	952	2,187	2,090
Middlesex County, MA	8,103	1,445	293	643	1,344	6,753	5,075
Massachusetts	28,404	3,077	1,639	3,411	7,800	20,595	18,623
School Districts in Essex
Amesbury	54			2	14	40	50
Andover	312	76	7	24	20	292	186
Beverly	172		2	14	35	136	149
Boxford	70				6	64	58
Community Day Charter Public School - Gateway	15			11	8	7
Community Day Charter Public School - Prospect	14			14	11	3
Community Day Charter Public School - R. Kingman Webster	19			17	14	5
Danvers	120			10	26	94	101
Georgetown	53				9	44	51
Gloucester	100			8	45	55	85
Hamilton-Wenham	81				6	75	69
Haverhill	178		12	52	93	85	108
Hill View Montessori Charter Public	13			4	4	9	9
Ipswich	71				15	56	60
KIPP Academy Lynn Charter	33		7	22	20	13	3
Lawrence	166	5	6	147	144	22	7
Lawrence Family Development Charter	34			33	29	5
Lynn	229	28	21	112	150	79	58
Lynnfield	104	11		2	10	94	84
Manchester Essex Regional	51				4	47	48
Marblehead	102			5	10	92	86
Methuen	158	8	11	50	66	92	85
Middleton	51				4	47	37
Nahant	5						5
Newburyport	86				8	78	81
North Andover	203	18	6	18	32	171	150
Peabody	158	8	8	13	59	99	123
Pentucket	90			9	10	80	74
River Valley Charter	25					22	23
Rockport	23				4	19	22
Salem	83	2	2	19	31	52	56
Saugus	75	4		14	32	42	44
Swampscott	74			3	10	64	63
Topsfield	56					54	51
Triton	73				23	50	64

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