Racial Equity
Percent of Students Passing Grade 10 Reading, 2022


Percent of Students Passing Grade 10 Reading, 2022

What does this measure?

The percentage of students considered proficient on of the state's 10th grade English Language Arts test, the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS).

Why is this important?

Students must pass the 10th grade MCAS math and English tests in order to graduate high school. Mastery of communication skills, including reading, writing, speaking and listening, is critical for success at college and in the workplace.

How is our county doing?

In 2022, 54% of 10th graders passed the state's language arts exam, down 6 points from 2021 and lower than the state 2022 passing rate of 58%. Passing rates were highest in Manchester (86%) and Masconomet (81%), and lowest in Lawrence (23%) and Lynn (33%).

In Essex County in 2022, proficiency was lower among Hispanic (35%), economically disadvantaged (37%), and African American (41%) students compared to those who are Asian (74%), not economically disadvantaged (69%), or white (65%). While proficiency increased among Asian and African American students from 2021 to 2022, proficiency decreased among economically disadvantaged students by 23 points.

How do we compare to similar counties?

Essex County's passing rate was below the 67% passing rate of Middlesex, MA.

Notes about the data

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.

In 2019, next-generation MCAS tests were administered. These next-generation achievement levels differ from the legacy MCAS achievement levels and are reported using a different scale. The next-generation achievement levels are designed to provide an indication of whether a student is on track to succeed in the subject matter and whether extra academic assistance may be needed for the student. Results from the next-generation grade 10 ELA and math tests, which were first administered in 2019, are not comparable to results from prior years.

Percent of Students Passing Grade 10 Reading, 2022
All StudentsAsianBlack or African AmericanEconomically DisadvantagedHispanic or LatinoNot Economically DisadvantagedWhite
Essex County, MA54%74%41%37%35%69%65%
Middlesex County, MA67%81%47%45%42%78%73%
Massachusetts58%79%41%40%38%71%65%
School Districts in Essex
Amesbury64%47%45%71%67%
Andover75%96%72%50%52%79%72%
Beverly55%58%43%32%63%62%
Danvers61%46%67%66%60%
Essex Agricultural Technical81%79%88%81%80%
Georgetown63%66%63%
Gloucester44%34%27%53%45%
Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical53%50%53%60%54%
Hamilton-Wenham74%70%50%79%79%
Haverhill37%23%22%21%59%50%
Ipswich75%46%83%77%
KIPP Academy Lynn Charter67%59%63%67%79%
Lawrence23%64%38%22%22%33%35%
Lynn33%54%34%29%29%47%45%
Lynnfield79%76%70%80%78%
Manchester Essex Regional86%76%88%85%
Marblehead67%36%50%44%71%71%
Masconomet81%91%56%84%82%
Methuen48%63%20%31%34%66%62%
Newburyport70%45%75%72%
North Andover63%88%45%44%44%70%65%
Peabody43%60%31%29%24%56%49%
Pentucket71%55%77%72%
Rockport67%53%73%69%
Salem37%33%32%21%50%51%
Salem Academy Charter66%63%56%71%78%
Saugus46%40%32%34%56%51%
Swampscott66%42%62%73%66%
Triton60%28%72%60%
Whittier Regional Vocational Technical70%100%66%67%73%70%

Source: Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education




Number of Students Passing Grade 10 Reading, 2022
All StudentsAsianBlack or African AmericanEconomically DisadvantagedHispanic or LatinoNot Economically DisadvantagedWhite
Essex County, MA4,3471791041,4109922,9332,820
Middlesex County, MA10,6221,5784482,2351,0648,3696,797
Massachusetts39,1603,7172,56911,2445,42527,91625,826
School Districts in Essex
Amesbury801856271
Andover31171133323278195
Beverly16275118111130
Danvers1292414105101
Essex Agricultural Technical3279042237259
Georgetown504648
Gloucester993746286
Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical2221581766440
Hamilton-Wenham937108380
Haverhill16365735106118
Ipswich97128586
KIPP Academy Lynn Charter8013576123
Lawrence16496138142266
Lynn361373024322311859
Lynnfield11816710296
Manchester Essex Regional77136475
Marblehead1404198121119
Masconomet2031015188185
Methuen2051027367132116
Newburyport14715132136
North Andover2122253821174161
Peabody157645421103124
Pentucket102218193
Rockport45103540
Salem70644192635
Salem Academy Charter4525182018
Saugus77423195447
Swampscott10013138776
Triton84117373
Whittier Regional Vocational Technical227119256135147

Source: Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education




Percent of Students Passing Grade 10 Reading, 2019
All StudentsAsianBlack or African AmericanEconomically DisadvantagedHispanic or LatinoNot Economically DisadvantagedWhite
Essex County, MA57%73%42%57%34%57%69%
Middlesex County, MA68%80%42%68%41%68%74%
Massachusetts61%78%38%61%37%61%69%
School Districts in Essex
Amesbury76%76%69%76%75%
Andover84%91%84%43%84%85%
Beverly58%45%58%44%58%60%
Danvers58%58%32%58%61%
Essex Agricultural Technical78%78%80%78%77%
Georgetown86%86%86%86%
Gloucester47%47%29%47%49%
Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical37%37%34%37%46%
Hamilton-Wenham90%90%90%89%
Haverhill45%38%45%25%45%57%
Ipswich68%68%68%73%
KIPP Academy Lynn Charter70%60%70%71%70%70%
Lawrence30%74%30%29%30%32%
Lynn37%56%36%37%28%37%58%
Lynnfield77%77%77%77%
Manchester Essex Regional84%84%84%84%
Marblehead79%79%47%79%82%
Masconomet75%82%75%75%75%
Methuen45%63%45%32%45%55%
Newburyport83%83%83%84%
North Andover75%86%55%75%56%75%78%
Peabody52%52%25%52%58%
Pentucket76%76%76%76%
Rockport73%73%73%75%
Salem47%31%47%37%47%58%
Salem Academy Charter71%71%54%71%88%
Saugus49%49%48%49%51%
Swampscott65%65%32%65%71%
Triton66%66%66%70%
Whittier Regional Vocational Technical47%47%42%47%47%

Source: Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education




Number of Students Passing Grade 10 Reading, 2019
All StudentsAsianBlack or African AmericanEconomically DisadvantagedHispanic or LatinoNot Economically DisadvantagedWhite
Essex County, MA4,870209694,8708704,8703,460
Middlesex County, MA11,2141,52441311,21486011,2147,767
Massachusetts43,2643,7312,42343,2644,70143,26430,857
School Districts in Essex
Amesbury118118911897
Andover3868838610386273
Beverly188518819188151
Danvers1341347134119
Essex Agricultural Technical27327333273223
Georgetown79797977
Gloucester818148176
Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical14414410914426
Hamilton-Wenham129129129110
Haverhill227822742227170
Ipswich95959591
KIPP Academy Lynn Charter84158455847
Lawrence209142091862099
Lynn3965035396190396105
Lynnfield130130130116
Manchester Essex Regional99999997
Marblehead2022027202182
Masconomet21914219219194
Methuen2301523061230143
Newburyport175175175166
North Andover28424628419284231
Peabody18018013180157
Pentucket155155155141
Rockport52525251
Salem11841184211864
Salem Academy Charter4545144522
Saugus8686158666
Swampscott1201207120105
Triton10210210299
Whittier Regional Vocational Technical1301302813092

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