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 89% of the 2022 cohort graduated in Essex County in 2025, on par to the state rate. This was a 9 percentage-point increase from 2010 for the county and a gain of 7 points for the state. Within the County, Lawrence had the largest gain since 2010, with a 36-point increase.

Fifteen districts or schools in the county had graduation rates of 95% or higher and two reported graduating 100% of students -Essex Agriculture Technical and Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical. The lowest graduation rates were in Lynn (76%) and Lawrence (82%).

How do we compare to similar counties?

Essex County's rate was slightly lower than Westchester, NY (91%) and Middlesex, MA (92%) in 2025, a 6 and 4 percentage-point increase since 2010 respectively. 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.

High School Cohort Graduation Rate
2010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025
Essex County, MA80%82%84%84%86%87%87%87%86%87%88%90%90%88%89%89%
Middlesex County, MA87%88%89%89%90%91%92%92%91%92%92%93%93%91%91%92%
Westchester County, NY85%86%87%85%87%88%89%90%88%90%90%91%92%91%91%91%
Massachusetts82%83%85%85%86%87%88%88%88%88%89%90%90%89%88%89%
School Districts in Essex
Amesbury82%83%84%87%89%89%91%88%83%88%88%90%90%88%89%82%
Amesbury Academy Charter Public71%65%55%76%50%79%
Andover95%95%96%95%95%95%94%96%94%97%95%98%92%96%96%98%
Beverly86%86%81%89%91%92%90%88%88%91%91%92%90%93%91%89%
Danvers89%89%90%89%93%93%94%94%92%91%96%95%92%94%92%92%
Essex Agricultural Technical94%97%97%97%99%99%98%97%99%97%100%98%99%98%99%100%
Georgetown95%90%92%96%94%97%96%96%96%99%96%97%95%95%95%94%
Gloucester87%86%86%83%90%92%87%89%86%86%84%81%86%83%87%85%
Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical77%82%87%89%93%94%96%93%94%96%96%98%98%100%98%100%
Hamilton-Wenham94%96%97%95%97%96%98%99%93%94%97%97%96%93%94%97%
Haverhill66%67%70%73%75%73%74%80%81%81%80%81%82%79%79%87%
Ipswich96%94%95%90%95%94%94%95%94%93%91%94%91%94%94%95%
KIPP Academy Lynn Charter89%88%88%88%90%98%98%95%96%97%98%
Lawrence47%52%61%61%67%72%71%72%72%71%73%79%82%73%74%82%
Lynn69%69%74%76%76%75%75%74%74%75%79%84%83%78%82%76%
Lynnfield97%97%98%99%95%99%99%97%97%97%98%99%97%97%99%98%
Manchester Essex Regional95%96%93%88%97%96%97%97%96%98%99%94%98%98%98%97%
Marblehead90%97%96%95%97%97%96%97%97%96%95%95%98%97%96%98%
Masconomet96%99%97%97%99%96%97%98%95%96%96%95%97%95%97%97%
Methuen79%81%79%82%86%87%87%86%89%88%93%91%91%90%87%91%
Newburyport90%94%94%94%96%96%96%94%95%93%95%93%97%96%99%97%
North Andover96%94%93%94%95%94%94%96%96%97%97%97%98%97%98%97%
North Shore Regional Vocational Technical97%97%97%98%99%
Peabody78%81%83%81%88%87%87%86%83%86%88%85%84%83%82%84%
Pentucket89%91%93%91%93%95%91%95%95%93%95%96%97%95%90%98%
Rockport88%90%91%89%96%92%94%94%96%98%95%93%94%94%96%91%
Salem79%81%78%86%85%89%83%82%82%81%74%79%76%81%82%86%
Salem Academy Charter93%87%96%88%89%94%87%92%86%96%82%98%97%96%100%96%
Saugus81%79%85%84%82%87%86%89%84%84%88%85%87%87%86%84%
Swampscott94%96%96%94%98%94%94%95%94%95%96%93%99%92%92%94%
Triton88%85%90%89%86%88%90%87%91%94%90%89%87%91%94%93%
Whittier Regional Vocational Technical96%98%98%98%99%97%99%99%97%98%99%99%98%99%98%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
2010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025
Essex County, MA7,3427,2437,2237,3907,6417,5977,7527,8497,7597,7797,8938,0138,0857,8007,7358,324
Middlesex County, MA14,64914,72214,68214,96315,06815,14115,54015,48815,65515,83715,91915,75515,82115,26315,31916,232
Westchester County, NY9,4379,7289,5669,6989,7909,7689,9939,99710,14410,00510,30210,26110,3819,96010,05710,409
Massachusetts62,64961,97262,24063,35662,99863,27064,78964,67965,60966,05966,06666,65566,58564,76164,57068,238
School Districts in Essex
Amesbury146141130132144128159154133133145145122106111110
Amesbury Academy Charter Public12111116311
Andover430434421457427418428457407437420449379411411407
Beverly312262269295302312324306317266282294325305278277
Danvers245235216241233266248254224231227231191193210180
Essex Agricultural Technical87109109111107229230248320321332343371392385417
Georgetown1089111795105929989107991078992777262
Gloucester250259211221222217208181201200159150193176205171
Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical226211241268279294305307305348354370378401398422
Hamilton-Wenham165162178164174161161155131144139140127124116110
Haverhill348325332353363340370420372365395423369377419476
Ipswich144151163146162147126155115116129133130119127115
KIPP Academy Lynn Charter70688497103107117113106117123
Lawrence462473530614690653656676728653716703730668622825
Lynn7677538108218247068618289199019911,0081,1831,0071,0401,297
Lynnfield165174149162145150163152156164155166138133150138
Manchester Essex Regional1011091121071131121121099610011012412412389113
Marblehead227252231206248234253273239257250246243223210242
Masconomet359335326303341317355330291264279274279269249216
Methuen419386369366399406425394440479451445487454435492
Newburyport161177160180156189173204189178176198172208204198
North Andover335296312299332365322315367392324368353301337335
North Shore Regional Vocational Technical9710694115102
Peabody378407391387417414388388353324329318323339317334
Pentucket168209175181180196171179179148178189180156136151
Rockport80736769698075786682756458606642
Salem276265230274258280226213216223204226189200204221
Salem Academy Charter14272521313241363747625863646265
Saugus178177160157148162165189131159157156164169169175
Swampscott203155179199195147158181156166156176191149152158
Triton219184185158175176165160167165170145132169133145
Whittier Regional Vocational Technical261294320271296291314334300314314266286319311307

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 Maintaining
Infant Mortality Rate Maintaining
Children with Elevated Blood Lead Levels Decreasing
Children Living in Poverty Decreasing
Children Living in Poverty by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Disengaged Youth Increasing
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 Decreasing
Charitable Contributions Maintaining
Protected Land Not Applicable
Days with Good Air Quality Increasing
Beach Contamination Increasing
Daily Water Use per Resident Maintaining
Crimes Against People Maintaining
Crimes Against Property Decreasing
Drug-Related Arrests Maintaining
Reports of Domestic Violence Maintaining
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 Increasing
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 Maintaining
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 Decreasing
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 Not Applicable
People Without Health Insurance Decreasing
Medical Care Expenses Increasing
Prevalence of Children with Asthma Decreasing
Prevalence of Overweight Children Decreasing
Diabetes Incidence Decreasing
Chronic Disease Among Older Adults Increasing
Cancer Incidence Decreasing
Cancer Mortality Rate Decreasing
Heart Disease Mortality Rate Decreasing
Mortality Rate Maintaining
People who Smoke Not Applicable
Adult Drug Use Not Applicable
Youth Drug Use Not Applicable
Substance Abuse Treatment Admissions Not Applicable
Drug Overdose Mortality Rate Decreasing
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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