The graduation rate in Essex County dropped 0.2% and reached 90% in the 2022-23 school year, according to the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
More specifically, there were 7,784 students who graduated that year, compared to 8,087 in the previous year.
Essex County had the fifth lowest graduation rate in the state.
According to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, public schools in Massachusetts achieved an average graduation rate of 89.2% in 2023.
Proficiency in core subjects in Massachusetts still remains below pre-pandemic levels. According to the 2024 NAEP results, 25% of eighth-graders were not considered proficient in reading, and 32% did not reach math benchmarks. Fourth-graders performed better in reading, with 18% not reaching proficiency. However, they struggled with math, with only 68% achieving grade-level proficiency.
| Academic year | Cohort size | Total Graduation |
|---|---|---|
| 2022-23 | 8,652 | 90% |
| 2021-22 | 8,970 | 90.2% |
| 2020-21 | 8,808 | 90.8% |
| 2019-20 | 8,782 | 89.1% |