Ranks #45 of 335 Massachusetts high schools — top 14%.
Overall rank
#45
of 335 schools
Average SAT
1210+119 vs MA
MA average 1091
Graduation rate
99%
MA average 92%
Plan on college
95%+23 vs MA
MA average 72%
SAT is the average total score of test takers. Graduation is the four-year rate. College is the share of graduates who report plans to attend a 2- or 4-year college.
Manchester and Essex are neighboring coastal communities on Cape Ann, about 30 miles northeast of Boston along Massachusetts Bay. The two towns share a regional school district and are known for their scenic harbors, historic seaside character, and strong maritime heritage. The area attracts residents drawn to its small-town New England atmosphere, proximity to beaches and sailing, and natural beauty along the rocky North Shore coastline.
How it compares
What stands out
+Strongest area: College plans, in the top 6% statewide. 95% of graduates plan to attend a 2- or 4-year college, vs 72% statewide.
↓Trend: Chronic absence has fallen from 23.8% in 2022 to 9.9% in 2025.
↑Trend: The share of graduates planning on college has risen from 87.8% in 2022 to 95.4% in 2025.
Where it stands among 335 Massachusetts high schools
Bottom of MATop of MA
Overall
Above averagetop 14% · #45
SAT
Above averagetop 14% · #46
ELA MCAS
Above averagetop 19% · #60
Math MCAS
Above averagetop 16% · #51
AP results
Above averagetop 22% · #67
Graduation
Excellenttop 9% · #27
College plans
Excellenttop 6% · #17
The overall rank weighs SAT (30%), MCAS (25%), AP results (20%), and graduates' college plans (25%). Categories rank only the schools with data for them. How we rank
SAT
Average total score1210in 2025 · MA avg 1091
119 points above the MA avg
By section (out of 800)
Reading & writingBetter than average
This school
619
MA avg
556
MathBetter than average
This school
591
MA avg
535
108 students took the SAT.
"MA avg" is the average of the 335 high schools we rank. Only students who choose to take the SAT are counted.
MCAS (10th grade)
Share of 10th graders meeting or exceeding expectations. Statewide results dropped after 2024, when passing the MCAS stopped being a graduation requirement. There was no test in 2020.
English Language Arts67%in 2026 · state 45%
22 points above the state
Math69%in 2026 · state 44%
25 points above the state
Biologyhigh school science, 2026Better than average
This school
63%
State
38%
Detailed scores
Average scaled score, ELA · Math · Science (500+ = meeting expectations)508 · 506 · 509
Achievement percentile vs. MA schools (ELA · Math)81st · 79th
Student growth percentile, ELA · Math (50 = typical growth)50 · 56
Town figures are FY2026 averages for single-family homes from the Massachusetts Department of Revenue. Assessed values usually run below recent sale prices. "MA median" is the median of the state's 351 towns.
Similar schools elsewhere
Schools with similar test results, demographics, and college plans.