Top Rankings
Peabody School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Massachusetts for:
Category
Attribute
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2026 school year, there are 9 public elementary schools serving 4,318 students in Peabody School District. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 3/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public elementary schools in Massachusetts.
Public Elementary Schools in Peabody School District have an average math proficiency score of 34% (versus the Massachusetts public elementary school average of 42%), and reading proficiency score of 31% (versus the 42% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 40% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Massachusetts public elementary school average of 50% (majority Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (MA)
# Schools
11 Schools
1,353 Schools
# Students
5,774 Students
604,692 Students
# Teachers
470 Teachers
51,091 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
12:1
12:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Peabody School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 391 school districts in Massachusetts (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 86% has increased from 82% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#294 out of 395 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
34%
42%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
32%
44%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
36%
44%
Graduation Rate
86%
90%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.56
0.67
% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
2%
7%
% Hispanic
28%
27%
% Black
7%
11%
% White
60%
50%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
3%
5%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $19,323 in this school district is less than the state median of $23,855. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $19,017 is less than the state median of $24,613. The school district spending/student has grown by 5% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$112 MM
$21,850 MM
Spending
$110 MM
$22,544 MM
Revenue / Student
$19,323
$23,855
Spending / Student
$19,017
$24,613
Best Peabody School District Public Elementary Schools (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
West Memorial
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
15 Bow Street
Peabody, MA 01960
(978) 536-5850
Peabody, MA 01960
(978) 536-5850
Gr: PK-5 | 294 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 21%
Rank: #2 - 32. - 3.
John E Burke
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
127 Birch Street
Peabody, MA 01960
(978) 536-5400
Peabody, MA 01960
(978) 536-5400
Gr: K-5 | 294 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 18%
Rank: #2 - 32. - 3.
John E. Mccarthy
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
76 Lake Street
Peabody, MA 01960
(978) 536-5625
Peabody, MA 01960
(978) 536-5625
Gr: K-5 | 385 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 56%
Rank: #44.
South Memorial
(Math: 39% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
16 Maple St Ext
Peabody, MA 01960
(978) 536-5700
Peabody, MA 01960
(978) 536-5700
Gr: PK-5 | 506 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 28%
Rank: #55.
J Henry Higgins Middle School
(Math: 33% | Reading: 33%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
85 Perkins Street
Peabody, MA 01960
(978) 536-4800
Peabody, MA 01960
(978) 536-4800
Gr: 6-8 | 1,320 student Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 35%
Rank: #6 - 76. - 7.
Thomas Carroll
(Math: 28% | Reading: 19%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
60 Northend Street
Peabody, MA 01960
(978) 536-4200
Peabody, MA 01960
(978) 536-4200
Gr: PK-5 | 645 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 52%
Rank: #6 - 76. - 7.
William A Welch Senior
(Math: 20-29% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
50 Swampscott Avenue
Peabody, MA 01960
(978) 536-5775
Peabody, MA 01960
(978) 536-5775
Gr: K-5 | 408 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 64%
Rank: #88.
Peabody Personalized Remote Education Program
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: 30-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
485r Lowell Street
Peabody, MA 01960
(978) 536-4554
Peabody, MA 01960
(978) 536-4554
Gr: 4-12 | 97 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 44%
Rank: #99.
Captain Samuel Brown
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
150 Lynn Street
Peabody, MA 01960
(978) 536-4100
Peabody, MA 01960
(978) 536-4100
Gr: K-5 | 369 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 39%
Recent Articles
AI Report Cards: Should Schools Evaluate AI Use?
Explore whether schools should assess student AI use, the benefits, risks, and what responsible AI report cards could look like in 2026.
The Parent’s Guide to School Cell Phone Bans in 2026
Learn how school cell phone bans work in 2026, why districts are adopting them, and what parents should expect.
Parental Involvement in Public Schools: 2026 Update
Explore the latest 2026 trends, research, and strategies shaping parental involvement in public schools and student success.
