2023 Best Public High Schools in Essex County

• Saugus, MA•

• Public School•

• 7-12

• •
  Rating 3.59 out of 5  32 reviews

Senior: This is a great school. It's a really close and tight-knit community because of its smaller size. The teachers really help the students out as much as possible, and the school really tries to push the students to perform their best academically. There are plenty of ways that students can get help if they are struggling including two after-school academies during the week, and one on Saturday. Sometimes the school just pushes a little too hard. The workload can be really overwhelming sometimes.... Read 32 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 370

• Student-teacher ratio 10:1

• Andover Public Schools, MA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.57 out of 5  322 reviews

Senior: Overall, I feel that Andover High School has prepared me very well to succeed in my future endeavors, both in college and beyond. Through academic challenges and extracurricular opportunities, I have thoroughly built all of my strengths as both a student and a person. The school does much to involve its student body, making sure that freshmen upon beginning their high school career feel 'at home' and find their community. Andover High School also superbly promotes the ideas of outreach to the greater community with its many clubs, sports, and other activities. Teachers, as well as facilitating an academically challenging environment, promote a classroom community, making sure that students have all of the resources they need and do not feel out of place. Reflecting on my past three years as a student at Andover High School, I can say wholeheartedly that I have enjoyed the experience very much.... Read 322 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,756

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Marblehead Public Schools, MA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.76 out of 5  162 reviews

Senior: At Marblehead High, almost every teacher is very passionate about their subject and are available before and after school for extra help if you need it. Classes are very difficult, especially at the honors and AP levels. There is a large variety of science and art-related electives, but less English and history electives. The main criticism I have for Marblehead High is that the difficulty of classes varies dramatically between different teachers regardless of course level, making some college preparatory and honors courses more difficult than the AP course due to the teacher. Overall, I had a great 4 years at Marblehead!... Read 162 reviews

• grade A

• Students 953

• Student-teacher ratio 11:1

• Lynnfield Public Schools, MA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.18 out of 5  119 reviews

Junior: I love Lynnfield High School. Every teacher I have genuinely wants me to succeed as a student and a person trying to navigate my way into my post-high school career. The teachers are all smart and know what they are doing; they are also more than willing to help me when I am confused, and they are always available after-school when I need to ask them questions. I have also made some great friends at Lynnfield High School, and I feel welcome and a part of the school culture. I am part of the student government for my junior class, so I am also excited that I can help represent both my class and the school culture. Overall, I am glad to be a part of Lynnfield High School!... Read 119 reviews

• grade A

• Students 600

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Manchester Essex Regional School District, MA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.55 out of 5  82 reviews

Senior: MERHS has a great educational track for students of all kinds. The teachers and administration want to see and bring the best out of their students and they challenge their students. The school culture and diversity is fairly one dimensional, I feel as if I have been in a bubble for much of my life. However, the sports and extracurriculars are stellar, the school does an excellent job of giving its students options too. The school is very small, but it's also on the newer side and known for being one of the more environmentally safe schools in the area. The classrooms are all lit well and equipped with the proper technology to run a professional and effective class. The teachers are interesting people and all encourage the students to pursue their dreams. Overall, the school is very good and prepares its students for the outside world.... Read 82 reviews

• grade A

• Students 459

• Student-teacher ratio 11:1

• Masconomet Public Schools, MA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.76 out of 5  301 reviews

Parent: Both my children excelled at Masco! They were encouraged to learn, create & explore using their strengths and weaknesses. They have become successful adults due in part to lessons learned at Masco.... Read 301 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,108

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Swampscott Public Schools, MA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.72 out of 5  89 reviews

Senior: Swampscott high School is a great school, with a great community of students and teachers. There is always an active group of students trying to make change, and the school is very connected with its arts and sports as well as traditional learning. There are plenty of resources for students to take advantage of as well. However, there are some issues. For instance, the administration is more disconnected from the student body than it should be, and there are some teachers who have been teaching for a long time, and who are unable to adapt to new systems of learning, particularly online. Overall however, a great school!... Read 89 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 700

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• North Andover Public Schools, MA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.76 out of 5  188 reviews

Senior: I am a senior at North Andover High School right now and I absolutely loved every day of being a high schooler. I am so thankful for everything North Andover Public Schools has done for me and so happy I chose to go to NAHS. I loved my high school experience and could not have imagined it any other way. I genuinely enjoy going to classes and the teachers are awesome. Many teachers here are very personal and are willing to connect with their students on a personal level and they all want the best for all of us. The sports here are great and all the kids are hard working and most kids are very welcoming and kind. If I could go back and be a freshman, I would do it all over again!... Read 188 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 1,377

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Hamilton-Wenham Regional School District, MA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.67 out of 5  169 reviews

Sophomore: Great school! They have amazing staff and AMAZING TEACHERS! The admin is pretty good a little to strict no senior privileges. Very safe! Unfortunately there is little to know ethnic or economical diversity( most kids are rich white kids). The building needs some attention, parts recently upgraded( library gym history rooms, but the other parts like most classrooms, auditorium and shop need some upgrades especially the cafeteria. The sports teams are pretty good and there are really good coaches. They definitely need to add A/C to the whole building... Read 169 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 524

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• Salem, MA•

• Public School•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 3.69 out of 5  71 reviews

Alum: The campus is a little small for the student population, but the academic curriculum is very good. They prepare students for going to college on a very high scale. It might seem taxing to the students but in the long run, the method that is used is very effective. The students get a lot more assistance than you can get in at a normal high school.... Read 71 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 495

• Student-teacher ratio 11:1

• Newburyport Public Schools, MA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.72 out of 5  111 reviews

Freshman: Our school is beautiful, as it has a courtyard, spacious classrooms, central air, and a great auditorium and gymnasium. The sports program is incredible, and the arts are highly supported. There are many clubs, including Interact club, with over 60 members.... Read 111 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 801

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Amesbury Public Schools, MA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.84 out of 5  83 reviews

Alum: Good school! A bit old, technology is lacking, but a great community and people. Amazing school spirit, almost cultlike but in a good way. Teachers generally care with a few exceptions. Leary runs half the school's programs.... Read 83 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 521

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• Ipswich Public Schools, MA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.8 out of 5  54 reviews

Senior: I love the positive and supporting environment of Ipswich High School. All my friends and teachers are enthusiastic about education. The administrators also promote a fun and involved learning environment. I was able to balance my extensive involvement in sports and clubs with my rigorous courses. The only thing I think IHS could improve upon is teaching their students about the importance of finding your passion. I felt like a lot of people over involved themselves with activities they didn't actually enjoy just to put them on a college resume. I would have liked to be encouraged to pursue a few specific areas of interest, rather than being pressured to join every club and take every AP class. But overall, I loved high school, and I couldn't be happier with my experience at Ipswich High.... Read 54 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 537

• Student-teacher ratio 11:1

• Rockport Public Schools, MA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.64 out of 5  56 reviews

Senior: Rockport High school felt like a family. Made so many connections. Due to its size people will never forget the one stupid thing you did in second grade. Overall a positive experience.... Read 56 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 255

• Student-teacher ratio 9:1

• Beverly Public Schools, MA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.91 out of 5  159 reviews

Alum: Overall, I enjoyed my experience at Beverly High School. The majority of teachers there are quite nice and knowledgeable in their field. My favorite part of the school is the music department. The music department is wonderful and feels like being a part of a new family. The education I received was excellent, and my teachers were always there to help. A suggestion for improvement: have the administration, especially the guidance counselors, be more up front with what is happening and be willing to work through troubles. This never happened to me, but other students have had difficulties such as not getting their transcript sent to college, difficulty getting in the class they want when the student limit is not an issue, and being assigned to a closet for a class. Though those stories are pretty rare, communicating with the students more would be a good idea and keep those situations from happening.... Read 159 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 1,286

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Lynn, MA•

• Public School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 3.82 out of 5  109 reviews

Senior: I'm a senior at KIPP, and I can say I thoroughly enjoyed my time at this school. I felt challenged, but not to where I couldn't complete my work successfully, and I always felt like a had a support system at school whether I needed help with academics, my teachers would always be there to guide me, or if I needed mental or emotional support the counselors and teachers are always there for their students. At this school you can really tell the teachers care for their students, and I feel really lucky to have gone to a school that has such compassionate and talented teachers.... Read 109 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 1,615

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Danvers Public Schools, MA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.68 out of 5  98 reviews

Senior: Overall, I had a very pleasant experience with Danvers High School. Throughout my four years, I always had teachers who were extremely kind, compassionate, and hardworking. They were there to truly fulfill our learning expectations and encouraged success, respect and creativity. The community at Danvers High School was built on the idea of unity and communication and my fellow classmates were always up for a challenge and genuinely wanted to make our school a better place.... Read 98 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 868

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Georgetown Public Schools, MA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.49 out of 5  67 reviews

Alum: Georgetown as a whole is a very cliquey community and so I did not entirely enjoy my high school experience. There were gossipy mothers that got too involved with school drama, there were typical high school popular groups. That being said, I received an excellent education. Not every teacher was the best but they all care deeply about their students. I could go to any person in that school with a problem, academic or not, and they would help me out. There are some teachers that are way better than others but again, they are mostly all super caring. The AP classes were great, I am already a semester ahead at my university because of AP credit. Overall, this school is great in preparing kids for higher education. There are also many cool clubs. The small town drama just comes with the territory of living in Georgetown unfortunately.... Read 67 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 337

• Student-teacher ratio 10:1

• Pentucket Public Schools, MA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.6 out of 5  162 reviews

Senior: The teachers really care about your success! This year with Covid has been a crazy year for everyone but I feel that the teachers and the administration did a great job with communication. Staying in touch with students and parents with an ever changing climate was no easy feat. Getting feedback for what was working and not working was also helpful. They really cared about the mental health of the student by several check-ins and opportunities to ask for help if needed.... Read 162 reviews

• grade B

• Students 673

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Methuen Public Schools, MA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.83 out of 5  242 reviews

Alum: What I liked most about Methuen High School was the opportunity it gave me to grow. I felt more at home at this public school than going to a private school. Academics were great, and they have really prepared me for my interests in college that include business and psychology. The one thing I would want to be changed is the bathrooms. Every intermission between blocks there is smokers in the bathrooms. If there was more security on consequences for this, I believe this school would hold a better environment. I, often had to use the bathroom, and it was annoying to walk into the bathroom with 20+ kids sitting around smoking. I can only imagine what the younger kids feel like dealing with this, and hope something can change.... Read 242 reviews

• grade B

• Students 1,906

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Salem Public Schools, MA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.63 out of 5  256 reviews

Junior: It is great. They offer many classes that can be credited for college. They also offer vocational courses and sports. The school is diverse so everyone feels welcome. The teachers and staffs are nice, they are approachable and are willing to talk to you if you need help. You can join the sports team even if you do not have any background playing it. They offer English and History Early College Programs which can be credited for college. They also have AP classes that you can take during your senior year that will also be credited for your college transcript. I have Medical Assisting for my vocational class and it is a great class to join if you are interested in going to a medical field for your career. You will learn basic knowledge about healthcare and have experience working as a Medical Assistant. You can get a Medical Assisting license after taking 3 years of this class. Moreover, there are other classes that you can take based on your interest like cooking, drama, or theater.... Read 256 reviews

• grade B

• Students 860

• Student-teacher ratio 10:1

• Hathorne, MA•

• Public School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.78 out of 5  77 reviews

Senior: This school is definitely unique. Each shop gives you opportunities to learn trade skills and do fun things at school! I'm in equine science and we learn a lot about taking care of horses and other animals at our barn. The facilities are amazing, it's really more of a campus than a school. The main thing that I really don't like here is that arts and music curriculum are seriously lacking. There's no opportunity to take those classes unless you choose Design and Visuals as a shop, or go to the clubs. Also, with the school adding more and more new freshmen every year, classrooms are pretty full and we're close to or over capacity I think. There are also less AP classes than other schools if that's important to you (I think we have 7 in total for options). But overall I would highly recommend checking this school out!... Read 77 reviews

• grade B

• Students 1,564

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• Triton Public Schools, MA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.54 out of 5  139 reviews

Parent: Triton High School has been a very welcoming and fun place for my kids. There are many club activities; some meet in the morning before school and others in the afternoon. There are sports for all levels of athletic ability. The teachers are genuine in their desire to help students to grasp the material. A number of AP classes are available. If they don't offer it at the school. sometimes they make it available online. While there have been a few hiccups here or there, in general, attending Triton has been a positive experience for my family. If I were to offer any recommendations for improvement, I would suggest more options/support for high ability learners (especially in the elementary school grades) and guidance counselors with more education in supporting students to prepare for and choose colleges.... Read 139 reviews

• grade B

• Students 646

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• Haverhill, MA•

• Public School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.92 out of 5  226 reviews

Senior: What I liked about my experience at Whittier Tech is that the teachers were generally always great and helpful throughout the whole 4 years. I enjoyed going through all exploratory technical programs and learned a lot from my time here. You choose a specific technical program to go into and it's great to have backup skills in that trade in the real world. I made very good lifelong friends and a partner which I will always be grateful to Whittier Tech for. Overall I had a great time and recommend this school to anyone, not just people who wish to go into technical programs. It will be very worthwhile whether you're fully enrolled for 4 years or choose to do night school. I learned information from going to this school that will stay relevant throughout my whole life.... Read 226 reviews

• grade B

• Students 1,249

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• Gloucester Public Schools, MA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.15 out of 5  114 reviews

Junior: The quality of education at GHS is impressive: I'm satisfied with the curriculum in most subjects, and so far I haven't had a teacher who doesn't have a visible passion for their job and students. I've also enjoyed the diversity of subjects at GHS; it's not every day you see a school that offers classes in graphic novels and women's literature. Also - and while I don't use these myself - I am glad that GHS offers vocational courses to those who want to go straight into the workforce. It's good that the administration is considering the different needs of the student body. I would like to see more funding toward the art and theatre departments, as they are comparatively overlooked. I would also like the administration to look into the possibility of some kind of study period; I feel that, given both the workload that students have and the fact that many of us are involved in extracurriculars, this would aid in productivity.... Read 114 reviews

• grade B

• Students 819

• Student-teacher ratio 11:1