For the 2026 school year, there are 54 public preschools serving 20,561 students in Essex County, MA.
The top-ranked public preschools in Essex County, MA are Manchester Memorial Elementary School, Steward Elementary School and Winthrop School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Essex County, MA public preschools have an average math proficiency score of 37% (versus the Massachusetts public pre school average of 36%), and reading proficiency score of 38% (versus the 37% statewide average). Pre schools in Essex County have an average ranking of 4/10, which is in the bottom 50% of Massachusetts public pre schools.
Minority enrollment is 54% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Massachusetts public preschool average of 55% (majority Hispanic).
Best Public Preschools in Essex County (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Manchester Memorial Elementary School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
43 Lincoln Street
Manchester, MA 01944
(978) 526-1908
Manchester, MA 01944
(978) 526-1908
Gr: PK-5 | 304 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 7%
Rank: #22.
Steward Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
261 Perkins Row
Topsfield, MA 01983
(978) 887-1538
Topsfield, MA 01983
(978) 887-1538
Gr: PK-3 | 347 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 8%
Rank: #33.
Winthrop School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
325 Bay Rd
South Hamilton, MA 01982
(978) 468-5340
South Hamilton, MA 01982
(978) 468-5340
Gr: PK-5 | 329 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 14%
Rank: #44.
Newbury Elementary School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
63 Hanover Street
Newbury, MA 01951
(978) 465-5353
Newbury, MA 01951
(978) 465-5353
Gr: PK-6 | 424 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 11%
Rank: #5 - 65. - 6.
Francis T Bresnahan Elementary School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
333 High Street
Newburyport, MA 01950
(978) 465-4431
Newburyport, MA 01950
(978) 465-4431
Gr: PK-3 | 584 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 12%
Rank: #5 - 65. - 6.
Lucretia And Joseph Brown School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
40 Baldwin Road
Marblehead, MA 01945
(781) 629-3112
Marblehead, MA 01945
(781) 629-3112
Gr: PK-3 | 445 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 17%
Rank: #7 - 87. - 8.
Dr John C Page School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
694 Main Street
West Newbury, MA 01985
(978) 363-2671
West Newbury, MA 01985
(978) 363-2671
Gr: PK-6 | 327 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 9%
Rank: #7 - 87. - 8.
Glover
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
9 Maple Street
Marblehead, MA 01945
(781) 639-3190
Marblehead, MA 01945
(781) 639-3190
Gr: PK-3 | 318 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 17%
Rank: #99.
Shay Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
193r Lions Mouth Road
Amesbury, MA 01913
(978) 388-3659
Amesbury, MA 01913
(978) 388-3659
Gr: PK-2 | 485 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 20%
Rank: #1010.
Elmer S Bagnall
(Math: 56% | Reading: 52%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
253 School Street
Groveland, MA 01834
(978) 372-8856
Groveland, MA 01834
(978) 372-8856
Gr: PK-6 | 519 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 16%
Rank: #1111.
Pine Grove
(Math: 55% | Reading: 52%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
191 Main Street
Rowley, MA 01969
(978) 948-2520
Rowley, MA 01969
(978) 948-2520
Gr: PK-6 | 429 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 8%
Rank: #1212.
Paul F Doyon Memorial
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
216 Linebrook Rd
Ipswich, MA 01938
(978) 356-5506
Ipswich, MA 01938
(978) 356-5506
Gr: PK-5 | 366 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 18%
Rank: #1313.
Johnson
(Math: 50-59% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
290 Castle Road
Nahant, MA 01908
(781) 581-1600
Nahant, MA 01908
(781) 581-1600
Gr: PK-6 | 163 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 13%
Rank: #1414.
Winthrop
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
65 Central Street
Ipswich, MA 01938
(978) 356-2976
Ipswich, MA 01938
(978) 356-2976
Gr: PK-5 | 373 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 19%
Rank: #1515.
Community Day Charter Public School
Charter School
(Math: 48% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
73 Prospect Street
Lawrence, MA 01841
(978) 681-9910
Lawrence, MA 01841
(978) 681-9910
Gr: PK-8 | 1,200 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
Rank: #1616.
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: #1717.
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: #18 - 1918. - 19.
Riverside
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
95 Liberty Street
Danvers, MA 01923
(978) 774-5010
Danvers, MA 01923
(978) 774-5010
Gr: PK-5 | 350 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 17%
Rank: #18 - 1918. - 19.
Rockport Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
34 Jerdens Lane
Rockport, MA 01966
(978) 546-1220
Rockport, MA 01966
(978) 546-1220
Gr: PK-5 | 264 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 13%
Rank: #2020.
Veterans Early Learning Center
(Math: 26% | Reading: 46% )
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
39 Hurd Avenue
Saugus, MA 01906
(781) 231-8166
Saugus, MA 01906
(781) 231-8166
Gr: PK-1 | 501 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 52%
Rank: #2121.
Sewell-anderson
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
25 Ontario Street
Lynn, MA 01905
(781) 477-7444
Lynn, MA 01905
(781) 477-7444
Gr: PK-5 | 300 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 84%
Rank: #22 - 2322. - 23.
Bates
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
53 Liberty Hill Avenue
Salem, MA 01970
(978) 740-1250
Salem, MA 01970
(978) 740-1250
Gr: PK-5 | 410 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 51%
Rank: #22 - 2322. - 23.
Capt William G Shoemaker
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
26 Regina Rd
Lynn, MA 01904
(781) 477-7450
Lynn, MA 01904
(781) 477-7450
Gr: PK-5 | 361 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 68%
Rank: #2424.
Salisbury Elementary School
(Math: 30% | Reading: 36%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
100 Lafayette Rd.
Salisbury, MA 01952
(978) 463-5852
Salisbury, MA 01952
(978) 463-5852
Gr: PK-6 | 386 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 19%
Rank: #2525.
Center
(Math: 31% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
18 Irving Street
Peabody, MA 01960
(978) 536-5475
Peabody, MA 01960
(978) 536-5475
Gr: PK | 123 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 48%
Rank: #2626.
Lawrence Family Development Charter School
Charter School
(Math: 21% | Reading: 39%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
34 West Street
Lawrence, MA 01841
(978) 689-9863
Lawrence, MA 01841
(978) 689-9863
Gr: PK-8 | 899 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1
Rank: #2727.
Lynn Vocational Technical Institute
Vocational School
(Math: 20% | Reading: 32%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
80 Neptune Blvd
Lynn, MA 01902
(781) 477-7431
Lynn, MA 01902
(781) 477-7431
Gr: PK-12 | 1,584 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 90%
Rank: #2828.
Edward A Sisson
(Math: 22% | Reading: 29%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
58 Conomo Avenue
Lynn, MA 01904
(781) 477-7455
Lynn, MA 01904
(781) 477-7455
Gr: PK-5 | 449 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 76%
Rank: #2929.
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: #3030.
Julia F Callahan
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
200 O'callaghan Way
Lynn, MA 01905
(781) 477-7340
Lynn, MA 01905
(781) 477-7340
Gr: PK-5 | 373 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 85%
Rank: #3131.
Early Childhood Center
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
100 Bennet Street
Lynn, MA 01905
(781) 477-7220
Lynn, MA 01905
(781) 477-7220
Gr: PK | 135 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 86%
Rank: #3232.
Horace Mann Laboratory
(Math: 10-14% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
79 Willson Street
Salem, MA 01970
(978) 740-1290
Salem, MA 01970
(978) 740-1290
Gr: PK-5 | 293 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 66%
Rank: #3333.
Bentley Academy Innovation School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 10-14%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
25 Memorial Drive
Salem, MA 01970
(978) 740-1260
Salem, MA 01970
(978) 740-1260
Gr: PK-5 | 286 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 87%
Rank: #3434.
Cobbet Elementary School
(Math: 14% | Reading: 13%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
40 Franklin Street
Lynn, MA 01902
(781) 477-7341
Lynn, MA 01902
(781) 477-7341
Gr: PK-5 | 616 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 97%
Rank: #3535.
E J Harrington
(Math: 10% | Reading: 15%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
21 Dexter Street
Lynn, MA 01902
(781) 477-7380
Lynn, MA 01902
(781) 477-7380
Gr: PK-5 | 687 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 93%
Show 19 more public schools in Essex County, MA (out of 54 total schools)
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Essex County Public Schools (Closed)
School
Location
Quick Facts
Amesbury Academy Charter Public School (Closed 2016)
Charter School
71 Friend Street
Amesbury, MA 01913
(978) 388-8037
Amesbury, MA 01913
(978) 388-8037
Gr: 9-12 | 46 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 11%
150 Arlington St
Lawrence, MA 01841
(978) 975-5928
Lawrence, MA 01841
(978) 975-5928
Gr: 2-4 | 339 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
22-28 Richard Street
Saugus, MA 01906
(781) 231-5072
Saugus, MA 01906
(781) 231-5072
Gr: 1-5 | 157 students Minority enrollment: 15%
22 Richard Street
Peabody, MA 01960
(781) 231-5021
Peabody, MA 01960
(781) 231-5021
Gr: PK | 110 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 21%
551 Washington St.
Haverhill, MA 01832
(978) 374-3465
Haverhill, MA 01832
(978) 374-3465
Gr: PK-K | 116 students Minority enrollment: 13%
Bentley Academy Charter School (Closed 2023)
Charter School
25 Memorial Drive
Salem, MA 01970
(978) 740-1260
Salem, MA 01970
(978) 740-1260
Gr: K-5
25 Memorial Drive
Salem, MA 01970
(978) 740-1260
Salem, MA 01970
(978) 740-1260
Gr: K-5 | 248 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 62%
70 Main Street
North Andover, MA 01845
(978) 794-1677
North Andover, MA 01845
(978) 794-1677
Gr: PK-K | 284 students Student-teacher ratio: 32:1 Minority enrollment: 16%
45 Fountain Street
Haverhill, MA 01830
(978) 374-3464
Haverhill, MA 01830
(978) 374-3464
Gr: K-2 | 116 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 69%
70-71 North Parish Rd
Lawrence, MA 01843
(978) 946-0713
Lawrence, MA 01843
(978) 946-0713
Gr: 9-12 | 409 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1
480 So. Main St
Haverhill, MA 01835
(978) 374-5787
Haverhill, MA 01835
(978) 374-5787
Gr: 6-8 | 416 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 25%
40 Pleasant Street
Lawrence, MA 01841
(978) 975-5980
Lawrence, MA 01841
(978) 975-5980
Gr: PK-K | 173 students Minority enrollment: 78%
351 South Main St.
Haverhill, MA 01835
(978) 374-3469
Haverhill, MA 01835
(978) 374-3469
Gr: PK | 61 students Minority enrollment: 13%
551 Washington Street
Haverhill, MA 01832
(978) 469-8735
Haverhill, MA 01832
(978) 469-8735
Gr: K-2 | 123 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 65%
26 Belmont Avenue
Haverhill, MA 01830
(978) 374-3473
Haverhill, MA 01830
(978) 374-3473
Gr: K | 95 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 59%
25 Talbot Street
Saugus, MA 01906
(781) 231-5087
Saugus, MA 01906
(781) 231-5087
Gr: K-5 | 163 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 30%
3 Brook Rd
Marblehead, MA 01945
(781) 639-3195
Marblehead, MA 01945
(781) 639-3195
Gr: K | 71 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 11%
8 Davis St Ext
Gloucester, MA 01930
(978) 281-9830
Gloucester, MA 01930
(978) 281-9830
Gr: K-5 | 181 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 20%
50 Elm Street
Marblehead, MA 01945
(781) 639-3185
Marblehead, MA 01945
(781) 639-3185
Gr: K-1 | 138 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 17%
Environmental School (Closed 2004)
Alternative School
14 Central Avenue
Lynn, MA 01902
(781) 593-1680
Lynn, MA 01902
(781) 593-1680
Gr: 9-12 | 57 students Minority enrollment: 67%
201r Winter/e Denver
Saugus, MA 01906
(781) 231-5075
Saugus, MA 01906
(781) 231-5075
Gr: K-5 | 204 students Minority enrollment: 8%
33 No Common Street
Lynn, MA 01902
(781) 477-7330
Lynn, MA 01902
(781) 477-7330
Gr: 6-8 | 577 students Minority enrollment: 83%
50 Cross Street
Lawrence, MA 01841
(978) 975-5947
Lawrence, MA 01841
(978) 975-5947
Gr: K | 135 students Minority enrollment: 96%
40 Milk Street
Newburyport, MA 01950
(978) 465-4435
Newburyport, MA 01950
(978) 465-4435
Gr: PK-K | 213 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 2%
Gloucester Community Arts Charter School (Closed 2014)
Charter School
2 Blackburn Dr
Gloucester, MA 01930
(978) 865-9901
Gloucester, MA 01930
(978) 865-9901
Gr: K-8 | 122 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 9%
58 Chadwick Street
Haverhill, MA 01835
(978) 374-3487
Haverhill, MA 01835
(978) 374-3487
Gr: K | 79 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 70%
24 Redington Street
Swampscott, MA 01907
(781) 596-8847
Swampscott, MA 01907
(781) 596-8847
Gr: K-4 | 356 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 30%
400 Haverhill Street
Lawrence, MA 01841
(978) 975-5953
Lawrence, MA 01841
(978) 975-5953
Gr: 1-8 | 124 students Minority enrollment: 97%
70-71 North Parish Rd
Lawrence, MA 01843
(978) 946-0735
Lawrence, MA 01843
(978) 946-0735
Gr: 9-12 | 435 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1
233 Haverhill Street
Lawrence, MA 01840
(978) 722-8770
Lawrence, MA 01840
(978) 722-8770
Gr: 7-8 | 188 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 97%
70-71 North Parish Rd
Lawrence, MA 01843
(978) 946-0724
Lawrence, MA 01843
(978) 946-0724
Gr: 9-12 | 437 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1
70-71 North Parish Rd
Lawrence, MA 01843
(978) 946-0712
Lawrence, MA 01843
(978) 946-0712
Gr: 9-12 | 224 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1
60 Allen St
Lawrence, MA 01841
(978) 975-5962
Lawrence, MA 01841
(978) 975-5962
Gr: 7-8 | 222 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 97%
149 High Street
Newburyport, MA 01950
(978) 465-4445
Newburyport, MA 01950
(978) 465-4445
Gr: K-4 | 111 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 1%
21 Johnson Street
Peabody, MA 01960
(978) 536-5550
Peabody, MA 01960
(978) 536-5550
Gr: K-5 | 338 students Minority enrollment: 4%
Show 25 more closed public schools in Essex County, MA (out of 60 total schools)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top-ranked public preschools in Essex County, MA?
The top-ranked public preschools in Essex County, MA include Manchester Memorial Elementary School, Steward Elementary School and Winthrop School.
How many public preschools are located in Essex County?
54 public preschools are located in Essex County.
What is the racial composition of students in Essex County?
Essex County public preschools minority enrollment is 54% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Massachusetts public preschools average of 55% (majority Hispanic).
Which public preschools in Essex County are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public preschools in Essex County include: Community Day Charter Public School vs. Lawrence Family Development Charter School, Francis T Bresnahan Elementary School vs. Newbury Elementary School, Lawrence Family Development Charter School vs. Community Day Charter Public School
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