Lawrence School District

237 Essex Street
Lawrence, MA 01840
(District boundaries shown in map)
1/
10
Bottom 50%

Top Rankings

Lawrence 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 4 public high schools serving 3,843 students in Lawrence School District. This district's average high testing ranking is 1/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public high schools in Massachusetts.
Public High Schools in Lawrence School District have an average math proficiency score of 16% (versus the Massachusetts public high school average of 45%), and reading proficiency score of 24% (versus the 52% statewide average).
Public High School in Lawrence School District have a Graduation Rate of 79%, which is less than the Massachusetts average of 90%.
The school with highest graduation rate is Lawrence High School, with 87% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in Massachusetts or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 98% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the Massachusetts public high school average of 50% (majority Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (MA)
# Schools
26 Schools
419 Schools
# Students
13,313 Students
328,530 Students
# Teachers
1,163 Teachers
27,877 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
11:1
11:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

Lawrence 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 80% has increased from 72% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (MA)
#379 out of 395 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
18%
42%
18%
44%
17%
44%
80%
90%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.11
0.67
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
1%
7%
% Hispanic
94%
26%
% Black
2%
12%
% White
3%
50%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
n/a
4%
All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $21,457 in this school district is less than the state median of $23,855. The school district revenue/student has grown by 9% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $21,716 is less than the state median of $24,613. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
This School District
This State (MA)
Total Revenue
$286 MM
$21,850 MM
Spending
$289 MM
$22,544 MM
Revenue / Student
$21,457
$23,855
Spending / Student
$21,716
$24,613

Best Lawrence School District Public High Schools (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
High School Learning Center
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
1 Parker Street
Lawrence, MA 01843
(978) 975-5917
Gr: 9-12 | 198 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 97%
Rank: #22.
Lawrence High School
(Math: 16% | Reading: 25%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
70-71 North Parish Road
Lawrence, MA 01843
(978) 975-2750
Gr: 9-12 | 3,453 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
Rank: #33.
School For Exceptional Studies
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: ≤10%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
233 Haverhill St.
Lawrence, MA 01841
(978) 975-5980
Gr: 1-12 | 118 students Student-teacher ratio: 4:1 Minority enrollment: 95%
Rank: n/an/a
Rise Academy
Alternative School
530 Broadway Street
Lawrence, MA 01841
(978) 975-5905
Gr: 8-12 | 74 students Student-teacher ratio: 7:1 Minority enrollment: 97%

Recent Articles

When “Free Public School” Still Isn’t Free
When “Free Public School” Still Isn’t Free
Discover the hidden costs of public school in 2026, from supplies and fees to transportation, technology, and extracurricular expenses.
What a District Budget Cut Means for Your Child's School Experience
What a District Budget Cut Means for Your Child's School Experience
Learn how district budget cuts can affect class sizes, programs, staffing, transportation, and your child's daily school experience in 2026.
School Closure Risk: What Parents Should Check Before Moving
School Closure Risk: What Parents Should Check Before Moving
Learn how parents can assess school closure risk before buying or renting in a district, using enrollment, funding, and boundary data.

Quick Facts (2026)

  • District size: 26 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 13,313 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 11:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 98%
  • : 80% (Btm 50% in MA)
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 18% (Btm 50%)
  • : 18% (Btm 50%)
  • : 17% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), MA Dept. of Education

Quick Links