Best Schools in Haverhill, Massachusetts

Haverhill's public school system spans 16 ranked schools with an average score of 5.4 out of 10 — a middling baseline that masks meaningful variation across the city. The range runs from schools in the mid-4s up to 6.9, so where a child enrolls matters more than the district average suggests. Parents researching Haverhill should treat the 5.4 figure as context, not a verdict.

Two schools sit at the top with identical scores of 6.9: Caleb Dustin Hunking School, an elementary, and Whittier Regional Vocational, a high school that adds a career-technical track to the secondary options available. Below them, the elementary tier holds three more competitive options — Golden Hill scores 6.6, while both Moody and Bartlett School and Assessment Center land at 6.4. That cluster of four elementary schools in the 6.4–6.9 band gives parents of younger children real choices worth comparing side by side.

The district's 5.4 average reflects a wide middle tier pulling on the overall number. Hunking's 6.9 runs nearly 1.5 points above that figure, demonstrating that high-performing schools exist well above what the city average implies. The vocational pathway at Whittier adds a dimension that standard academic ratings don't fully capture — students with defined career interests get a differentiated track that isn't available at traditional high schools.

For parents building a school list: start with the elementary tier, where the performance spread is widest and early school selection has the longest runway. Hunking is the highest-rated elementary in the city, followed closely by Golden Hill, Moody, and Bartlett. At the secondary level, Whittier Regional Vocational is the standout public option. Weigh program fit alongside scores — Whittier's structure suits specific student profiles, while traditional high school tracks serve a broader range. With a city average of 5.4 and a top score of 6.9, Haverhill rewards parents who do school-level research rather than relying on the district number alone.