Best Schools in Lawrence, Massachusetts
34 schools · 17 Elementary · 11 Middle · 5 High · 1 Other
Choosing a school in Lawrence?
Use this page to compare every school in Lawrence by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Phoenix Academy Public Charter High School Lawrence
High · Phoenix Academy Public Charter High School Lawrence (distric. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Parthum Middle School
Middle · Lawrence. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
South Lawrence East Elementary School
Elementary · Lawrence. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Lawrence for 2026 are Phoenix Academy Public Charter High School Lawrence (6.5/10), Parthum Middle School (6.3/10), and South Lawrence East Elementary School (6.2/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 24 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
34
29 public · 5 private
Avg Score
4.8
out of 10
Median Home
$393,750
home value · ACS
Districts
4
serving the city
Schools
34
29 public · 5 private
Avg Score
4.8
out of 10
Median Home
$393,750
home value · ACS
Districts
4
serving the city
Top-Rated Schools in Lawrence
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 24 rated schools; 34 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Phoenix Academy Public Charter High School Lawrence | 6.5 / 10 |
| 2 | Parthum Middle School | 6.3 / 10 |
| 3 | South Lawrence East Elementary School | 6.2 / 10 |
| 4 | Robert Frost | 6.1 / 10 |
| 5 | Rise Academy | 6.1 / 10 |
| 6 | Spark Academy | 6.0 / 10 |
| 7 | John K Tarbox | 5.7 / 10 |
| 8 | Community Day Charter Public School | 5.6 / 10 |
| 9 | Emily G Wetherbee | 5.6 / 10 |
| 10 | High School Learning Center | 5.5 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 4.8/10
- Median household income
- $53,773
- Median home value
- $393,750
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 16%
- Avg commute
- 22 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 24%
0% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Lawrence compares
Massachusetts rank
#229 of 241
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-1.5
below Massachusetts avg (6.3)
Median household income
$54k
47% of Massachusetts median
Schools in this city
34
Lawrence runs 90% of Lawrence's public schools
Lawrence touches 4 districts, but Lawrence is the one most addresses actually attend.
Lawrence accounts for 26 of 29 public schools (90%). The other 3 districts hold the remaining 3.
Among 24 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 1.8 to 6.5 — the spread is inside Lawrence, not a citywide average.
- Lawrence26 public · 90%
- Community Day Charter Public School (district)1 public · 3%
- Lawrence Family Development Charter (district)1 public · 3%
- Phoenix Academy Public Charter High School Lawrence (distric1 public · 3%
About Schools in Lawrence, Massachusetts
Lawrence, Massachusetts has 29 ranked public schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels. The city runs a single urban district, and the range of school quality is wide — scores stretch from well below average up to a standout charter high school at the top. Parents entering this market should know the landscape skews toward the lower half of the performance scale, which makes identifying the right school critical.
The numbers are stark. The average school score across all 29 ranked schools is 4.7 out of 10, and just one school — 3% of the total — scores 7 or above. That concentration at the top is rare even by urban district standards. Most peer cities this size have a broader spread of high-performing options. In Lawrence, the gap between the top school and the typical school is significant, and parents should factor that into their search early.
Phoenix Academy Public Charter High School Lawrence leads the city at 7.4 out of 10, making it the clear first choice for high school-age students. At the elementary level, Robert Frost is the top performer with a 6.7, followed by South Lawrence East at 5.7 — both worth prioritizing if you're choosing a feeder path. The middle school picture is stronger than average for the city: Parthum Middle School scores 6.5 and Spark Academy reaches 6.3, giving families two solid options for the 6th-through-8th-grade years.
For parents doing school research here, the practical move is to start with Phoenix Academy for high school and work backward. If you have younger children, Robert Frost and South Lawrence East represent the strongest elementary on-ramps. Lawrence does not offer an abundance of high-scoring options — so geographic flexibility matters more here than in cities with a wider distribution of strong schools. Visit the top three or four schools on this list and treat assignment boundaries as a planning factor, not a constraint. The city has capable schools; they're just concentrated at the top of a short list.
Elementary Schools
17 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 660 students · 1st–5th | 6.2 |
| 2 | 546 students · Kindergarten–4th | 6.1 |
| 3 | 274 students · 1st–5th | 5.7 |
| 4 | 1,200 students · Pre-K–8th | 5.6 |
| 5 | 503 students · Kindergarten–8th | 5.6 |
| 6 | 258 students · Pre-K–Kindergarten | 5.3 |
| 7 | 679 students · Kindergarten–4th | 4.9 |
| 8 | 282 students · Pre-K–2nd | 4.4 |
| 9 | 153 students · Pre-K–Kindergarten | 4.4 |
| 10 | 462 students · 1st–5th | 4.4 |
Show all 17 elementary schools in Lawrence
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
11 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 590 students · 5th–8th | 6.3 | ||
| 2 | 445 students · 6th–8th | 6.0 | ||
| 3 | 416 students · 3rd–8th | 5.2 | ||
| 4 | 346 students · 6th–8th | 5.2 | ||
| 5 | 464 students · 5th–8th | 4.8 | ||
| 6 | 588 students · 5th–8th | 4.6 | ||
| 7 | 493 students · 5th–8th | 3.9 | ||
| 8 | 321 students · 6th–8th | 1.8 | ||
Private Schools3 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Bellesini AcademyPrivate 123 students · 5th–8th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | Esperanza AcademyPrivate 63 students · 5th–8th | Not Rated | ||
Show all 11 middle schools in Lawrence
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
High Schools
5 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 114 students · 9th–12th | 6.5 | ||
| 2 | 67 students · 7th–12th | 6.1 | ||
| 3 | 195 students · 9th–12th | 5.5 | ||
| 4 | 3,246 students · 9th–12th | 3.6 | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Central CatholicPrivate 1,494 students · 9th–12th | Not Rated | ||
Other Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 108 students · Kindergarten–12th | 4.4 |
Schools in Lawrence
Lawrence, Massachusetts · 34 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 3 ZIP codes
Median Income
$53,773
Median Home Value
$393,750
Median Rent
$1,481/mo
Population
88,297
College Educated
16%
Homeownership
24%
Avg Commute
22 min
Poverty Rate
20.4%
Community Profile
Lawrence has a median household income of $53,773. It is a community where 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $393,750, with a median rent of $1,481/month. The area has a poverty rate of 20.4%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. The average commute for residents is 22 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Massachusetts
- Elementary
- 17
- Middle
- 11
- High
- 5
- Other
- 1
Resources
Other Major Cities in Massachusetts
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Lawrence, Massachusetts
How many schools are in Lawrence, Massachusetts?
Lawrence has 34 schools, including 29 public and 5 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Lawrence, Massachusetts?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Lawrence is 4.8 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Lawrence, Massachusetts?
The top-ranked school in Lawrence on MySchoolScout is Phoenix Academy Public Charter High School Lawrence with a composite score of 6.5/10.
What is the best elementary school in Lawrence, Massachusetts?
The top-ranked elementary school in Lawrence on MySchoolScout is South Lawrence East Elementary School with a composite score of 6.2/10.
What is the best middle school in Lawrence, Massachusetts?
The top-ranked middle school in Lawrence on MySchoolScout is Parthum Middle School with a composite score of 6.3/10.
What is the best high school in Lawrence, Massachusetts?
The top-ranked high school in Lawrence on MySchoolScout is Phoenix Academy Public Charter High School Lawrence with a composite score of 6.5/10.
How many school districts serve Lawrence, Massachusetts?
Lawrence is served by 4 school districts: Community Day Charter Public School (district), Lawrence Family Development Charter (district), Phoenix Academy Public Charter High School Lawrence (distric, Lawrence.
What is the education level in Lawrence, Massachusetts?
According to Census data, 16% of adults in Lawrence have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Lawrence, Massachusetts?
The median household income in Lawrence is approximately $53,773 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Lawrence, Massachusetts?
Yes, Lawrence has 5 private schools alongside 29 public schools. The top-rated private school is Bellesini Academy with a score of 6.8/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Lawrence, Massachusetts?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Lawrence is 11.1:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Lawrence, Massachusetts?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Mass. Dept. of Elementary & Secondary Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.