Peabody, MA - District Data

Original Research by School Decision on Peabody

Peabody is a public school district serving students from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade in Essex County. It is a mid-sized district for its grade span, with an enrollment that has been stable in recent years. The student body is diverse: the largest share of students are white, roughly a quarter are Hispanic, and smaller populations of Black, Asian, and multiracial students attend. Data on economic need was not available in the source information, so a family cannot see from this profile how many students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Similarly, the share of students with disabilities or who are English learners was not reported.

State assessment results for the most recent school year show that Peabody's overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades places it in the bottom quartile among Essex County's districts. In mathematics, English language arts, and science, roughly three in ten students scored at the proficient level or above. On the eighth-grade social studies test, about a quarter of students met proficiency. These numbers indicate that academic performance is an area where the district lags behind many of its neighbors. A parent considering the district likely will want to explore the specific supports and instructional approaches in place. Participation rates on the tests were high, so the results reflect nearly all enrolled students.

Chronic absenteeism in Peabody stands at a level that also falls in the bottom quartile among its county peers. That means a higher-than-average share of students miss a significant number of school days, which can affect learning and school culture. The reasons behind this rate are not captured in the available data, but it is a soft spot families may want to raise with the district.

Per-pupil current spending in Peabody is in the lower range among Essex County districts. This could influence class sizes, program offerings, and facility conditions, though the data here does not detail how money is allocated. The district operates ten regular schools and one alternative program, the Peabody Personalized Remote Education Program. That reflects a range of settings, but no information was provided about the breadth of course offerings, advanced placement, career pathways, or specialized programs at the high school.

Housing in the area carries a high price tag. Typical home values are well above national and state benchmarks, and rents are also elevated. The typical home costs many times the median household income, and rent consumes a large share of typical income. The county housing market shows a high volume of pending listings and a slight dip in median listing prices from the previous year. Homes tend to sell or go under contract quickly, indicating strong demand. For a new family looking to move into the district, affordability is a real consideration.

Efforts to identify recent districtwide changes such as budget overrides, curriculum shifts, or building projects turned up no sourceable lasting parent-relevant developments. That does not mean nothing is happening, only that no concrete news on these topics was found in standard public sources. Families are best off checking the district website or attending school committee meetings for current information.

Graduation rate data was not included in the available records, so it is not possible to evaluate how many students finish high school in four years. That is a notable gap.

Peabody offers a full pre-K through twelve pathway within a single district, serving a diverse student population. The academic proficiency numbers are lower than the county median, and chronic absenteeism is elevated. Spending per student is on the lower side. The housing market is expensive and competitive. A family would likely want to dig deeper into the district's strategy for raising achievement, its attendance initiatives, and the specific offerings at Peabody Veterans Memorial High School before making a decision.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

5,832

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 26%

Black 5%

White 64%

Asian 2%

Two+ 3%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr 3

21%

48%

Gr 4

22%

37%

Gr 5

17%

43%

Gr 6

15%

41%

Gr 7

16%

34%

Gr 8

13%

41%

Gr 38

17%

41%

Math

Gr 3

15%

46%

Gr 4

22%

46%

Gr 5

21%

45%

Gr 6

12%

46%

Gr 7

17%

34%

Gr 8

18%

47%

Gr 38

17%

44%

Science

Gr 5

21%

42%

Gr 8

19%

47%

Gr 38

20%

44%

Social studies

Gr 8

13%

38%

Schools in this District

11 schools are officially reported under this district.

Center

J Henry Higgins Middle

Peabody Veterans Memorial High

West Memorial

William A Welch Sr

John E. McCarthy

Peabody Personalized Remote Education Program

Academic Performance

Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.

Mathematics

1 grade reported

31%

Grades 3-8

English Language Arts

1 grade reported

30%

Grades 3-8

Science

1 grade reported

33%

Grades 3-8

Social Studies

1 grade reported

26%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

Data as of April 2026 | District-weighted from constituent ZIP codes

Home Values

Typical home value$704,740

Year-over-year change+0.8%

Range across 2 ZIP codes$699K to $1.1M

vs. state typical1.06x

vs. national typical1.91x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (2 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
01960	Peabody	$699K	+0.8%	98.6%
01940	Lynnfield	$1.1M	+1.9%	1.4%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$2,791/mo

Year-over-year change-0.9%

Range across 2 ZIP codes$2,787 to $3,108/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (2 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
01960	Peabody	$2,787	-0.9%	98.6%
01940	Lynnfield	$3,108	—	1.4%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$3,556/mo

Home price / national median income8.4x

Annual rent / national median income40.0%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$765/mo

Market Activity: Essex County

Median listing price$789,900

Median listing price YoY-7.0%

Median price per sq ft$421

Median price per sq ft YoY+0.5%

Median days on market20.8 days

Median days on market YoY+20.3%

Active listings912

Active listings YoY+20.6%

New listings1,092

New listings YoY+17.7%

Pending listings1,068

Pending listings YoY+413.5%

Hotness: median listing price$771,950

Hotness: median listing price YoY-2.8%

Supply score99.6

Supply score YoY-0.1%

Demand score98.5

Demand score YoY+0.9%

Median listing price (12 months)

Median price per sq ft (12 months)

Median days on market (12 months)

Active listings (12 months)

New listings (12 months)

Pending listings (12 months)

Hotness: median listing price (12 months)

Supply score (12 months)

Demand score (12 months)

Comparison

State typical home value$661,755 (+1.5% YoY)

National typical home value$368,198 (+0.6% YoY)

State ZHVI trend (12 months)

National ZHVI trend (12 months)

Economic Context

30-year fixed mortgage rate6.48%

National unemployment rate4.3%

National median household income$83,730

CPI: Rent of shelter (index)447.05

30-year fixed mortgage rate (12 months)

National unemployment rate (12 months)

National median household income (12 months)

CPI: Rent of shelter (index) (12 months)

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (Zillow Group), Realtor.com via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)

Data Currently Unavailable

Civil Rights Data (CRDC)

This profile is derived exclusively from publicly available federal and state datasets. It may not reflect the most current information available. We encourage parents and families to supplement this data with information published directly on the school’s website, which may include more recent figures, additional programs, or updated enrollment data.