The top reported proficiency rate is 46% in Social studies. The lowest is 33% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Amesbury Middle
Amesbury Middle is a regular public school serving sixth through eighth grade in the city of Amesbury, Massachusetts. The school sits in town, with the Doughboy memorial sculpture on its front lawn, and draws its students from a community that was historically a farming and mill town and is now largely residential, with light manufacturing in electronics, furniture, and metalwork alongside services. The Powwow River bisects the town, and the built environment includes Federal and Victorian architecture. Bus service connects to Haverhill and Newburyport train stations.
Academically, the school's overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades falls below the midpoint relative to districts in Essex County, based on state assessment results. In the most recent testing year, math proficiency was lower than English language arts, while science and social studies each showed a higher share of students reaching proficiency than math. These results represent a single year's snapshot. Looking across available years, performance has moved up and down. In English language arts, the share of students scoring proficient has fluctuated, with some years higher and some lower than the current level. Math proficiency followed a similar pattern, with a notable drop during the pandemic period and a partial recovery before settling again. A parent may want to ask the school how it supports students who are not yet meeting the bar and what interventions are in place for math in particular, given that subject's lower numbers.
The student body is predominantly white, with a smaller but present share of Hispanic students and a handful of students from other racial backgrounds. Data on the share of students from low-income households was not reported, which is an important gap for understanding the school's economic context, so a family should inquire directly about that. Information on special education and English learner populations was also missing from the available data.
Amesbury itself saw a significant change in its elementary configuration in recent years. The old Amesbury Elementary closed, and a new school, SGT. Jordan Shay Memorial Lower Elementary, opened on the same property as Cashman Elementary. Starting in the 2024-25 school year, all K-5 students are now on one campus, split by age, with Shay Memorial for kindergarten through second grade and Cashman for grades three through five. This consolidation means that middle schoolers coming up through the system will have experienced a different elementary arrangement than older siblings might have.
Housing in the Amesbury area is expensive, with home values above the national typical and rents that consume a notable share of household income. The local market has been active, with a low supply of homes relative to demand, making it a competitive environment for buyers and renters. The city has a town forest, conservation areas, parks, and a golf course, as well as historic sites like the John Greenleaf Whittier house.
Amesbury Middle does not have a graduation rate, as it does not serve high school grades. No information was available about course access, staffing, discipline, or attendance, so a parent should look into these topics directly with the school. The school is not a charter or magnet, and Title I status was not reported.
For a family considering Amesbury Middle, the academic picture is one where proficiency lags the middle of the county pack, especially in math, and where the school's student body is not especially diverse. The district has recently reorganized its elementary schools, which may affect how children transition into the middle grades. The community is a stable, residential suburb with a historic downtown and a tight housing market.
See more original research from School Decision →