School for Exceptional Studies, Lawrence MA

Original Research by School Decision on School for Exceptional Studies

The School for Exceptional Studies is a regular public school in the Lawrence Public Schools district, serving kindergarten through twelfth grade. It is not a charter, magnet, or alternative school. The name may lead a family to wonder whether this is a specialized program, but state and NCES data classify it as a regular school, so a parent should confirm directly with the district what the "Exceptional Studies" designation means in practice.

The school is small. Its enrollment spans all grades, with a modest number of students at each level and a slightly larger cluster in the upper high school grades. Demographically, the student body is overwhelmingly Hispanic or Latino, with small shares of Black and white students. Data on the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals, receive special education services, or are classified as English learners was not provided, so a family should ask the school about these support populations if they are relevant.

On state testing, the results are effectively zero across the board. In the most recent year, no students in grades three through eight scored at the proficient level or above in math, English language arts, or science. This pattern has been consistent for many years; the data show that proficiency rates have been at or very near zero for the better part of a decade across all subjects. The school's overall proficiency index places it in the bottom quartile among districts in Essex County. A parent should understand that the School for Exceptional Studies serves a student body whose academic attainment as measured by state assessments is far below typical levels. This may be connected to the population the school serves, but the available data do not specify why. A family considering this school would want a direct conversation with the school or district about the student support model, the instructional approach, and what academic progress looks like for the students enrolled here.

Lawrence itself is a densely populated, mid-sized industrial city on the Merrimack River with a strong working-class, immigrant identity. The population is heavily Hispanic or Latino, with deep Puerto Rican and Dominican roots. The city is compact, roughly seven square miles, and its built environment is dominated by historic brick mill buildings, triple-decker houses, and narrow city streets. The downtown area around Common Street hosts cultural events like the Feast of the Three Saints, and the riverfront includes a heritage state park and esplanade. The city is served by the Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority and an MBTA Commuter Rail station. Major employers include Lawrence General Hospital, New Balance, and Charm Sciences. The housing market in the zip code shows home values and rents that are moderate relative to the broader Boston region, with a mix of multi-family housing and some single-family stock.

No recent parent-relevant changes to the Lawrence school district were found in the research available, so the narrative cannot speak to any recent reforms, program additions, or leadership shifts beyond what is already described.

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Academic performance

State test results and graduation outcomes.

Graduation rate (ACGR)

21-39%Cohort of 18 students · Class of 2021

The federal source publishes a banded range instead of an exact rate when the graduating cohort is small enough that an exact number could risk identifying individual students.

How this school compares to all schools in this state

Each dot is one school’s SY 2020-21 graduation rate, binned by integer rate. Taller columns mean more schools at that rate. This school is highlighted.

392 schools plotted. 8 additional schools' rates are federally suppressed and not shown. Data: EDFacts SY 2020-21.

Math

Grades 3-80%

School 0% · District 19% · ▼ 19 pts below district

▼ 40 pts below state median · ▼ 37 pts below county median

English language arts

Grades 3-80%

School 0% · District 18% · ▼ 18 pts below district

▼ 41 pts below state median · ▼ 37 pts below county median

Science

Grades 3-80%

School 0% · District 17% · ▼ 17 pts below district

▼ 42 pts below state median · ▼ 39 pts below county median

This schoolLawrence, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.