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J Henry Higgins Middle

Q: Is J Henry Higgins Middle a good school?

J Henry Higgins Middle ranks 325 th of 478 Massachusetts middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 6-8

325^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 478 Massachusetts Middle Schools

Better than 32% of Massachusetts middle schools

Summary

J Henry Higgins Middle is a large public middle school in Peabody, Massachusetts — a suburban community north of Boston — serving grades 6–8 with 1,320 students as part of the Peabody district, which ranks 266 of 351 districts in the state (24th percentile, 1 star).

At the school level, J Henry Higgins Middle ranked 325 of 478 middle schools in 2025–2026, placing it in the 32nd percentile with 2 stars. That is down from a recent peak of 266 of 501, or the 47th percentile, in 2022–2023 — the third straight year of decline. On 2025–2026 MCAS Next Generation tests, 27.38% of students were proficient in ELA, 28.51% in Math, 25.76% in Science, and 24.93% in grade-8 Civics. The school is below the Peabody district in ELA, Math, and Science and above it only in Civics, while state averages sit around 40–41%. Locally, it outperforms Thurgood Marshall Mid, Breed Middle School, and Pickering Middle in Lynn, is roughly comparable to Collins Middle in Salem, and trails Holten Richmond Middle School in Danvers, Beverly Middle School, Swampscott Middle, Marblehead Veterans Middle School, and Marblehead Community Charter Public School.

Science has fallen the most, from 38.78% in 2022–2023 to 25.76% in 2025–2026 — a 13.02-point drop that turned a former relative strength into a weakness. Grade 8 is the weakest band, with 8th-grade ELA at 23.81%, meaning fewer than 1 in 4 students were proficient. Results also vary widely by student group: English language learners rank around the statewide median for that group, while low-income and special education students rank below the school's overall 32nd percentile. J Henry Higgins spent $13,921 per student in 2020–2021, the lowest among the nearby comparison schools, with a student-teacher ratio of 12.3; notably, Beverly Middle School has similar spending and staffing but much stronger results, so resources alone do not explain the gap.

1,320

Students ?

12.3

Student/teacher ratio ?

$19,718

Per pupil spending ?

46.9%

Directly certified for free meals (2024-25) ?

All students in Massachusetts receive free school meals.

85 Perkins Street
Peabody, MA 01960-5398

(978) 536-4800

District: Peabody

Students who attend J Henry Higgins Middle usually attend:

High:

Peabody Veterans Memorial High

Feeder schools for J Henry Higgins Middle:

Elementary:	Captain Samuel Brown
	Center
	John E Burke
	John E. McCarthy
	More...
	South Memorial
	Thomas Carroll
	West Memorial
	William A Welch Senior

Racial breakdown:

White:

65.2%

Hispanic:

25.6%

African American:

5.0%

See top rated Massachusetts middle schools

Compare J Henry Higgins Middle to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 28th percentile in 2016 → 32nd in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Massachusetts average (27% vs 41% meeting standards)

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

!Science scores 15 pts below the Massachusetts average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school27%

District avg29%

Massachusetts avg41%

325^th of 478

Massachusetts public middle schools ?

Bottom 32%▲ up 4 pts since 2016

From bottom 28% (2016) to bottom 32% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Massachusetts Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

266^th of 351Peabody among Massachusetts districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2026	30.2	325 of 478	32.0%	★★☆☆☆
2025	34.5	294 of 484	39.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	40.0	278 of 493	43.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	44.0	266 of 501	46.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	42.0	277 of 497	44.3%	★★☆☆☆
2021	43.7	270 of 501	46.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	45.3	280 of 498	43.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	46.5	264 of 484	45.5%	★★☆☆☆
2017	45.5	265 of 487	45.6%	★★☆☆☆
2016	30.9	349 of 482	27.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	41.7	268 of 441	39.2%	★★☆☆☆
2014	37.8	303 of 455	33.4%	★★☆☆☆
2013	42.3	288 of 455	36.7%	★★☆☆☆
2012	45.3	276 of 455	39.3%	★★☆☆☆
2011	52.6	233 of 449	48.1%	★★☆☆☆
2010	54.6	206 of 434	52.5%	★★★☆☆
2009	51.3	221 of 409	46.0%	★★☆☆☆
2008	51.7	217 of 407	46.7%	★★☆☆☆
2007	49.3	233 of 399	41.6%	★★☆☆☆
2006	52.8	203 of 399	49.1%	★★☆☆☆
2005	54.7	173 of 356	51.4%	★★★☆☆
2004	57.6	153 of 344	55.5%	★★★☆☆
2003	49.7	183 of 339	46.0%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2026	42.7	112 of 215	47.9%	★★☆☆☆
2025	68.8	45 of 206	78.2%	★★★★☆
2024	58.8	61 of 202	69.8%	★★★★☆
2023	66.7	52 of 209	75.1%	★★★★☆
2022	52.3	84 of 212	60.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	64.0	43 of 193	77.7%	★★★★☆
2019	64.0	56 of 195	71.3%	★★★★☆
2018	68.5	37 of 172	78.5%	★★★★☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2026	5.6	125 of 131	4.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	21.2	107 of 135	20.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	37.0	86 of 128	32.8%	★★☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2022	39.8	223 of 445	49.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	41.4	222 of 431	48.5%	★★☆☆☆
2019	38.9	231 of 424	45.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	45.4	188 of 417	54.9%	★★★☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2026	42.0	96 of 193	50.3%	★★★☆☆
2025	43.2	76 of 181	58.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	41.6	81 of 180	55.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	60.0	22 of 155	85.8%	★★★★☆
2022	49.1	39 of 154	74.7%	★★★★☆
2021	38.7	82 of 135	39.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	50.0	44 of 138	68.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	53.9	32 of 127	74.8%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2026	30.6	314 of 468	32.9%	★★☆☆☆
2025	35.0	292 of 473	38.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	41.4	263 of 481	45.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	43.5	260 of 489	46.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	43.1	263 of 494	46.8%	★★☆☆☆
2021	45.4	255 of 483	47.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	48.5	259 of 478	45.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	45.2	264 of 463	43.0%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2026	29.8	278 of 383	27.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	31.7	256 of 376	31.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	44.6	175 of 378	53.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	46.8	162 of 364	55.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	42.6	191 of 368	48.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	41.7	170 of 335	49.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	33.4	220 of 322	31.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	37.2	200 of 309	35.3%	★★☆☆☆

Homeless

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2025	47.7	17 of 42	59.5%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2026	28.0	346 of 461	24.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	28.9	348 of 464	25.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	39.8	265 of 469	43.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	48.9	224 of 481	53.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	46.1	246 of 489	49.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	47.8	214 of 462	53.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	37.9	294 of 452	35.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	41.5	275 of 438	37.2%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2026	29.6	323 of 470	31.3%	★★☆☆☆
2025	33.3	299 of 473	36.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	37.9	286 of 483	40.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	43.2	267 of 489	45.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	39.9	282 of 497	43.3%	★★☆☆☆
2021	41.1	271 of 485	44.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	41.3	287 of 478	40.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	47.1	237 of 466	49.1%	★★☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2025	22.9	82 of 116	29.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	24.7	78 of 110	29.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	21.4	83 of 102	18.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	32.1	58 of 92	37.0%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2026	27.2	321 of 436	26.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	36.2	240 of 435	44.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	35.9	243 of 441	44.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	44.9	195 of 444	56.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	42.6	270 of 503	46.3%	★★☆☆☆
2021	42.2	259 of 489	47.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	38.3	302 of 484	37.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	41.9	273 of 467	41.5%	★★☆☆☆

Tested In Person

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2021	45.8	256 of 491	47.9%	★★☆☆☆

Tested Remotely

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2021	40.2	189 of 339	44.2%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2026	21.2	318 of 393	19.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	24.5	290 of 386	24.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	28.7	271 of 392	30.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	31.0	276 of 403	31.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	31.6	275 of 404	31.9%	★★☆☆☆
2021	33.7	271 of 401	32.4%	★★☆☆☆
2019	35.2	269 of 396	32.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	36.6	257 of 395	34.9%	★★☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Homeless (2025)60th percentile+20 vs school

English Language Learner (2026)50th percentile+18 vs school

Disabled (2022)50th percentile+6 vs school

African American (2026)48th percentile+16 vs school

Tested In Person (2021)48th percentile~ school

Tested Remotely (2021)44th percentile~ school

Female (2026)33rd percentile~ school

Male (2026)31st percentile~ school

Multi-racial (2025)29th percentile-10 vs school

Hispanic (2026)27th percentile-5 vs school

Special Education (2026)26th percentile-6 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)25th percentile-7 vs school

White (2026)19th percentile-13 vs school

Asian (2026)5th percentile-27 vs school

By subject vs Massachusetts (2025-2026) ?

Mathematics29%-13 vs state

English Language Arts27%-13 vs state

Science26%-15 vs state

Civics25%-15 vs state

★

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Schools Near J Henry Higgins Middle

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				MCAS Next Generation English Language Arts (2026)						MCAS Next Generation Mathematics (2026)						MCAS Next Generation Science (2026)			MCAS Next Generation Civics (2026)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Directly certified (2024-25)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	MCAS Next Generation English Language Arts 4th Grade	MCAS Next Generation English Language Arts 5th Grade	MCAS Next Generation English Language Arts 6th Grade	MCAS Next Generation English Language Arts 7th Grade	MCAS Next Generation English Language Arts 8th Grade	MCAS Next Generation English Language Arts All Grades	MCAS Next Generation Mathematics 4th Grade	MCAS Next Generation Mathematics 5th Grade	MCAS Next Generation Mathematics 6th Grade	MCAS Next Generation Mathematics 7th Grade	MCAS Next Generation Mathematics 8th Grade	MCAS Next Generation Mathematics All Grades	MCAS Next Generation Science 5th Grade	MCAS Next Generation Science 8th Grade	MCAS Next Generation Science All Grades	MCAS Next Generation Civics 8th Grade	Total
J Henry Higgins Middle	Public	6-8	85 Perkins Street	Peabody	01960	Essex County	Peabody	No	No	No	No	(978) 536-4800	1,320	107	12.3	46.9%	860 (65.2%)	66 (5.0%)	338 (25.6%)	25 (1.9%)	4 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (2.0%)	30.2	325^th of 478 public middle schools	32.0%		34.5	294^th of 484 public middle schools	39.3%	31			29.0	28.9	23.8	27.4			29.9	28.8	26.7	28.5		25.8	25.8	24.9	$19,718
Collins Middle	Public	6-8	29 Highland Avenue	Salem	01970	Essex County	Salem	No	No	No	Yes	(978) 740-1191	611	48	12.6	60.7%	246 (40.3%)	43 (7.0%)	272 (44.5%)	16 (2.6%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	33 (5.4%)	31.9	316^th of 478 public middle schools	33.9%		31.4	318^th of 484 public middle schools	34.3%	2			33.6	37.2	27.0	32.5			25.3	18.2	25.4	23.1		30.8	30.8	26.2	$25,747
Pickering Middle	Public	6-8	70 Conomo Avenue	Lynn	01904	Essex County	Lynn	No	No	No	Yes	(781) 477-7440	583	59	9.8	59.2%	110 (18.9%)	33 (5.7%)	347 (59.5%)	66 (11.3%)	3 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (4.1%)	16.2	403^rd of 478 public middle schools	15.7%		27	340^th of 484 public middle schools	29.8%	63			12.6	26.6	15.6	19.0			22.2	15.1	13.6	17.0		12.9	12.9	14.2	$24,052
Holten Richmond Middle School	Public	6-8	55 Conant Street	Danvers	01923	Essex County	Danvers	No	No	No	No	(978) 774-8590	745	74	10.0	26.2%	575 (77.2%)	29 (3.9%)	98 (13.2%)	20 (2.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (2.8%)	42.7	241^st of 478 public middle schools	49.6%		45.1	238^th of 484 public middle schools	50.8%	3			39.3	25.2	31.8	32.0			32.6	28.9	36.1	32.4		38.7	38.7	43.3	$20,515
Beverly Middle School	Public	5-8	502 Cabot Street	Beverly	01915	Essex County	Beverly	No	No	No	No	(978) 921-6103	1,388	112	12.4	33.3%	1,023 (73.7%)	51 (3.7%)	215 (15.5%)	27 (1.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	72 (5.2%)	61.2	164^th of 478 public middle schools	65.7%		60.6	174^th of 484 public middle schools	64.0%	10		44.3	46.2	34.4	43.3	42.2		49.6	59.4	39.6	44.3	48.4	50.2	47.0	48.5	40.5	$17,744
Thurgood Marshall Mid	Public	6-8	100 Brookline Street	Lynn	01902	Essex County	Lynn	No	No	No	Yes	(781) 477-7360	1,310	106	12.3	75.0%	107 (8.2%)	130 (9.9%)	939 (71.7%)	89 (6.8%)	11 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	34 (2.6%)	13.3	426^th of 478 public middle schools	10.9%		11.8	439^th of 484 public middle schools	9.3%	13			14.0	17.1	19.3	16.8			16.2	12.7	12.2	13.7		12.5	12.5	15.2	$20,932
Swampscott Middle	Public	5-8	207 Forest Avenue	Swampscott	01907	Essex County	Swampscott	No	No	No	Yes	(781) 596-8820	654	60	10.8	19.7%	494 (75.5%)	31 (4.7%)	88 (13.5%)	19 (2.9%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (3.2%)	69.9	125^th of 478 public middle schools	73.8%		64	163^rd of 484 public middle schools	66.3%	38		44.8	46.0	36.1	57.8	46.0		42.1	47.1	44.0	50.7	46.0	58.7	52.4	55.5	68.0	$19,244
Village School	Public	4-6	93 Village Street	Marblehead	01945	Essex County	Marblehead	No	No	No	Yes	(781) 639-3159	529	48	10.9	14.6%	439 (83.0%)	12 (2.3%)	41 (7.8%)	12 (2.3%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (4.5%)								(n/a)	50.7	50.0	59.9			53.5	55.8	52.4	61.4			56.5	69.3		69.3		$21,866
Breed Middle School	Public	6-8	90 OCallaghan Way	Lynn	01905	Essex County	Lynn	No	No	No	Yes	(781) 477-7330	1,265	98	12.8	74.9%	109 (8.6%)	95 (7.5%)	927 (73.3%)	101 (8.0%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	32 (2.5%)	12.2	433^rd of 478 public middle schools	9.4%		12.1	435^th of 484 public middle schools	10.1%	2			9.3	19.3	17.8	15.7			7.5	9.1	10.9	9.2		16.7	16.7	15.6	$20,084
Marblehead Veterans Middle School	Public	7-8	217 Pleasant Street	Marblehead	01945	Essex County	Marblehead	No	No	No	No	(781) 639-3120	411	38	10.7	12.4%	346 (84.2%)	13 (3.2%)	29 (7.1%)	8 (1.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (3.6%)	91.5	46^th of 478 public middle schools	90.4%		85.1	72^nd of 484 public middle schools	85.1%	26				59.5	71.3	65.6				65.0	74.7	70.0		62.6	62.6	66.7	$20,302

Frequently Asked Questions about J Henry Higgins Middle

What high school do graduates of J Henry Higgins Middle attend?

Students who attend J Henry Higgins Middle usually go on to attend Peabody Veterans Memorial High

What district is J Henry Higgins Middle in?

Peabody

What is the racial makeup of J Henry Higgins Middle?

Students at J Henry Higgins Middle are 65% White, 26% Hispanic, 5% African American, 2% Two or more races, 2% Asian.

How many students attend J Henry Higgins Middle?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,320 students attended J Henry Higgins Middle.

Is J Henry Higgins Middle a good school?

J Henry Higgins Middle ranks 325^th of 478 Massachusetts middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Rate J Henry Higgins Middle!

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Latest Massachusetts data All new data »

2024–25 dropout rates & graduation ratesMar 5, 2026

2024–25 MCAS Next Generation test scoresSep 29, 2025

2023–24 school spending dataMay 8, 2025

2023–24 dropout rates & graduation ratesMay 1, 2025

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.