Public schools in Lawrence, MA
29 open public schools with an address in Lawrence, operated by 4 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
29
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
15,552
29 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
11.5:1
Massachusetts median 11.8:1
Charter schools
3
0 virtual
An overview of Lawrence public schools
The federal directory lists 29 public schools in Lawrence, MA: 16 elementary, 8 middle, 4 high, 1 combined or other. The 29 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 15,552 students, an average of 536 per school. The largest campus is Lawrence High School (3,453 students), and the largest elementary school is Community Day Charter Public School (1,200).
Lawrence operates the most schools here (26), plus 3 charter, service, or other agencies. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 11.5:1, similar to the statewide school median of 11.8:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
School choice options include 3 charter schools. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 5 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 1 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 1 of 5 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
School districts and agencies serving Lawrence
Lawrence
Public school district
26 schools in Lawrence
Community Day Charter Public School (District)
Independent charter agency
1 school in Lawrence
Lawrence Family Development Charter (District)
Independent charter agency
1 school in Lawrence
Phoenix Academy Public Charter High School Lawrence (Distri
Independent charter agency
1 school in Lawrence
Elementary schools in Lawrence
16| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arlington Elementary Lawrence | KG–04 | 558 | 8.9:1 | |
| Community Day Charter Public School Community Day Charter Public School (District) · Charter | PK–08 | 1,200 | 8.8:1 | |
| Edward F. Parthum Lawrence | KG–04 | 656 | 13.4:1 | |
| Emily G Wetherbee Lawrence | KG–08 | 480 | 8.7:1 | |
| Francis M Leahy Elementary Lawrence | KG–04 | 525 | 13.5:1 | |
| Gerard A. Guilmette Lawrence | 01–04 | 485 | 11:1 | |
| Henry K. Oliver Elementary Lawrence | KG–04 | 469 | 10.9:1 | |
| James F Hennessey Lawrence | PK–02 | 300 | 9.5:1 | |
| John Breen School Lawrence | PK–KG | 262 | 10.1:1 | |
| John K Tarbox Lawrence | 01–04 | 281 | 11.5:1 | |
| Lawrence Early Childhood Center Lawrence | PK–KG | 205 | 12.4:1 | |
| Lawrence Family Development Charter School Lawrence Family Development Charter (District) · Charter | PK–08 | 899 | 12.8:1 | |
| Lawrence Family Public Academy Lawrence | PK–KG | 202 | 9.9:1 | |
| Robert Frost Lawrence | KG–04 | 568 | 11.6:1 | |
| Rollins Early Childhood Center Lawrence | PK–KG | 157 | 7.5:1 | |
| South Lawrence East Elementary School Lawrence | 01–04 | 666 | 12:1 |
Middle schools in Lawrence
8| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexander B Bruce Lawrence | 03–08 | 462 | 11.2:1 | |
| Arlington Middle School Lawrence | 05–08 | 543 | 12.2:1 | |
| Francis M Leahy Middle Lawrence | 05–08 | 310 | 13.8:1 | |
| Frost Middle School Lawrence | 05–08 | 508 | 14.5:1 | |
| Guilmette Middle School Lawrence | 05–08 | 457 | 9:1 | |
| Henry K. Oliver Middle School Lawrence | 05–08 | 348 | 11.6:1 | |
| Parthum Middle School Lawrence | 05–08 | 585 | 13.9:1 | |
| Spark Academy Lawrence | 05–08 | 443 | 9.4:1 |
High schools in Lawrence
4| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High School Learning Center Lawrence | 09–12 | 198 | 12.9:1 | |
| Lawrence High School Lawrence | 09–12 | 3,453 | 13.6:1 | |
| Phoenix Academy Public Charter High School Lawrence Phoenix Academy Public Charter High School Lawrence (Distri · Charter · Alternative School | 09–12 | 140 | 27.9:1 | |
| RISE Academy Lawrence · Alternative School | 06–12 | 74 | 7.8:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Lawrence
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| School for Exceptional Studies Lawrence | PK–12 | 118 | 3.8:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White2.3%
- Hispanic94.7%
- Black1.6%
- Asian0.8%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.1%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0%
- Multiracial0.4%
Enrollment-weighted across 29 Lawrence schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (15,552 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Lawrence
How many public schools are in Lawrence, MA?
The current NCES directory lists 29 open public schools with a location address in Lawrence: 16 elementary, 8 middle, 4 high, 1 combined or other. Together they reported 15,552 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Lawrence?
Schools with an address in Lawrence belong to 4 education agencies, led by Lawrence (26 schools), Community Day Charter Public School (District) (1 school), Lawrence Family Development Charter (District) (1 school). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Lawrence?
Lawrence High School reported the largest high-school enrollment in Lawrence, with 3,453 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Lawrence?
Yes. 3 of the 29 public schools in Lawrence are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Community Day Charter Public School, Lawrence Family Development Charter School, Phoenix Academy Public Charter High School Lawrence. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Lawrence schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Lawrence public schools is 11.5:1, similar to the Massachusetts school median of 11.8:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Lawrence guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby Massachusetts cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All Massachusetts cities