Magazine Ranks Swampscott Schools in Upper Tier

The latest issue of Boston magazine ranks Swampscott the 40th best school district in the state.

Swampscott's Superintendent of Schools Lynne Celli is pleased with the district's ranking but recognizes there is room for improvement.

Celli said she is familiar with and respects the magazine's annual rankings.

"We were not on that (top 50) list last year," she said. "It's quite an honor. Everyone (in the district) worked really hard."

To determine their rankings, researchers drew on numerous variables ranging from enrollment to test scores.

Celli is happy with Swampscott's student-to-teacher ratio, 13-1, and some test scores.

"I'm most happy with the improvement with MCAS scores — but there is room for improvement," the superintendent said.

Celli also said she would like to see the district offer more Advancement Placement classes.

The Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System is required statewide testing that measures students' academic progress.

Boston Magazine drew on recent data by consulting the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, school district websites and district officials.

The ranking places Swampscott just below Andover and Hingham and just ahead of Ipswich and Ashland.

Closer to home, Hamilton-Wenham was ranked 9th, Marblehead 24th, Salem 115th, Peabody 117th and Lynn was 131st.

The top ranked school district was Dover-Sherborn and the lowest ranked district was Lawrence.

The magazine arrived at its rankings through the work of 10 researchers and a statistician — George Recck, director of the Math Resource Center at .

The rankings took into account test scores, per pupil spending, student-to-teacher ratios, number of Adavance Placement classes, graduation rate, percent of students who go on the college and the number of sports teams and clubs.