Best New Hampshire Public Schools (2026)

New Hampshire is the #45 largest school system in the United States, serving 163,071 students across the 506 public schools for the 2026 school year (there are 287 private schools, serving 27,218 students). 86% of all K-12 students in New Hampshire attend public schools, compared to the national average of 90%.
The percentage of students achieving math proficiency in New Hampshire is 42%. The percentage of students achieving reading proficiency is 51%.
Minority enrollment is 18%, with the majority being Hispanic and the student-teacher ratio is 11:1.

Top-Ranked Public Schools in New Hampshire (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Student Proficiency
Grades
Location
Rank: #1 - 31. - 3.
Academy For Science And Design Charter (H)
Charter School
(Math: 80-89% | Reading: ≥90%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
Math: 80-89% (Top 5%)
Reading: ≥90% (Top 1%)
Grades: 9-12
9 Townsend West
Nashua, NH 03063
(603) 595-4705
Rank: #1 - 31. - 3.
Hanover High School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 90-94%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
Math: 80-84% (Top 5%)
Reading: 90-94% (Top 1%)
Grades: 9-12
41 Lebanon St. Suite 1
Hanover, NH 03755
(603) 643-3431
Rank: #1 - 31. - 3.
Rye Elementary School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
Math: 85-89% (Top 1%)
Reading: 85-89% (Top 5%)
Grades: PK-4
461 Sagamore Rd.
Rye, NH 03870
(603) 436-4731
Rank: #44.
Riddle Brook School
(Math: 91% | Reading: 84%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
Math: 91% (Top 1%)
Reading: 84% (Top 5%)
Grades: K-4
230 New Boston Rd.
Bedford, NH 03110
(603) 471-1082
Rank: #55.
Lafayette Regional School
(Math: 80-89% | Reading: 80-89%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
Math: 80-89% (Top 5%)
Reading: 80-89% (Top 5%)
Grades: K-6
149 Main St.
Franconia, NH 03580
(603) 823-7741
Rank: #66.
Mason Elementary School
(Math: 70-79% | Reading: ≥90%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
Math: 70-79% (Top 5%)
Reading: ≥90% (Top 1%)
Grades: PK-5
13 Darling Hill Rd.
Greenville, NH 03048
(603) 878-2962
Rank: #77.
Bernice A. Ray School
(Math: 81% | Reading: 84%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
Math: 81% (Top 5%)
Reading: 84% (Top 5%)
Grades: K-5
26 Reservoir Rd.
Hanover, NH 03755
(603) 643-6655
Rank: #88.
New Franklin School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
Math: 75-79% (Top 5%)
Reading: 80-84% (Top 5%)
Grades: K-5
1 Franklin Dr.
Portsmouth, NH 03801
(603) 436-0910
Rank: #99.
Peter Woodbury School
(Math: 87% | Reading: 78%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
Math: 87% (Top 1%)
Reading: 78% (Top 5%)
Grades: K-4
180 County Rd.
Bedford, NH 03110
(603) 622-0431
Rank: #1010.
Academy For Science And Design Charter (M)
Charter School
(Math: 77% | Reading: 81%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
Math: 77% (Top 5%)
Reading: 81% (Top 5%)
Grades: 5-8
9 Townsend West
Nashua, NH 03063
(603) 595-4705

Overview

This State (NH)
US
# Schools
506 Schools
100,525 Schools
# Students
163,071 Students
49,339,277 Students
# Teachers
14,484 Teachers
3,180,552 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
11:1
15:1

Student By Grade

State Acdeamy

State Average (NH)
National Average
42%
41%
52%
47%
37%
43%
88%
87%
Eligible for Free Lunch
20%
50%
Eligible for Reduced Lunch
4%
5%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.33
0.71
# American Indian Students
289 Students
466,525 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
1%
# Asian Students
4,972 Students
2,807,520 Students
% Asian Students
3%
6%
# Hispanic Students
12,559 Students
14,955,622 Students
% Hispanic Students
8%
30%
# Black Students
3,462 Students
7,274,090 Students
% Black Students
2%
15%
# White Students
133,216 Students
21,014,271 Students
% White Students
82%
43%
# Hawaiian Students
126 Students
196,971 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
8,530 Students
2,588,398 Students
% of Two or more races Students
5%
5%
All Ethnic Groups

State Revenue and Spending

This State (NH)
Total Revenue (24-25)
$3,646 MM
Spending (24-25)
$3,517 MM
Revenue / Student (24-25)
$22,357
Spending / Student (24-25)
$21,566

Best New Hampshire Public Schools by County (2026)

County
# Schools
# Students
% Minority
26
7,934
9%
26
5,358
6%
43
8,971
10%
22
3,359
8%
52
10,978
16%
123
52,375
29%
54
16,539
13%
96
41,224
13%
38
14,132
15%
26
4,089
9%

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked public schools in New Hampshire?
The top-ranked public schools in New Hampshire include Academy For Science And Design Charter (H), Hanover High School, and Rye Elementary School.
How many public schools are located in New Hampshire?
506 public schools are located in New Hampshire.
What percentage of students in New Hampshire go to public school?
86% of all K-12 students in New Hampshire attend public schools (compared to the national average of 90%).
What is the racial composition of students in New Hampshire?
Minority enrollment in New Hampshire is 18%, with the majority being Hispanic.
Which public schools in New Hampshire are often viewed compared to one another?

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