Best Middle Schools in Merrimack, NH

Merrimack, New Hampshire, has two middle-level schools serving grades 5–8: James Mastricola Upper Elementary School for grades 5–6 and Merrimack Middle School for grades 7–8. Together, they enroll 1,013 students within the Merrimack School District, which ranks 64th out of 166 New Hampshire districts, placing it in the 61st percentile.

James Mastricola Upper Elementary School has the stronger overall results in reading and mathematics. In 2025–26, 62% of students were proficient in reading, including 65% in grade 5 and 59% in grade 6. Mathematics proficiency was 49%, slightly ahead of Merrimack Middle School at 45%. Science is the main area where James Mastricola trails, with 35% proficiency compared with 41% at Merrimack Middle. For families comparing the schools, James Mastricola stands out for literacy, while Merrimack Middle is stronger in science. Both schools perform above the state average in most or all subjects.

Merrimack Middle School shows the strongest recent momentum. From 2024–25 to 2025–26, its science proficiency rose from 32% to 41%, reading increased from 54% to 57%, and mathematics improved from 43% to 45%. Its ranking also rose from the 49th to the 61st percentile. Grade-level differences are important: grade 8 mathematics reached 48%, while grade 7 was 43%; reading was stronger in grade 7 than grade 8. At James Mastricola, reading was stronger in grade 5 than grade 6. Overall, families can expect a solid district profile, with reading a notable strength at James Mastricola and science improvement a notable strength at Merrimack Middle.