Best Public Schools in Nashua, NH

Nashua has 22 schools serving approximately 10,471 students across preschool, elementary, middle, and high school grades. The area includes schools in the Nashua School District, charter schools, and smaller specialized programs, so results should be compared with enrollment, grade span, and school mission in mind.

The strongest overall performers are the two Academy for Science and Design Charter (H) and Academy for Science and Design Charter (M) campuses. The high school ranks first among New Hampshire high schools, with 93% math, 100% reading, and 86% science proficiency, a 90.3% graduation rate, and no reported dropouts. The middle school ranks fourth statewide and reports 79% math, 81% reading, and 77% science proficiency. Among traditional elementary schools, Bicentennial Elementary School is the leading performer, followed by New Searles School and Main Dunstable School. Charlotte Ave Elementary School and Broad Street Elementary School also perform above many district schools.

School quality varies widely across Nashua. The district trails New Hampshire averages in math, reading, and science, and its middle schools—especially Pennichuck Middle School, Brian S. McCarthy Middle School, and Fairgrounds Middle School—show much lower results than the charter middle school. Elementary schools needing the closest attention include Dr. Norman W. Crisp School, Ledge Street School, Amherst Street School, and Mt. Pleasant School. At the high school level, Nashua High School South currently outperforms Nashua High School North in math and reading, although both have similar graduation rates. Parents should also consider class size, enrollment, grade-specific results, and the substantial year-to-year ranking changes at some schools.