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Best Public Schools in Belknap County, NH

New rankings! SchoolDigger recently updated its New Hampshire rankings with newly released test scores for the 2025-26 school year.

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At a glance

Schools

7,787

Students

Districts

Top rankedGilmanton Elementary School37^th of 230 New Hampshire elementary schools

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Biggest riser

Southwick School up 71 spots statewide this year

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Smallest classes

Inter-Lakes Middle School 8.3 students per teacher

SchoolDigger ratings

4★

3★

2★

1★

0★

2 schools without a SchoolDigger rating (too few tested students)

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				SAT Mathematics (2026)	SAT Reading (2026)	NH SAS Mathematics (2026)							NH SAS Reading (2026)							NH SAS Science (2026)				Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients (2025)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	SAT Mathematics 11th Grade	SAT Reading 11th Grade	NH SAS Mathematics 3rd Grade	NH SAS Mathematics 4th Grade	NH SAS Mathematics 5th Grade	NH SAS Mathematics 6th Grade	NH SAS Mathematics 7th Grade	NH SAS Mathematics 8th Grade	NH SAS Mathematics All Grades	NH SAS Reading 3rd Grade	NH SAS Reading 4th Grade	NH SAS Reading 5th Grade	NH SAS Reading 6th Grade	NH SAS Reading 7th Grade	NH SAS Reading 8th Grade	NH SAS Reading All Grades	NH SAS Science 5th Grade	NH SAS Science 8th Grade	NH SAS Science 11th Grade	NH SAS Science All Grades	Total
Prospect Mountain High School	Public	9-12	242 Suncook Valley Rd.	Alton	03809	Belknap County	Prospect Mountain JMA School District	No	No	No	No	(603) 875-3800	402	36	11.1	21.1%	374 (93.0%)	3 (0.7%)	12 (3.0%)	3 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (2.5%)	28.7	69^th of 89 public high schools	22.5%		52.8	33^rd of 86 public high schools	61.6%	36	13.0	56.0							13.0							56.0			30.0	30.0
Alton Central School (Elem)	Public	PK, KG-8	41 School St.	Alton	03809	Belknap County	Alton School District	No	No	No	Yes	(603) 875-7500	407	44	9.3	15.0%	389 (95.6%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.0%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (2.9%)	29.9	171^st of 230 public elementary schools	25.7%		26.9	178^th of 224 public elementary schools	20.5%	7			47.0	46.0	15.0	17.0	31.0	38.0	32.0	44.0	49.0	54.0	47.0	40.0	67.0	51.0	28.0	50.0		40.0	$23,872
Barnstead Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	91 Maple St.	Center Barnstead	03225	Belknap County	Barnstead School District	No	No	No	Yes	(603) 269-5161	449	39	11.5	31.0%	436 (97.1%)	2 (0.4%)	8 (1.8%)	3 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7.7	225^th of 230 public elementary schools	2.2%		12.7	206^th of 224 public elementary schools	8.0%	19			11.0	19.0	425.0	459.0	18.0	18.0	13.0	17.0	46.0	16.0	23.0	33.0	25.0	26.0	13.0	14.0		13.0	$19,232
Gilford Middle School	Public	5-8	72 Alvah Wilson Rd.	Gilford	03249	Belknap County	Gilford School District	No	No	No	No	(603) 527-2460	277	29	9.5	15.9%	251 (90.6%)	3 (1.1%)	7 (2.5%)	6 (2.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (3.6%)	65.8	36^th of 138 public middle schools	73.9%		69.7	36^th of 132 public middle schools	72.7%						44.0	60.0	60.0	38.0	51.0			66.0	64.0	76.0	52.0	65.0	34.0	36.0		35.0	$20,625
Gilford Elementary School	Public	K-4	76 Belknap Mountain Rd.	Gilford	03249	Belknap County	Gilford School District	No	No	No	Yes	(603) 524-1661	303	32	9.4	12.5%	283 (93.4%)	3 (1.0%)	5 (1.7%)	3 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (3.0%)	74.5	50^th of 230 public elementary schools	78.3%		70.1	51^st of 224 public elementary schools	77.2%	1			65.0	68.0					66.0	58.0	65.0					62.0					$20,042
Gilford High School	Public	9-12	88 Alvah Wilson Rd.	Gilford	03249	Belknap County	Gilford School District	No	No	No	No	(603) 524-7135	470	41	11.4	11.3%	450 (95.7%)	3 (0.6%)	8 (1.7%)	6 (1.3%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.4%)	67	24^th of 89 public high schools	73.0%		45.6	45^th of 86 public high schools	47.7%	21	35.0	68.0							35.0							68.0			45.0	45.0	$22,043
Gilmanton Elementary School	Public	K-8	1386 NH Rte. 140	Gilmanton IW	03837	Belknap County	Gilmanton School District	No	No	No	Yes	(603) 364-5681	335	30	11.1	19.1%	319 (95.2%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	12 (3.6%)	77.3	37^th of 230 public elementary schools	83.9%		69	57^th of 224 public elementary schools	74.6%	20			71.0	75.0	68.0	49.0	34.0	45.0	55.0	54.0	61.0	82.0	64.0	39.0	71.0	62.0	50.0	59.0		56.0	$17,297
Compass Classical Academy Charter School (E)	Public, Charter	PK, KG-8	5 Elm Street	Northfield	03276	Belknap County	Compass Classical Academy Charter School	Yes	No	No	No	(603) 729-3370	149	8	18.6	46.3%	127 (85.2%)	2 (1.3%)	10 (6.7%)	2 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.7%)	7 (4.7%)	17.3	208^th of 230 public elementary schools	9.6%		7.3	218^th of 224 public elementary schools	2.7%	10			402.0	21.0		15.0		18.0	16.0	27.0	43.0		46.0		18.0	37.0		27.0		30.0
Compass Classical Academy Charter School (H)	Public, Charter	9-12	5 Elm Street	Northfield	03276	Belknap County	Compass Classical Academy Charter School	Yes	No	No	No	(603) 729-3370	43	4	10.7	46.5%	36 (83.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (2.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (2.3%)	5 (11.6%)								(n/a)
Inter-Lakes High School	Public	9-12	1 Laker Ln.	Meredith	03253	Belknap County	Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District	No	No	No	No	(603) 279-6162	294	27	11.0	25.5%	274 (93.2%)	3 (1.0%)	9 (3.1%)	3 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.7%)	70.6	23^rd of 89 public high schools	74.2%		58.1	28^th of 86 public high schools	67.4%	5	36.0	67.0							36.0							67.0			50.0	50.0	$26,510
Inter-Lakes Middle School	Public	7-8	1 Laker Ln	Meredith	03253	Belknap County	Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District	No	No	No	No	(603) 279-6162	137	16	8.3	29.9%	129 (94.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.7%)	3 (2.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (2.9%)	35.4	91^st of 138 public middle schools	34.1%		61.4	45^th of 132 public middle schools	65.9%	46							42.0	41.0	41.0					53.0	34.0	43.0		27.0		27.0	$27,226
Inter-Lakes Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	21 Laker Ln	Meredith	03253	Belknap County	Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District	No	No	No	Yes	(603) 279-7968	397	42	9.3	33.0%	358 (90.2%)	6 (1.5%)	11 (2.8%)	3 (0.8%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (4.5%)	51	114^th of 230 public elementary schools	50.4%		41.6	132^nd of 224 public elementary schools	41.1%	18			74.0	36.0	33.0	35.0			44.0	70.0	55.0	60.0	53.0			59.0	33.0			33.0	$24,768
Elm Street School	Public	PK, KG-5	478 Elm St.	Laconia	03246	Belknap County	Laconia School District	No	No	No	Yes	(603) 524-4113	259	23	11.2	35.1%	230 (88.8%)	5 (1.9%)	18 (6.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	5 (1.9%)	52.8	111^th of 230 public elementary schools	51.7%		54.2	101^st of 224 public elementary schools	54.9%	10			81.0	35.0	51.0				54.0	43.0	46.0	69.0				52.0	38.0			38.0	$18,995
Laconia High School	Public	9-12	345 Union Ave	Laconia	03246	Belknap County	Laconia School District	No	No	No	No	(603) 524-3350	562	56	10.0	34.7%	484 (86.1%)	19 (3.4%)	25 (4.4%)	8 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (4.6%)	23.9	72^nd of 89 public high schools	19.1%		13.4	77^th of 86 public high schools	10.5%	5	18.0	47.0							18.0							47.0			29.0	29.0	$21,949
Laconia Middle School	Public	6-8	150 McGrath St	Laconia	03246	Belknap County	Laconia School District	No	No	No	No	(603) 524-4632	414	37	11.1	43.0%	350 (84.5%)	6 (1.4%)	23 (5.6%)	7 (1.7%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (6.5%)	32	97^th of 138 public middle schools	29.7%		27.1	98^th of 132 public middle schools	25.8%	1						45.0	30.0	18.0	31.0				53.0	49.0	42.0	48.0		28.0		28.0	$17,835
Pleasant Street School	Public	PK, KG-5	350 Pleasant St.	Laconia	03246	Belknap County	Laconia School District	No	No	No	Yes	(603) 524-2168	255	23	11.0	43.1%	216 (84.7%)	9 (3.5%)	17 (6.7%)	2 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (4.3%)	20.9	197^th of 230 public elementary schools	14.3%		38	140^th of 224 public elementary schools	37.5%	57			54.0	23.0	26.0				31.0	43.0	25.0	45.0				37.0	21.0			21.0	$18,998
Woodland Heights Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	225 Winter St	Laconia	03246	Belknap County	Laconia School District	No	No	No	Yes	(603) 524-8733	318	29	10.9	56.6%	264 (83.0%)	4 (1.3%)	13 (4.1%)	6 (1.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (9.7%)	18.5	206^th of 230 public elementary schools	10.4%		26.3	179^th of 224 public elementary schools	20.1%	27			43.0	33.0	21.0				32.0	48.0	38.0	23.0				36.0	15.0			15.0	$18,999
New Hampton Community School	Public	PK, KG-5	191 Main St.	New Hampton	03256	Belknap County	Newfound Area School District	No	No	No	No	(603) 744-3221	93	8	11.6	35.5%	87 (93.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (5.4%)	60.4	83^rd of 230 public elementary schools	63.9%		61.8	80^th of 224 public elementary schools	64.3%	3			53.0	50.0	45.0				49.0	63.0	45.0	85.0				64.0	45.0			45.0	$20,137
Belmont High School	Public	9-12	255 Seavey Rd.	Belmont	03220	Belknap County	Shaker Regional School District	No	No	No	No	(603) 267-6525	361	30	11.9	21.3%	339 (93.9%)	2 (0.6%)	9 (2.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (3.0%)	28.6	70^th of 89 public high schools	21.3%		39.3	52^nd of 86 public high schools	39.5%	18	13.0	55.0							13.0							55.0			31.0	31.0	$18,442
Belmont Middle School	Public	5-8	38 School St	Belmont	03220	Belknap County	Shaker Regional School District	No	No	No	Yes	(603) 267-9220	350	32	11.0	29.7%	321 (91.7%)	1 (0.3%)	12 (3.4%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	14 (4.0%)	61.7	45^th of 138 public middle schools	67.4%		53.9	57^th of 132 public middle schools	56.8%	12					30.0	46.0	41.0	57.0	44.0			63.0	54.0	56.0	71.0	61.0	31.0	44.0		37.0	$17,773
Belmont Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-4	26 Best St.	Belmont	03220	Belknap County	Shaker Regional School District	No	No	No	Yes	(603) 267-6568	336	33	10.2	34.8%	314 (93.5%)	1 (0.3%)	7 (2.1%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (3.6%)	44.5	130^th of 230 public elementary schools	43.5%		47	122^nd of 224 public elementary schools	45.5%	8			45.0	42.0					43.0	53.0	55.0					54.0					$18,619
Southwick School	Public	K-4	50 Zion Hill Rd.	Northfield	03276	Belknap County	Winnisquam Regional School District	No	No	No	Yes	(603) 286-3611	251	24	10.6	35.1%	211 (84.1%)	2 (0.8%)	15 (6.0%)	3 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (8.0%)	55.4	102^nd of 230 public elementary schools	55.7%		28.2	173^rd of 224 public elementary schools	22.8%	71			58.0	51.0					54.0	57.0	51.0					54.0					$15,141
Sanbornton Central School	Public	K-4	16 Hunkins Pond Rd.	Sanbornton	03269	Belknap County	Winnisquam Regional School District	No	No	No	No	(603) 286-8223	177	13	13.4	35.6%	146 (82.5%)	1 (0.6%)	9 (5.1%)	3 (1.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (10.2%)	65.5	65^th of 230 public elementary schools	71.7%		71.1	49^th of 224 public elementary schools	78.1%	16			63.0	71.0					67.0	49.0	58.0					53.0					$21,788
Winnisquam Regional High School	Public	9-12	435 W. Main St.	Tilton	03276	Belknap County	Winnisquam Regional School District	No	No	No	Yes	(603) 286-4531	357	22	16.2	30.5%	318 (89.1%)	5 (1.4%)	5 (1.4%)	4 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (7.0%)	46.1	38^th of 89 public high schools	57.3%		21.5	71^st of 86 public high schools	17.4%	33	418.0	55.0							< 10%							55.0			41.0	41.0	$19,188
Winnisquam Regional Middle School	Public	5-8	76 Winter St.	Tilton	03276	Belknap County	Winnisquam Regional School District	No	No	No	Yes	(603) 286-7143	361	28	12.8	37.4%	318 (88.1%)	3 (0.8%)	5 (1.4%)	6 (1.7%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (7.8%)	39.8	86^th of 138 public middle schools	37.7%		36.3	88^th of 132 public middle schools	33.3%	2					52.0	67.0	42.0	35.0	49.0			43.0	37.0	38.0	36.0	39.0	27.0	41.0		34.0	$17,312
Winnisquam Early Learning Center	Public	PK-K	435 W Main St	Tilton	03276	Belknap County	Winnisquam Regional School District	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(603) 286-4531	30	2	15.0	23.3%	27 (90.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (6.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (3.3%)								(n/a)

SchoolDigger rankings lists for New Hampshire:

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the New Hampshire Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.