Summary:
The Merrimack Valley School District has five elementary schools serving grades PK–5 or K–5 in Penacook, Loudon, Boscawen, Webster, and Salisbury. Together, they enroll about 960 students, with Penacook Elementary School, Loudon Elementary School, and Boscawen Elementary School serving most students. The district is ranked 113th of 166 New Hampshire districts, so school-to-school differences are especially important when comparing options.
Salisbury Elementary School has the strongest reported mathematics and reading results, with 62% and 83% proficiency, respectively. Its small enrollment and low 7.2 student-teacher ratio may be appealing to families seeking a smaller setting, though limited current-year grade-level and ranking data make comparisons less complete. Webster Elementary School is another standout, leading the available schools in science at 43% and posting the strongest third-grade mathematics and reading results. Its latest ranking improved to the 51st percentile. Loudon offers solid mathematics performance and the district’s largest recent ranking improvement, while Boscawen also performs well in mathematics but experienced a substantial decline in 2025–2026.
Penacook Elementary School is the largest school and has shown steady ranking improvement, but its current mathematics and reading proficiency rates are the lowest in the group. Science is a districtwide concern: the available school average was below the state average, with Loudon and Boscawen particularly weak and Webster notably stronger. Results also vary considerably by grade, so families should look beyond schoolwide averages. Overall, mathematics and reading are generally stronger than science, and the most important areas to investigate are Boscawen’s recent decline, Penacook’s lower achievement, and the practices supporting Salisbury’s and Webster’s stronger outcomes.
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