Summary:
The Nashua School District has three middle schools serving grades 6–8: Pennichuck Middle School, Brian S. McCarthy Middle School, and Fairgrounds Middle School. Together, they enroll about 2,000 students in the Nashua area. All three schools receive a one-star rating in the supplied data, and district middle-school achievement is below New Hampshire averages in mathematics, reading, and science.
Fairgrounds Middle School is the strongest overall performer, with the highest average across subjects and the best current ranking of the three schools. Its 2025–2026 proficiency rates were 29% in mathematics, 38% in reading, and 29% in science. It was the only school to exceed the district average in a subject, outperforming the district in science, and it had the strongest eighth-grade results in all three reported areas. Fairgrounds also made the largest improvement, increasing science proficiency by 13 percentage points from the prior year. Pennichuck Middle School had the strongest reading results, including an outstanding 50% proficiency rate in seventh-grade reading—the highest grade-level result among the schools. It also led in all-grade mathematics and reading.
Brian S. McCarthy Middle School is the main area of concern, ranking lowest and posting the weakest all-grade results: 23% in mathematics, 35% in reading, and 20% in science. Its eighth-grade mathematics proficiency was particularly low at 17%. Across the schools, eighth grade generally showed weaker reading and mathematics results than seventh grade, making that transition an important focus for families and educators. Overall, reading was the strongest subject, while science was the weakest. Parents comparing schools may view Fairgrounds as the most balanced option, Pennichuck as especially strong in reading, and McCarthy as a school where targeted academic support—particularly in mathematics—appears most important.
Thank you for your feedback!