Wakefield School District

Wakefield School District has one school, Paul Elementary School, in Sanbornville, New Hampshire, serving approximately 410 students from Pre-K through eighth grade, with an 11.3:1 student–teacher ratio.

Because it is the district’s only school, Paul Elementary represents the district’s overall academic performance and there are no other local schools for comparison. The school’s statewide ranking has improved over the past three years, moving from the 4th percentile in 2023–2024 to the 16th percentile in 2025–2026, and its rating increased from zero stars to one. Student proficiency also improved between 2024–2025 and 2025–2026: mathematics rose from 25% to 30%, reading from 34% to 38%, and science from 17% to 22%. Despite this progress, results remain below New Hampshire averages in every subject. In 2025–2026, the school trailed the state by 14 percentage points in mathematics, 17 in reading, and 16 in science.

Performance varies considerably by grade. Eighth-grade mathematics is the strongest relative result, with 41% of students proficient compared with 40% statewide. Third- and fifth-grade reading are the school’s strongest absolute reading results, at 48% and 49%, respectively. The most significant concern is eighth-grade reading, where proficiency was 19%, compared with 51% statewide. Mathematics was also weak in most grades, especially third grade, which trailed the state by 24 points, while science proficiency was 25% in fifth grade and 20% in eighth grade. Families may want to pay particular attention to academic supports in grades 6–8, literacy improvement, foundational mathematics, and science instruction. The school’s low student–teacher ratio is a positive resource, although achievement outcomes suggest that curriculum alignment, intervention quality, and instructional consistency remain important areas to examine.