Frances C. Richmond School

Frances C. Richmond School is a public middle school in Hanover, New Hampshire, serving 369 students in grades 6–8 as part of the Dresden School District in the Upper Valley. It is one of New Hampshire’s strongest-performing middle schools, ranking second out of 138 schools statewide and earning a five-star rating for 2025–2026. The school has consistently ranked near the top over the past decade, including first or second statewide in four of the last five reported years.

Academic results are excellent across all tested subjects. In 2025–2026, 80% of students were proficient in math, 87% in reading, and 74% in science—well above New Hampshire averages of 44%, 55%, and 38%, respectively. Richmond also outperformed nearby Lebanon Middle School and Indian River School in each subject. Reading performance was especially consistent, ranging from 84% to 89% across grades 6–8. Math and science also improved recently, with math rising eight points and science five points from the prior year. The main area to monitor is eighth-grade math, at 68%, compared with 86% in sixth grade and 88% in seventh grade.

Richmond’s results are generally at or above district levels, and the Dresden School District ranks sixth among New Hampshire districts. The school also reports very strong outcomes for students receiving special education services, with a top statewide ranking in each of the last three reported years. Its student-teacher ratio of 8.8:1 is lower than at Lebanon Middle School and Indian River School. Richmond’s very low reported free- and reduced-price lunch rate means comparisons with nearby schools should be viewed in context, since the schools serve different student populations and grade configurations.