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Merrimack Valley Middle School

Q: Is Merrimack Valley Middle School a good school?

Merrimack Valley Middle School ranks 65 th of 138 New Hampshire middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Q: How many students attend Merrimack Valley Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 466 students attended Merrimack Valley Middle School.

Q: What is the racial makeup of Merrimack Valley Middle School?

Students at Merrimack Valley Middle School are 89% White, 4% Hispanic, 3% Two or more races, 2% Asian, 2% African American.

Q: What high school do graduates of Merrimack Valley Middle School attend?

Students who attend Merrimack Valley Middle School usually go on to attend Merrimack Valley High School

Public Grades 6-8

65^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 138 New Hampshire Middle Schools

Better than 53% of New Hampshire middle schools

Summary

Merrimack Valley Middle School is a public school in Penacook, New Hampshire, serving 466 students in grades 6–8 within the Merrimack Valley School District. The school ranks 65th out of 138 New Hampshire middle schools, placing it in the 53rd statewide percentile and earning three stars. Its current standing reflects meaningful recent progress: it rose from the 28th percentile in 2023–2024 to the 53rd percentile in 2025–2026. The student-teacher ratio was 10.3:1 in 2024–2025, a favorable figure for families considering classroom size and staffing.

Academically, the school is performing at the state average in both mathematics and reading, with 44% of students proficient in math and 55% in reading. Reading is a particular strength in seventh grade, where proficiency reaches 60%, and eighth-grade math is also encouraging at 45%, five points above the state rate. Science is the main area for improvement: 33% of students are proficient, compared with 38% statewide, although this represents a substantial increase from 23% in 2023–2024. The school’s overall results are stronger than those at nearby Pittsfield Middle School and Benjamin Franklin Academy Chartered Public School (M), and it slightly outperforms Rundlett Middle School in math and reading despite serving fewer students.

Families should also note that performance is uneven across student groups. The school’s effectiveness ranking improved for female, male, and White students, but its special education ranking remained low at the 17th percentile, making specialized support an important area to investigate. Compared with higher-performing nearby schools such as Bow Memorial School and Hopkinton Middle School, Merrimack Valley trails notably in reading, math, and science. Overall, it appears to be a mid-performing, improving school with solid reading and math results, a positive recent trajectory, and clear opportunities to strengthen science instruction and support for students receiving special education services.

466

Students ?

10.3

Student/teacher ratio ?

$16,978

Per pupil spending ?

32.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

14 Allen St.
Penacook, NH 03303-1645

(603) 753-6336

District: Merrimack Valley School District

Students who attend Merrimack Valley Middle School usually attend:

High:

Merrimack Valley High School

Feeder schools for Merrimack Valley Middle School:

Elementary:	Boscawen Elementary School
	Loudon Elementary School
	Penacook Elementary School
	Salisbury Elementary School
	More...
	Webster Elementary School

Racial breakdown:

White:

89.1%

Hispanic:

3.9%

Two or more races:

3.2%

See top rated New Hampshire middle schools

Compare Merrimack Valley Middle School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 34th percentile in 2016 → 53rd in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 19 percentile points since 2016

✓Above the New Hampshire median (53rd percentile)

✓Small classes — about 10 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school44%

District avg41%

New Hampshire avg46%

65^th of 138

New Hampshire public middle schools ?

Top 47%▲ up 19 pts since 2016

From bottom 34% (2016) to top 47% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of New Hampshire Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

113^th of 166Merrimack Valley School District among New Hampshire districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Hampshire percentile	Rating
2026	50.3	65 of 138	52.9%	★★★☆☆
2025	41.3	81 of 132	38.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	31.3	94 of 130	27.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	32.8	94 of 134	29.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	46.3	67 of 130	48.5%	★★☆☆☆
2021	26.4	91 of 125	27.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	27.9	97 of 128	24.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	21.7	109 of 131	16.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	28.7	95 of 125	24.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	38.9	89 of 134	33.6%	★★☆☆☆
2015	28.5	81 of 107	24.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	33.8	95 of 132	28.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	28.7	102 of 131	22.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	31.9	98 of 131	25.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	28.1	97 of 128	24.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	32.1	93 of 127	26.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	26.0	107 of 127	15.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	32.1	97 of 129	24.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	31.1	92 of 125	26.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	38.5	80 of 126	36.5%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Hampshire percentile	Rating
2026	57.3	44 of 113	61.1%	★★★☆☆
2025	44.1	64 of 112	42.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	34.8	72 of 110	34.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	33.1	80 of 114	29.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	46.3	59 of 115	48.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	24.2	90 of 113	20.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	33.7	84 of 114	26.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	30.0	84 of 116	27.6%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Hampshire percentile	Rating
2026	41.5	71 of 121	41.3%	★★☆☆☆
2025	34.5	81 of 116	30.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	30.8	82 of 113	27.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	34.8	79 of 117	32.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	49.9	57 of 117	51.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	32.0	77 of 116	33.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	26.0	87 of 113	23.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	19.9	97 of 114	14.9%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Hampshire percentile	Rating
2026	30.7	40 of 48	16.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	33.5	39 of 51	23.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	30.2	39 of 48	18.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	47.1	24 of 47	48.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	23.7	42 of 48	12.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	27.8	38 of 49	22.4%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Hampshire percentile	Rating
2026	49.1	65 of 136	52.2%	★★★☆☆
2025	40.4	81 of 131	38.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	30.6	93 of 128	27.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	29.4	98 of 132	25.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	41.6	76 of 129	41.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	25.5	90 of 123	26.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	27.5	94 of 126	25.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	20.0	110 of 129	14.7%	★☆☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Female (2026)61st percentile+8 vs school

White (2026)52nd percentile~ school

Male (2026)41st percentile-12 vs school

Special Education (2026)17th percentile-36 vs school

By subject vs New Hampshire (2025-2026) ?

Reading55%~ state avg

Mathematics44%~ state avg

Science33%-5 vs state

3.0

1 rating

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2★0

1★0

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Schools Near Merrimack Valley Middle School

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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)				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	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 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 All Grades	Total
Merrimack Valley Middle School	Public	6-8	14 Allen St.	Penacook	03303	Merrimack County	Merrimack Valley School District	No	No	No	No	(603) 753-6336	466	45	10.3	32.2%	415 (89.1%)	8 (1.7%)	18 (3.9%)	10 (2.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (3.2%)	50.3	65^th of 138 public middle schools	52.9%		41.3	81^st of 132 public middle schools	38.6%	16			43.0	43.0	45.0	44.0			52.0	60.0	53.0	55.0		33.0	33.0	$16,978
Rundlett Middle School	Public	6-8	144 South St.	Concord	03301	Merrimack County	Concord School District	No	No	No	Yes	(603) 225-0862	767	69	11.1	33.9%	589 (76.8%)	74 (9.6%)	31 (4.0%)	47 (6.1%)	3 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (3.0%)	44.9	74^th of 138 public middle schools	46.4%		52.1	62^nd of 132 public middle schools	53.0%	12			39.0	37.0	39.0	38.0			52.0	54.0	54.0	53.0		36.0	36.0	$16,417
Benjamin Franklin Academy Chartered Public School (M)	Public, Charter	6-8	157 Chichester Rd	Loudon	03307	Merrimack County	Benjamin Franklin Academy Chartered Public School	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(603) 325-7688	52	4	12.0	7.7%	47 (90.4%)	2 (3.8%)	2 (3.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.9%)	20.8	115^th of 138 public middle schools	16.7%					(n/a)			13.0	50.0	15.0	24.0			25.0	42.0	36.0	33.0		29.0	29.0
Hopkinton Middle School	Public	7-8	297 Park Ave.	Contoocook	03229	Merrimack County	Hopkinton School District	No	No	No	No	(603) 746-4167	165	16	10.5	4.8%	147 (89.1%)	1 (0.6%)	9 (5.5%)	1 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.6%)	6 (3.6%)	80	23^rd of 138 public middle schools	83.3%		87.3	12^th of 132 public middle schools	90.9%	11				75.0	53.0	64.0				80.0	70.0	75.0		40.0	40.0	$17,820
Maple Street Elementary School	Public	4-6	194 Maple St.	Contoocook	03229	Merrimack County	Hopkinton School District	No	No	No	No	(603) 746-4195	219	19	11.5	10.0%	192 (87.7%)	3 (1.4%)	8 (3.7%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)	14 (6.4%)								(n/a)	63.0	56.0	67.0			62.0	62.0	70.0	83.0			72.0	56.0		56.0	$20,503
Bow Memorial School	Public	5-8	20 Bow Center Rd.	Bow	03304	Merrimack County	Bow School District	No	No	No	No	(603) 225-3212	524	31	16.9	3.6%	479 (91.4%)	3 (0.6%)	16 (3.1%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.4%)	21 (4.0%)	79.8	24^th of 138 public middle schools	82.6%		72.4	26^th of 132 public middle schools	80.3%	2		38.0	65.0	58.0	54.0	54.0		70.0	74.0	71.0	65.0	70.0	42.0	48.0	45.0	$16,836
Three Rivers School	Public	5-8	243 Academy Rd.	Pembroke	03275	Merrimack County	Pembroke School District	No	No	No	Yes	(603) 485-5187	289	29	9.9	19.7%	255 (88.2%)	1 (0.3%)	12 (4.2%)	2 (0.7%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (6.2%)	55	55^th of 138 public middle schools	60.1%		54.9	53^rd of 132 public middle schools	59.8%	2		48.0	31.0	38.0	41.0	40.0		59.0	64.0	62.0	61.0	61.0	41.0	44.0	42.0	$16,396
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
Franklin Middle School	Public	5-8	200 Sanborn St	Franklin	03235	Merrimack County	Franklin School District	No	No	No	Yes	(603) 934-5828	301	27	10.9	67.1%	258 (85.7%)	2 (0.7%)	28 (9.3%)	2 (0.7%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (3.3%)	3.6	138^th of 138 public middle schools	0.0%		9.7	124^th of 132 public middle schools	6.1%	14		423.0	437.0	14.0	496.0	< 10%		21.0	591.0	24.0	18.0	18.0	529.0	829.0	< 10%	$17,008
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

Frequently Asked Questions about Merrimack Valley Middle School

How many students attend Merrimack Valley Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 466 students attended Merrimack Valley Middle School.

What high school do graduates of Merrimack Valley Middle School attend?

Students who attend Merrimack Valley Middle School usually go on to attend Merrimack Valley High School

Is Merrimack Valley Middle School a good school?

Merrimack Valley Middle School ranks 65^th of 138 New Hampshire middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Merrimack Valley Middle School?

Students at Merrimack Valley Middle School are 89% White, 4% Hispanic, 3% Two or more races, 2% Asian, 2% African American.

What district is Merrimack Valley Middle School in?

Merrimack Valley School District

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Latest New Hampshire data All new data »

2025–26 NH SAS & SAT test scoresNewSep 7, 2026

2024–25 dropout rates & graduation ratesNov 12, 2025

2024–25 NH SAS & SAT test scoresSep 6, 2025

2015–16 through 2023–24 dropout rates & graduation ratesJul 30, 2025

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.