Brian S. McCarthy Middle School

Brian S. McCarthy Middle School is a public school in Nashua, New Hampshire, serving 649 students in grades 6–8 within the Nashua School District. Its student population reflects the economically diverse Nashua area, with 44.07% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. The school reports an 11.1 student-teacher ratio, the most favorable of Nashua’s three middle schools, but its academic results remain below district and state averages.

In 2025–2026, proficiency was 23% in math, 35% in reading, and 20% in science, compared with 33%, 43%, and 27% across the district and 44%, 55%, and 38% statewide. Results also decline notably by eighth grade: math proficiency falls from 32% in sixth grade to 17% in eighth grade, while reading drops to 27% in eighth grade. The school ranks 123rd of 138 New Hampshire schools, below both Pennichuck Middle School and Fairgrounds Middle School. Its strongest relative signal is the special education subgroup, which ranks near the state midpoint, while sixth-grade math and reading are slightly above district results.

The most useful outside comparison is Hudson Memorial School, which serves the same grades and has nearly identical enrollment. Hudson’s proficiency rates are higher—39% in math, 52% in reading, and 33% in science—although it serves a population with a lower reported economic-need rate. Nearby Fairgrounds Middle School is nine points ahead in science, while Pennichuck Middle School leads in math and reading. For families, the key questions are how the school supports students between sixth and eighth grade, strengthens math and science instruction, and uses its favorable staffing ratio to improve outcomes.