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Nelson Elementary School

Q: Is Nelson Elementary School a good school?

Nelson Elementary School ranks 84 th of 230 New Hampshire elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-5

84^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 230 New Hampshire Elementary Schools

Better than 63% of New Hampshire elementary schools

Summary

Nelson Elementary School is a small public school serving 58 students in kindergarten through fifth grade in the rural community of Nelson, New Hampshire, through the Nelson School District. Its 8.5-to-1 student-teacher ratio is among the lowest in the nearby comparison group, which may support a more individualized school experience. The school currently ranks 84th out of 230 New Hampshire schools, placing it around the 63rd percentile.

Academically, mathematics is Nelson’s clearest strength. In 2025–2026, 61% of students were proficient in math, compared with 44% statewide—the highest math result among the nearby schools with reported results. Nelson also exceeded the state average in science, with 42% proficiency compared with 38% statewide, while reading matched the state average at 55%. The school’s third-grade math result was particularly strong at 77%, although fifth-grade math was 42%, suggesting that performance may vary considerably by grade. Compared with nearby schools, Nelson outperformed larger schools such as Fuller Elementary School, Wheelock Elementary School, and Franklin Elementary School in overall math.

Nelson’s current standing represents a substantial recovery from 2023–2024, when it ranked near the bottom statewide and recorded only 15% science proficiency. Its latest science result rose to 42%, and its overall ranking improved from the 18th to the 63rd percentile. Among nearby schools, Fuller Elementary School has the stronger overall profile, with higher reading, science, and statewide-ranking results, while Surry Village Charter School stands out in science. Because Nelson is very small, results can shift noticeably when only a few students’ scores change. Parents may want to watch whether math strength, science gains, and the recent ranking improvement continue over several years.

Students ?

8.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$18,452

Per pupil spending ?

19.0%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

441 Granite Lake Rd
Nelson, NH 03457-5116

(603) 847-3408

District: Nelson School District

Racial breakdown:

White:

91.4%

Hispanic:

3.4%

African American:

1.7%

See top rated New Hampshire elementary schools

Compare Nelson Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Recently slipping — 81st percentile in 2018 → 63rd in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the New Hampshire average (53% vs 46% meeting standards)

✓Above the New Hampshire median (63rd percentile)

✓Small classes — about 8 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped from its 81st-percentile peak (2018) to 63rd (2026)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school53%

District avg53%

New Hampshire avg46%

84^th of 230

New Hampshire public elementary schools ?

Top 37%▲ up 39 pts since 2016

From bottom 25% (2016) to top 37% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of New Hampshire Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

62^nd of 166Nelson 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	60.3	84 of 230	63.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	20.4	191 of 234	18.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	51.5	119 of 233	48.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	72.4	45 of 231	80.5%	★★★★☆
2016	33.5	184 of 244	24.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	50.1	133 of 236	43.6%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Hampshire percentile	Rating
2026	53.1	106 of 229	53.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	24.4	181 of 228	20.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	50.3	124 of 229	45.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	62.8	75 of 227	67.0%	★★★☆☆

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)

White (2026)54th percentile-10 vs school

By subject vs New Hampshire (2025-2026) ?

Mathematics61%+17 vs state

Reading55%~ state avg

Science42%+4 vs state

5.0

1 rating

5★1

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★0

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Schools Near Nelson Elementary 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/reduced lunch (2024-25)	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 3rd Grade	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 3rd Grade	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
Nelson Elementary School	Public	K-5	441 Granite Lake Rd	Nelson	03457	Cheshire County	Nelson School District	No	No	No	Yes	(603) 847-3408	58	7	8.5	19.0%	53 (91.4%)	1 (1.7%)	2 (3.4%)	1 (1.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.7%)	60.3	84^th of 230 public elementary schools	63.5%					(n/a)	77.0		42.0				61.0	54.0		58.0				55.0	42.0		42.0	$18,452
James Faulkner Elementary School	Public	K-5	200 School St.	Stoddard	03464	Cheshire County	Stoddard School District	No	No	No	Yes	(603) 446-3348	46	7	7.0	30.4%	44 (95.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (2.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (2.2%)								(n/a)							21.0							13.0				$21,127
Wells Memorial School	Public	K-6	235 Chesham Rd.	Harrisville	03450	Cheshire County	Harrisville School District	No	No	No	Yes	(603) 827-3272	47	5	8.7	17.0%	40 (85.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (2.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (12.8%)								(n/a)							54.0							50.0				$23,429
Gilsum STEAM Academy	Public	K-6	640 Route 10	Gilsum	03448	Cheshire County	Monadnock Regional School District	No	No	No	No	(603) 352-2226	50	5	10.0	38.0%	42 (84.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (4.0%)	3 (6.0%)	1 (2.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (4.0%)								(n/a)							38.0							55.0				$19,944
Marlborough Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	41 Fitch Court	Marlborough	03455	Cheshire County	Marlborough School District	No	No	No	Yes	(603) 876-4465	164	15	11.2	42.7%	151 (92.1%)	4 (2.4%)	1 (0.6%)	4 (2.4%)	1 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.8%)	19.1	204^th of 230 public elementary schools	11.3%		13.5	204^th of 223 public elementary schools	8.5%		31.0	26.0	28.0		35.0	11.0	24.0	54.0	42.0	44.0	18.0	35.0	32.0	38.0	11.0	11.0	11.0	$22,127
Fuller Elementary School	Public	K-5	422 Elm St.	Keene	03431	Cheshire County	Keene School District	No	No	No	Yes	(603) 352-1245	275	25	11.0	32.0%	237 (86.2%)	5 (1.8%)	15 (5.5%)	10 (3.6%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (2.5%)	67.1	60^th of 230 public elementary schools	73.9%		52.6	106^th of 223 public elementary schools	52.5%	46	62.0	46.0	50.0				52.0	62.0	57.0	68.0				62.0	57.0		57.0	$18,710
Gathering Waters Charter School (E)	Public, Charter	K-8	98 S Lincoln St	Keene	03431	Cheshire County	Gathering Waters Charter School	Yes	No	No	No	(603) 733-8701	219	29	7.6	24.2%	190 (86.8%)	8 (3.7%)	4 (1.8%)	12 (5.5%)	3 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.9%)	18.4	207^th of 230 public elementary schools	10.0%					(n/a)	35.0	404.0	12.0	14.0	0.0	13.0	13.0	59.0	33.0	33.0	29.0	50.0	43.0	42.0	28.0	30.0	29.0
Franklin Elementary School	Public	K-5	217 Washington St	Keene	03431	Cheshire County	Keene School District	No	No	No	Yes	(603) 352-1712	234	20	11.4	61.1%	186 (79.5%)	5 (2.1%)	26 (11.1%)	7 (3.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (4.3%)	35	162^nd of 230 public elementary schools	29.6%		28	175^th of 223 public elementary schools	21.5%	13	47.0	49.0	21.0				38.0	63.0	53.0	39.0				51.0	18.0		18.0	$19,972
John D. Perkins Academy	Public	K-5	919 Nh Rte 10	Marlow	03456	Cheshire County	Marlow School District	No	No	No	Yes	(603) 446-3307	55	5	10.1	36.4%	54 (98.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)							44.0							31.0				$25,940
Surry Village Charter School	Public, Charter	K-8	449 Route 12A	Surry	03431	Cheshire County	Surry Village Charter School	Yes	No	No	Yes	(603) 357-9700	79	7	11.2	27.8%	67 (84.8%)	1 (1.3%)	5 (6.3%)	1 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (6.3%)								(n/a)	18.0				67.0		53.0	18.0				75.0		53.0			63.0

Frequently Asked Questions about Nelson Elementary School

What is the racial makeup of Nelson Elementary School?

Students at Nelson Elementary School are 91% White, 3% Hispanic, 2% African American, 2% Asian, 2% Two or more races.

Is Nelson Elementary School a good school?

Nelson Elementary School ranks 84^th of 230 New Hampshire elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What district is Nelson Elementary School in?

Nelson School District

How many students attend Nelson Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 58 students attended Nelson Elementary School.

Rate Nelson Elementary School!

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Latest New Hampshire data All new data »

2025–26 NH SAS & SAT test scoresSep 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.