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William E. Lancaster School

Q: Is William E. Lancaster School a good school?

William E. Lancaster School ranks 82 nd of 230 New Hampshire elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-5

82^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 230 New Hampshire Elementary Schools

Better than 64% of New Hampshire elementary schools

Summary

William E. Lancaster School is a public elementary school in Salem, New Hampshire, serving about 294 students in kindergarten through fifth grade. It is part of the Salem School District, a suburban district with five traditional elementary schools. Lancaster currently ranks 82nd out of 230 New Hampshire elementary schools, placing it in the 64th percentile, and has a three-star rating. Its student-teacher ratio is 12.8 to 1.

Lancaster’s clearest academic strength is mathematics. In 2025–26, 59% of students were proficient in math, compared with 48% across the Salem School District and 44% statewide. Results were especially strong in third-grade math at 68% and fourth-grade math at 62%. Reading proficiency was 56%, close to the state average of 55% and second among Salem’s traditional elementary schools. Science proficiency was 37%, roughly in line with district and state results. The school’s ranking improved from 94th to 82nd over the past year, although results remain below the school’s stronger 2022–23 performance.

Within Salem, Lancaster is currently the second-highest-ranked traditional elementary school, behind North Salem Elementary School, which ranks in the 83rd percentile. Lancaster is ahead of Dr. L. F. Soule School, William T. Barron Elementary School, and Mary A. Fisk Elementary School. Nearby alternatives such as Golden Brook Elementary School, Atkinson Academy, and The Birches Academy of Academics - Art A Public Charter School rank higher overall. Families may want to look closely at fifth-grade reading, where Lancaster’s 50% proficiency rate trails both state and local results, as well as the notable difference between female and male subgroup performance rankings.

294

Students ?

12.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$18,870

Per pupil spending ?

20.4%

Free/discounted lunch ?

54 Millville St.
Salem, NH 03079-2200

(603) 893-7059

District: Salem School District

Students who attend William E. Lancaster School usually attend:

Middle:	Woodbury School
High:	Salem High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

77.9%

Hispanic:

11.2%

Two or more races:

7.5%

See top rated New Hampshire elementary schools

Compare William E. Lancaster School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 78th percentile in 2016 → 64th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the New Hampshire average (51% vs 46% meeting standards)

✓Above the New Hampshire median (64th percentile)

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 14 percentile points since 2016

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school51%

District avg47%

New Hampshire avg46%

82^nd of 230

New Hampshire public elementary schools ?

Top 36%▼ down 14 pts since 2016

From top 22% (2016) to top 36% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of New Hampshire Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

2^nd of 5Elementary Schools in the Salem School District

80^th of 166Salem 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	60.7	82 of 230	64.3%	★★★☆☆
2025	57.2	94 of 224	58.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	61.1	81 of 234	65.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	70.7	58 of 237	75.5%	★★★★☆
2022	55.4	104 of 233	55.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	54.9	95 of 211	55.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	62.7	84 of 231	63.6%	★★★☆☆
2018	72.2	47 of 231	79.7%	★★★★☆
2017	74.5	49 of 229	78.6%	★★★★☆
2016	72.8	54 of 244	77.9%	★★★★☆
2015	78.4	32 of 206	84.5%	★★★★☆
2014	78.4	29 of 242	88.0%	★★★★☆
2013	74.1	48 of 241	80.1%	★★★★☆
2012	64.9	82 of 241	66.0%	★★★☆☆
2011	56.3	109 of 237	54.0%	★★★☆☆
2010	65.7	82 of 242	66.1%	★★★☆☆
2009	75.7	45 of 240	81.3%	★★★★☆
2008	81.9	27 of 236	88.6%	★★★★☆
2007	85.3	18 of 237	92.4%	★★★★★
2006	86.8	16 of 238	93.3%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Hampshire percentile	Rating
2026	67.0	48 of 184	73.9%	★★★★☆
2025	53.4	83 of 182	54.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	56.0	78 of 187	58.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	70.9	47 of 193	75.6%	★★★★☆
2022	59.7	73 of 187	61.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	62.0	56 of 160	65.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	62.0	69 of 192	64.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	63.7	65 of 190	65.8%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Hampshire percentile	Rating
2026	45.5	101 of 184	45.1%	★★☆☆☆
2025	55.5	80 of 186	57.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	61.9	74 of 193	61.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	67.3	57 of 199	71.4%	★★★★☆
2022	47.5	106 of 194	45.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	51.0	80 of 168	52.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	64.5	62 of 195	68.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	74.3	40 of 195	79.5%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Hampshire percentile	Rating
2024	62.3	25 of 71	64.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	82.3	12 of 70	82.9%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Hampshire percentile	Rating
2026	57.0	94 of 229	59.0%	★★★☆☆
2025	57.9	90 of 223	59.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	57.7	96 of 228	57.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	70.0	64 of 233	72.5%	★★★★☆
2022	54.6	103 of 229	55.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	60.4	80 of 209	61.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	65.4	70 of 229	69.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	73.2	43 of 227	81.1%	★★★★☆

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)74th percentile+10 vs school

Special Education (2024)65th percentile~ school

White (2026)59th percentile-5 vs school

Male (2026)45th percentile-19 vs school

By subject vs New Hampshire (2025-2026) ?

Mathematics59%+15 vs state

Reading56%~ state avg

Science37%~ state avg

5.0

1 rating

5★1

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★0

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Schools Near William E. Lancaster 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 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
William E. Lancaster School	Public	K-5	54 Millville St.	Salem	03079	Rockingham County	Salem School District	No	No	No	Yes	(603) 893-7059	294	23	12.8	20.4%	229 (77.9%)	7 (2.4%)	33 (11.2%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	22 (7.5%)	60.7	82^nd of 230 public elementary schools	64.3%		57.2	94^th of 224 public elementary schools	58.0%	12	68.0	62.0	48.0				59.0	58.0	62.0	50.0				56.0	37.0		37.0	$18,870
Mary A. Fisk Elementary School	Public	K-5	14 Main St.	Salem	03079	Rockingham County	Salem School District	No	No	No	No	(603) 893-7051	272	23	11.6	19.1%	192 (70.6%)	10 (3.7%)	38 (14.0%)	13 (4.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (7.0%)	38	151^st of 230 public elementary schools	34.3%		52.2	107^th of 224 public elementary schools	52.2%	44	44.0	39.0	46.0				43.0	33.0	42.0	64.0				47.0	38.0		38.0	$18,217
Dr. L. F. Soule School	Public	K-5	173 South Policy St.	Salem	03079	Rockingham County	Salem School District	No	No	No	Yes	(603) 893-7053	270	23	11.5	23.3%	193 (71.5%)	1 (0.4%)	43 (15.9%)	8 (3.0%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (8.9%)	54.1	108^th of 230 public elementary schools	53.0%		49.4	118^th of 224 public elementary schools	47.3%	10	69.0	67.0	45.0				60.0	51.0	50.0	55.0				52.0	31.0		31.0	$19,874
Windham Academy Public Charter School	Public, Charter	K-8	1 Industrial Drive	Windham	03087	Rockingham County	Windham Academy Public Charter School	Yes	No	No	No	(603) 236-7900	410	26	15.7	3.2%	318 (77.6%)	2 (0.5%)	32 (7.8%)	13 (3.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	45 (11.0%)	60	88^th of 230 public elementary schools	61.7%		66.9	64^th of 224 public elementary schools	71.4%	24	70.0	48.0	32.0	48.0	51.0		48.0	58.0	62.0	60.0	64.0	80.0		63.0	42.0		40.0
William T. Barron Elementary School	Public	K-5	55 Butler St.	Salem	03079	Rockingham County	Salem School District	No	No	No	No	(603) 893-7067	377	27	13.9	13.3%	307 (81.4%)	1 (0.3%)	44 (11.7%)	8 (2.1%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (4.2%)	47	125^th of 230 public elementary schools	45.7%		64.3	71^st of 224 public elementary schools	68.3%	54	63.0	38.0	49.0				50.0	57.0	48.0	55.0				54.0	28.0		28.0	$15,629
North Salem Elementary School	Public	K-5	140 Zion Hill Rd.	Salem	03079	Rockingham County	Salem School District	No	No	No	Yes	(603) 893-7062	353	25	14.0	9.1%	309 (87.5%)	3 (0.8%)	22 (6.2%)	6 (1.7%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (3.4%)	76.6	40^th of 230 public elementary schools	82.6%		77.4	35^th of 224 public elementary schools	84.4%	5	74.0	78.0	67.0				73.0	60.0	64.0	63.0				63.0	43.0		43.0	$16,501
The Birches Academy of Academics - Art A Public Charter School	Public, Charter	K-8	419 S Broadway	Salem	03079	Rockingham County	The Birches Academy of Academics & Art A Public Charter Sch	Yes	No	No	Yes	(603) 458-6399	286	22	13.1	8.0%	231 (80.8%)	4 (1.4%)	17 (5.9%)	19 (6.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (5.2%)	65.6	64^th of 230 public elementary schools	72.2%		67	63^rd of 224 public elementary schools	71.9%	1	76.0	49.0	57.0	31.0	27.0	29.0	45.0	58.0	57.0	86.0	56.0	36.0	61.0	59.0	46.0	32.0	39.0
Golden Brook Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-4	112B Lowell Rd.	Windham	03087	Rockingham County	Windham School District	No	No	No	Yes	(603) 845-1552	1,113	62	17.9	2.7%	919 (82.6%)	10 (0.9%)	57 (5.1%)	63 (5.7%)	3 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	61 (5.5%)	81.3	29^th of 230 public elementary schools	87.4%		74.1	43^rd of 224 public elementary schools	80.8%	14	78.0	62.0					70.0	71.0	63.0					67.0				$16,239
Atkinson Academy	Public	PK, KG-5	17 Academy Ave	Atkinson	03811	Rockingham County	Timberlane Regional School District	No	No	No	No	(603) 362-5521	364	30	12.1	5.2%	312 (85.7%)	1 (0.3%)	19 (5.2%)	3 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (8.0%)	66.5	62^nd of 230 public elementary schools	73.0%		58.6	91^st of 224 public elementary schools	59.4%	29	54.0	65.0	62.0				61.0	54.0	57.0	74.0				62.0	40.0		40.0	$18,885
Hampstead Central School	Public	PK, KG-4	21 Emerson Ave	Hampstead	03841	Rockingham County	Hampstead School District	No	No	No	Yes	(603) 329-6326	470	40	11.7	9.8%	430 (91.5%)	1 (0.2%)	23 (4.9%)	5 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (2.3%)	52.7	112^th of 230 public elementary schools	51.3%		57.5	93^rd of 224 public elementary schools	58.5%	19	50.0	58.0					54.0	52.0	53.0					53.0				$21,051

Frequently Asked Questions about William E. Lancaster School

What schools do graduates of William E. Lancaster School attend?

Students who attend William E. Lancaster School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Woodbury School
High : Salem High School

How many students attend William E. Lancaster School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 294 students attended William E. Lancaster School.

Is William E. Lancaster School a good school?

William E. Lancaster School ranks 82^nd of 230 New Hampshire elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of William E. Lancaster School?

Students at William E. Lancaster School are 78% White, 11% Hispanic, 7% Two or more races, 2% African American.

What district is William E. Lancaster School in?

Salem School District

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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.