Summary:
Schools in ZIP code 03054 include seven public schools serving approximately 3,613 students from elementary through high school: four elementary schools, two middle schools, and one high school. Six schools are part of the Merrimack School District, while Gate City Charter School for the Arts is a separate charter school. Overall, the Merrimack schools provide stronger-than-state results in many elementary and middle school subjects, while high school mathematics is the clearest area needing improvement.
James Mastricola Elementary School is the strongest overall performer, ranking in the 75th state percentile and posting 65% mathematics and 56% reading proficiency. Reeds Ferry School has the strongest elementary reading result at 58%, while Thorntons Ferry School trails the other traditional elementary schools with 52% proficiency in both mathematics and reading. Among middle schools, Merrimack Middle School stands out for recent improvement, especially in science, which rose from 32% to 41%. James Mastricola Upper Elementary School has particularly strong reading results at 62%.
Merrimack High School offers strong completion outcomes, including a 91.8% graduation rate and a 0.7% dropout rate, along with the area’s best reading performance at 66%. However, only 25% of students are proficient in mathematics, well below the 44% state average. Gate City Charter School for the Arts has improved in both mathematics and reading but remains the lowest-ranked school, with proficiency rates of 27% and 39%, respectively. Parents comparing schools should weigh current test scores alongside recent trends, staffing ratios, and school-specific strengths; the main priorities across the area are high school mathematics, continued support for Thorntons Ferry, and sustaining gains at Merrimack Middle.
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