Summary:
ZIP code 03054 has two middle-level schools in the Merrimack School District: James Mastricola Upper Elementary School for grades 5–6 and Merrimack Middle School for grades 7–8, serving 1,013 students in an area with generally above-state-average academic results.
James Mastricola Upper Elementary School has 533 students and is the stronger performer in mathematics and reading. In 2025–26, 49% of students were proficient in mathematics and 62% in reading, exceeding state averages by 5 and 7 percentage points. Grade 5 reading was especially strong at 65%. Science was the school’s main challenge, with 35% proficiency, below both the state and district averages. Families should also note that reading declined from 65% in grade 5 to 59% in grade 6, while mathematics improved slightly.
Merrimack Middle School enrolls 480 students and stands out for science performance, staffing levels, and recent improvement. Its 2025–26 proficiency rates were 45% in mathematics, 57% in reading, and 41% in science; science was 6 points higher than at James Mastricola and 3 points above the state average. The school also improved in all three subjects from the prior year, including a notable 9-point gain in science, and its ranking rose to the 61st percentile. Its student-teacher ratio of 10.2:1 is lower than James Mastricola’s 13.3:1. Overall, reading is the strongest subject across the area, while science—particularly at James Mastricola—is the clearest opportunity for growth. Both schools are rated three stars and rank at the 61st state percentile, though comparisons should account for their different grade levels.
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