Summary:
ZIP code 03079 has two public high schools serving grades 9–12: Salem High School and Arts Academy of New Hampshire Chartered Public High School. Together, they enroll 1,222 students, although Salem serves about 91% of them, making it roughly ten times larger. Both schools report a 0% dropout rate, compared with 2.3% statewide, while graduation, academic performance, school size, and educational approach differ considerably.
Arts Academy of New Hampshire Chartered Public High School has the stronger graduation outcome, with a 96.4% graduation rate compared with 89.0% at Salem High School and 87.0% statewide. Arts Academy also has a lower student-teacher ratio, 9.6:1 versus Salem’s 11.2:1. In 2025–2026, Arts Academy led in reading proficiency, 57% to 51%, and science proficiency, 43% to 33%. Its reading and science results were also at or above statewide levels. However, its mathematics proficiency was only 13%, compared with 25% at Salem and 44% statewide. Arts Academy’s smaller enrollment may support a more individualized setting, but results can also vary more from year to year.
Salem High School is the larger, more traditional option and has the stronger mathematics performance, although its math results remain below the state average. Salem’s current school ranking is somewhat better, at 58th of 89 schools and two stars, compared with Arts Academy’s 47th of 89 and two stars; however, both schools have experienced notable ranking declines. Academic results also fell in both schools, especially reading at Arts Academy, which dropped 26 points from the prior year. Overall, Arts Academy stands out for graduation, reading, and science, while Salem offers stronger math performance and serves most high school students in the ZIP code.
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