Summary:
ZIP code 03303 has one middle school, Merrimack Valley Middle School, serving students in grades 6–8 in Penacook, New Hampshire. The school enrolls about 466 students and is part of the Merrimack Valley School District. With a 10.3:1 student–teacher ratio, the school may be able to provide relatively individualized support, although families should remember that this figure does not necessarily represent average class size.
Merrimack Valley Middle School has shown clear improvement. Its statewide ranking rose from 94th of 130 schools in 2023–2024 to 65th of 138 in 2025–2026, while its percentile increased from the 28th to the 53rd. The school also improved its overall proficiency rates between 2024–2025 and 2025–2026: math rose from 39% to 44%, reading from 50% to 55%, and science from 31% to 33%. In 2025–2026, the school performed above district averages in all three subjects and matched statewide results in math and reading.
Reading is the school’s strongest area, with 55% of students proficient overall and results at or above state levels in every grade; 7th-grade reading was especially strong at 60%. Eighth-grade math was another bright spot at 45%, five points above the state rate. Science is the main area for improvement: 33% of 8th graders were proficient, compared with 38% statewide, although the school still exceeded the district’s 29%. Overall, families can view the school as an improving, middle-of-the-state option with stronger results than its district, solid reading performance, and a need for continued attention to science.
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