Best Public Schools in Zip Code 03442

ZIP code 03442, located in Bennington, New Hampshire, contains one public school: Pierce Elementary School. The school serves kindergarten through fourth grade and enrolls 55 students, creating a notably small-school setting. It is part of the Contoocook Valley School District, which ranks 84th out of 166 New Hampshire districts. Since there are no middle schools, high schools, or alternative schools listed in this ZIP code, families will need to consider schools outside the ZIP code for later grades.

Pierce’s recent academic results are generally stronger than district and state averages. In 2025–2026, 64% of students were proficient in reading, compared with 56% in the district and 55% statewide. Mathematics proficiency was 50%, above the district’s 40% and the state’s 44%. Reading is the clearest strength, especially in third grade, where 73% of students were proficient—well above the district and state results. Fourth-grade mathematics was also strong at 59%, exceeding both the district and state. The school’s statewide ranking improved substantially, from 178th of 234 schools in 2023–2024 to 85th of 230 schools in 2025–2026.

Performance is not uniform across grades. Third-grade mathematics was the main concern, with 36% proficiency, 16 points below the district and 18 points below the state. By fourth grade, mathematics proficiency reached 59%, although results from different grades represent different student groups and should not be treated as direct year-to-year progress. Overall reading increased from 60% to 64% between 2024–2025 and 2025–2026, while mathematics declined slightly from 52% to 50%. The school reports a 6.6-to-1 student-teacher ratio and a 38.18% free-and-reduced-price lunch rate. Because enrollment is small, results can shift noticeably when only a few students perform differently from one year to the next.