Best Public Schools in Zip Code 03801

Schools in ZIP code 03801 include seven public schools serving students from prekindergarten through grade 12, with approximately 2,470 students in the Portsmouth and Newington area. The schools include five elementary or preschool programs, one middle school, and one high school. Most students attend schools in the highly rated Portsmouth School District, which ranks among New Hampshire’s strongest districts. The district’s schools are consistently placed near the top of their statewide categories, while the smaller Newington School District school has limited current ranking information.

For families seeking strong academic results across grade levels, the Portsmouth schools show a notably consistent profile. Portsmouth High School ranks seventh among New Hampshire high schools, reports a 95.5% graduation rate, and stands out for reading and science performance. Portsmouth Middle School ranks 13th among middle schools, with especially steady reading results across grades six through eight. At the elementary level, New Franklin School has the strongest overall reading results and current ranking, while Little Harbour School leads in overall mathematics and fifth-grade reading. Mary C. Dondero Elementary School is the clear science leader.

The main pattern parents may want to consider is the difference between elementary and secondary mathematics. The larger Portsmouth elementary schools average about 81% proficiency in mathematics, compared with 62% at the middle school and 51% at the high school, although each remains above the state average. Eighth-grade mathematics is a particular area to monitor. Science results are also uneven: Dondero is especially strong, while Little Harbour and New Franklin experienced recent declines. Newington Public School and PEEP School - Pre School Program are much smaller, so their percentages may fluctuate more and are not directly comparable with the larger schools. Overall, the area offers highly ranked schools, strong reading performance, favorable student-teacher ratios, and positive outcomes from elementary school through graduation.