Best Public Schools in Zip Code 03820

The six schools serving ZIP code 03820 provide education from prekindergarten through grade 12, including four elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school, with approximately 3,785 students across Dover School District and Seacoast Charter School. The strongest overall academic results are at Dover Middle School, which ranks in the 73rd state percentile and exceeds state averages in math, reading, and science. Dover Senior High School also stands out for its recent ranking improvement, 91.4% graduation rate, and exceptionally low 0.3% dropout rate. Among the elementary schools, Garrison School has the strongest current overall ranking and balanced results.

Academic performance varies considerably among the elementary schools. Garrison School exceeds state averages in both math and reading and has improved its ranking for three consecutive years. Frances G. Hopkins Elementary School at Horne Street has especially strong math performance, including 61% proficiency in third grade, but its reading results and overall ranking declined recently. Seacoast Charter School, serving prekindergarten through eighth grade, has strong upper-grade reading and science results, including 69% eighth-grade reading proficiency, but weaker elementary math performance. By comparison, Woodman Park School ranks lowest, with math and reading results below both state and district averages.

Across the area, reading is generally stronger than math, making mathematics the most common improvement need, particularly at the high school and Seacoast Charter. Dover Middle School is the most consistently strong school because it performs above the state in every reported subject and made the largest recent ranking gain. Dover Senior High School offers encouraging completion outcomes despite comparatively weaker math and science proficiency. Families considering elementary options may find Garrison School the strongest all-around choice in the available data, while Woodman Park School is the school most in need of focused academic support and closer review of current improvement efforts.