Best Public Schools in Zip Code 03867

Schools in ZIP code 03867 include six Rochester School District schools serving approximately 2,937 students from elementary through high school in the Rochester area, with three elementary schools, one middle school, and two high schools. Overall, the Rochester School District ranks below most New Hampshire districts, but school results vary considerably. Spaulding High School stands out as the strongest traditional school, with a 90.4% graduation rate, a 2.2% dropout rate, reading proficiency above the state average, and a major recent improvement in its state ranking. Its main weakness is mathematics, where only 21% of students are proficient.

Among elementary schools, Maple Street Magnet School has the strongest current mathematics and reading results, with 41% and 45% proficiency, respectively. It also has the lowest reported free- or reduced-price lunch participation, though its science performance is weak and its statewide ranking has declined over time. McClelland School has shown the most consistent ranking improvement and particularly strong third-grade results. In contrast, Chamberlain Street School is the most concerning traditional elementary school, with the lowest reading performance and sharp recent declines in both mathematics and reading. Parents comparing elementary schools should also note that smaller enrollment at Maple can make year-to-year percentages more sensitive to individual class results.

Rochester Middle School trails the state in mathematics, reading, and science, with especially concerning eighth-grade mathematics results that may signal high-school readiness challenges. Bud Carlson Academy reports the weakest graduation, dropout, and test outcomes, but its specialized student population means it should not be compared directly with a traditional high school without additional context. Across the area, mathematics—especially in middle and high school—and science at every level are the clearest academic priorities. Families may also want to consider graduation success, recent improvement, school size, staffing ratios, and each school’s mission rather than relying on statewide rankings alone.