Best Public Schools in Franklin, NH

The city of Franklin, New Hampshire is home to three schools serving students from elementary through high school: Franklin Middle School, Paul A. Smith School, and Franklin High School. While the elementary school, Paul A. Smith, stands out with strong academic performance, the middle and high schools in the Franklin School District face significant challenges, ranking in the bottom quartile and quintile statewide, respectively.

Paul A. Smith School is the academic standout, with 35% of students proficient or better in math and 28% in reading, significantly outperforming the district and state averages. In contrast, Franklin Middle School struggles, with only 10-21% of students meeting standards in core subjects and ranking in the bottom quartile of middle schools statewide. Franklin High School also faces challenges, with only 12% of students proficient in math, though the school performs better in reading with 48% of students meeting or exceeding standards.

Across the district, high rates of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 43.7% at Franklin High School to 61.11% at Franklin Middle School, indicate significant socioeconomic challenges that may be contributing to the low academic achievement. Additionally, the schools have a predominantly white student population, suggesting a lack of diversity that may limit the educational experiences available to students. The Franklin School District must address these systemic issues to drive improvement and ensure all students have access to a high-quality education.