Merrimack Valley School District

The Merrimack Valley School District in New Hampshire consists of 7 schools, including 5 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 1 high school. The district as a whole is ranked 113 out of 163 school districts in the state and is rated 2 stars out of 5 by SchoolDigger.

Within the district, a few schools stand out for their strong performance. Boscawen Elementary School and Salisbury Elementary School consistently outperform the district and state averages on standardized tests, with over 50% of students proficient or better in both math and reading. In contrast, Penacook Elementary School and Merrimack Valley High School struggle, particularly in math. The data suggests a correlation between higher rates of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch and lower test scores, highlighting the potential impact of socioeconomic factors on student performance.

The analysis also reveals that smaller school size may be a contributing factor to success, as the two smallest schools in the district, Salisbury Elementary and Webster Elementary, are among the top performers. Additionally, the data shows a concerning trend of declining performance at the high school level, with Merrimack Valley High School dropping in its statewide ranking over the past two years. These insights could inform targeted interventions and resource allocation to support the underperforming schools and ensure more equitable educational opportunities for all students in the Merrimack Valley School District.