Academy for Science and Design Charter (H)

Summary:

The Academy for Science and Design Charter (H) is a high-performing public charter school serving 202 students in grades 9-12 in Nashua, New Hampshire, part of the highly-ranked Nashua School District.

The school consistently ranks 1st out of all New Hampshire high schools, with a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger. Its students demonstrate exceptional academic performance, with 98% proficiency in mathematics, 100% in reading, and 91% in science on state assessments - far exceeding the state averages. The school's diverse student population, with 60.4% White, 24.75% Asian, 5.45% Hispanic, and 2.97% African American students, stands out compared to the nearby Nashua High School North and Nashua High School South, which have higher percentages of White students. Additionally, the Academy for Science and Design Charter (H) has a very low percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch at 2.97%, significantly lower than the nearby public high schools.

The school's exceptional performance, diverse student population, and smaller class sizes, with a student-teacher ratio ranging from 15.3 to 16.8, contribute to its status as a standout educational institution in the region. The Academy for Science and Design Charter (H) has maintained its position as the top-ranked high school in Nashua and the state of New Hampshire for over a decade, demonstrating its sustained excellence in academic achievement.

Detail:

Public, Charter 9-12

9 Townsend West
Nashua, NH 03063-1233

(603) 595-4705

District: Academy for Science and Design Charter School

SchoolDigger Rank:
1^st of 87 New Hampshire High Schools

Student/teacher ratio: 16.8

Number of students: 236

Racial breakdown:

White:

55.5%

Asian:

25.8%

Hispanic:

8.1%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 2.1%

See top rated New Hampshire high schools

Compare Academy for Science and Design Charter (H) to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Academy for Science and Design Charter (H) ranks better than 98.9% of high schools in New Hampshire. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 99.9. (See more...)

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (55.5%), Asian (25.8%), Hispanic (8.1%). (See more...)

Compare Details 2.1% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Academy for Science and Design Charter (H) is 16.8. (See more...)

Compare Academy for Science and Design Charter (H) employs 14 full-time teachers.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Academy for Science and Design Charter (H):

SchoolDigger ranks Academy for Science and Design Charter (H) 1^st of 87 New Hampshire public high schools. (See Academy for Science and Design Charter (H) in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Female students:

Male students:

Asian students:

White students:

Academy for Science and Design Charter School:

SchoolDigger ranks Academy for Science and Design Charter School 2^nd of 163 New Hampshire school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

Read all reviews and ratings detail for Academy for Science and Design Charter (H).

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Rank History for Academy for Science and Design Charter (H)

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Rank History for all students at Academy for Science and Design Charter (H)

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NH State Percentile
2013	98.74	1^st	83	98.8%
2014	96.96	1^st	85	98.8%
2015	99.71	1^st	77	98.7%
2016	99.44	1^st	84	98.8%
2017	98.35	1^st	82	98.8%
2019	99.80	1^st	71	98.6%
2021	99.81	1^st	84	98.8%
2022	99.73	1^st	85	98.8%
2023	99.78	1^st	85	98.8%
2024	99.90	1^st	87	98.9%

See the entire list of New Hampshire High School Rankings!

Rank History for Female students at Academy for Science and Design Charter (H)

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NH State Percentile
2019	99.44	1^st	63	98.4%
2021	99.72	1^st	59	98.3%
2022	99.21	1^st	79	98.7%
2023	99.72	1^st	78	98.7%
2024	99.89	1^st	81	98.8%

See the entire list of Best New Hampshire High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Military Connected students at Academy for Science and Design Charter (H)

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NH State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2021	89.42	1^st	2	50.0%

See the entire list of Best New Hampshire High Schools for Military Connected Students!

Rank History for Male students at Academy for Science and Design Charter (H)

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NH State Percentile
2019	99.91	1^st	61	98.4%
2021	99.86	1^st	60	98.3%
2022	99.87	1^st	78	98.7%
2023	99.32	1^st	78	98.7%
2024	99.73	1^st	82	98.8%

See the entire list of Best New Hampshire High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Asian students at Academy for Science and Design Charter (H)

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NH State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	86.14	3^rd	16	81.3%
2024	88.58	1^st	14	92.9%

See the entire list of Best New Hampshire High Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for White students at Academy for Science and Design Charter (H)

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NH State Percentile
2019	99.77	1^st	66	98.5%
2021	99.76	1^st	67	98.5%
2022	99.82	1^st	85	98.8%
2023	99.70	1^st	83	98.8%
2024	99.88	1^st	87	98.9%

See the entire list of Best New Hampshire High Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: New Hampshire Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: New Hampshire Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)

100%

Reviews:

by a parent
Sunday, November 26, 2017

Fabulous and dedicated staff and faculty! #1 in the State of NH 44 in the nation (Newsweek) and National Blue Ribbon Award (2017). What an awesome opportunity for the students of New Hampshire! Close Quote

by a parent on FaceBook
Thursday, March 10, 2016

The school culture is one that values academic achievement, but it also values the individuals. These students activily care about each other and are more than willing to help other students succeed. Close Quote

Enrollment information for Academy for Science and Design Charter (H)

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
2008	18	0	7	0	0	n/a	n/a	25
2009	15	0	3	1	0	n/a	n/a	19
2010	20	1	3	0	0	0	0	24
2011	57	1	4	1	1	0	0	64
2012	84	4	9	1	0	0	0	98
2013	101	3	14	2	1	0	0	121
2014	120	3	15	3	0	0	1	142
2015	121	3	20	1	0	0	1	146
2016	135	1	28	4	1	0	0	169
2017	149	4	32	5	0	0	0	190
2018	161	5	46	7	0	0	1	220
2019	168	6	51	10	0	0	6	241
2020	156	5	47	10	0	0	8	226
2021	148	4	51	9	1	0	9	222
2022	141	5	53	12	0	0	12	223
2023	122	6	50	11	1	0	12	202
2024	131	7	61	19	0	1	17	236

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Academy for Science and Design Charter (H)

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2008	25	2.0	12.5	0
2009	19	1.8	10.6	0
2010	24	n/a	n/a	0
2011	64	4.6	13.9	0
2012	98	6.3	15.5	0
2013	121	10.4	11.6	0
2014	142	10.4	13.6	0
2015	146	11.0	13.2	4.8
2016	169	9.0	18.7	3.6
2017	190	10.5	18.0	5.8
2018	220	12.7	17.3	1.4
2019	241	10.6	22.7	2.9
2020	226	16.3	13.8	1.3
2021	222	13.2	16.8	1.4
2022	223	14.5	15.3	4
2023	202	12.0	16.8	3
2024	236	14.0	16.8	2.1

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Academy for Science and Design Charter (H)

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2008	25	2.0	12.5	0
2009	19	1.8	10.6	0
2010	24	n/a	n/a	0
2011	64	4.6	13.9	0
2012	98	6.3	15.5	0
2013	121	10.4	11.6	0
2014	142	10.4	13.6	0
2015	146	11.0	13.2	4.8
2016	169	9.0	18.7	3.6
2017	190	10.5	18.0	5.8
2018	220	12.7	17.3	1.4
2019	241	10.6	22.7	2.9
2020	226	16.3	13.8	1.3
2021	222	13.2	16.8	1.4
2022	223	14.5	15.3	4
2023	202	12.0	16.8	3
2024	236	14.0	16.8	2.1

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Academy for Science and Design Charter (H)

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 1^st of 71 High schools	Ranks 1^st of 85 High schools	0.2%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
11th Grade Science (Academy for Science and Design Charter (H))	95	84	11%
11th Grade Science (Academy for Science and Design Charter School)	95	84	11%
11th Grade Science (New Hampshire)	41	41
11th Grade Mathematics (Academy for Science and Design Charter (H))	98	86	12%
11th Grade Mathematics (Academy for Science and Design Charter School)	98	86	12%
11th Grade Mathematics (New Hampshire)	42	35	7%
11th Grade Reading (Academy for Science and Design Charter (H))	100	100
11th Grade Reading (Academy for Science and Design Charter School)	100	100
11th Grade Reading (New Hampshire)	63	59	4%
All Grades Mathematics (Academy for Science and Design Charter (H))	98	86	12%
All Grades Mathematics (Academy for Science and Design Charter School)	88	79	9%
All Grades Mathematics (New Hampshire)	48	42	6%
All Grades Reading (Academy for Science and Design Charter (H))	100	100
All Grades Reading (Academy for Science and Design Charter School)	90	87	3%
All Grades Reading (New Hampshire)	56	52	4%
All Grades Science (Academy for Science and Design Charter (H))	95	84	11%
All Grades Science (Academy for Science and Design Charter School)	81	78	3%
All Grades Science (New Hampshire)	40	37	3%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	241	202	16.2%
African American	6	6
American Indian	0	1
Asian	51	50	2%
Hispanic	10	11	10%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	168	122	27.4%
Two or More Races	6	12	100%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	2.9%	3%	0.1%

Schools Near Academy for Science and Design Charter (H)

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				SAT Mathematics (2024)	SAT Reading (2024)	NH SAS Mathematics (2024)	NH SAS Reading (2024)	NH SAS Science (2024)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	SAT Mathematics 11th Grade	SAT Reading 11th Grade	NH SAS Mathematics All Grades	NH SAS Reading All Grades	NH SAS Science 11th Grade	NH SAS Science All Grades	Total
Academy for Science and Design Charter (H)	Public, Charter	9-12	9 Townsend West	Nashua	03063	Hillsborough County	Academy for Science and Design Charter School	Yes	No	No	No	(603) 595-4705	236	14	16.8	2.1%	131 (55.5%)	7 (3.0%)	19 (8.1%)	61 (25.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	17 (7.2%)	99.9	1^st of 87 public high schools	98.9%		99.8	1^st of 85 public high schools	98.8%		98.0	100.0	98.0	100.0	91.0	91.0
Nashua High School North	Public	9-12	8 Titan Way	Nashua	03063	Hillsborough County	Nashua School District	No	No	No	No	(603) 966-2500	1,579	142	11.0	39.5%	806 (51.0%)	49 (3.1%)	514 (32.6%)	80 (5.1%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	129 (8.2%)	45.6	41^st of 87 public high schools	52.9%		52.4	34^th of 85 public high schools	60.0%	7	24.0	61.0	24.0	61.0	39.0	39.0	$15,532
Nashua High School South	Public	9-12	36 Riverside Dr.	Nashua	03062	Hillsborough County	Nashua School District	No	No	No	No	(603) 966-1100	1,635	143	11.4	30.8%	834 (51.0%)	40 (2.4%)	449 (27.5%)	215 (13.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	97 (5.9%)	38.1	48^th of 87 public high schools	44.8%		41.2	45^th of 85 public high schools	47.1%	3	27.0	57.0	27.0	57.0	31.0	31.0	$15,098
Brentwood Academy	Public	9-12	55 Franklin Street	Nashua	03060	Hillsborough County	Nashua School District	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(603) 966-1003	25	7	3.5	60.0%	20 (80.0%)	1 (4.0%)	3 (12.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (4.0%)								(n/a)
Souhegan Coop High School	Public	9-12	412 Boston Post Rd.	Amherst	03031	Hillsborough County	Souhegan Cooperative School District	No	No	No	No	(603) 673-9940	691	67	10.3	6.1%	615 (89.0%)	12 (1.7%)	31 (4.5%)	20 (2.9%)	3 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (1.4%)	75.2	19^th of 87 public high schools	78.2%		90.8	7^th of 85 public high schools	91.8%	12	42.0	75.0	42.0	75.0	45.0	45.0	$22,920
Alvirne High School	Public	9-12	200 Derry Rd.	Hudson	03051	Hillsborough County	Hudson School District	No	No	No	No	(603) 886-1260	1,019	79	12.8	16.7%	845 (82.9%)	20 (2.0%)	66 (6.5%)	27 (2.6%)	3 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	58 (5.7%)	31.6	58^th of 87 public high schools	33.3%		57.4	29^th of 85 public high schools	65.9%	29	15.0	56.0	15.0	56.0	35.0	35.0	$17,270
Campbell High School	Public	9-12	1 Highlander Ct.	Litchfield	03052	Hillsborough County	Litchfield School District	No	No	No	No	(603) 546-0300	382	31	12.3	8.6%	326 (85.3%)	2 (0.5%)	24 (6.3%)	10 (2.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (5.2%)	73.4	21^st of 87 public high schools	75.9%		42.9	42^nd of 85 public high schools	50.6%	21	42.0	70.0	42.0	70.0	47.0	47.0	$18,281
Merrimack High School	Public	9-12	38 McElwain St.	Merrimack	03054	Hillsborough County	Merrimack School District	No	No	No	No	(603) 424-6204	1,095	95	11.5	6.9%	972 (88.8%)	20 (1.8%)	40 (3.7%)	29 (2.6%)	4 (0.4%)	3 (0.3%)	27 (2.5%)	70.8	22^nd of 87 public high schools	74.7%		61.7	25^th of 85 public high schools	70.6%	3	33.0	66.0	33.0	66.0	59.0	59.0	$18,302
Hollis-Brookline High School	Public	9-12	24 Cavalier Ct.	Hollis	03049	Hillsborough County	Hollis-Brookline Cooperative School District	No	No	No	No	(603) 465-2269	745	63	11.8	4.0%	654 (87.8%)	11 (1.5%)	31 (4.2%)	35 (4.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	13 (1.7%)	90.5	7^th of 87 public high schools	92.0%		89.1	8^th of 85 public high schools	90.6%	1	60.0	89.0	60.0	89.0	52.0	52.0	$17,343
Milford High School	Public	9-12	100 West St.	Milford	03055	Hillsborough County	Milford School District	No	No	No	No	(603) 673-4201	685	59	11.6	14.3%	598 (87.3%)	10 (1.5%)	38 (5.5%)	11 (1.6%)	3 (0.4%)	4 (0.6%)	21 (3.1%)	59.2	32^nd of 87 public high schools	63.2%		54.2	31^st of 85 public high schools	63.5%	1	36.0	73.0	36.0	73.0	31.0	31.0	$17,814

Frequently Asked Questions about Academy for Science and Design Charter (H)

What district is Academy for Science and Design Charter (H) in?

Academy for Science and Design Charter School

Is Academy for Science and Design Charter (H) a good school?

Yes! Academy for Science and Design Charter (H) is one of the best high schools in the state. It ranks 1^st of 87 New Hampshire high schools.

What is the racial makeup of Academy for Science and Design Charter (H)?

Students at Academy for Science and Design Charter (H) are 56% White, 26% Asian, 8% Hispanic, 7% Two or more races, 3% African American.

How many students attend Academy for Science and Design Charter (H)?

In the 2023-24 school year, 236 students attended Academy for Science and Design Charter (H).

Rate Academy for Science and Design Charter (H)!

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the New Hampshire Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.