Nelson Elementary School

Summary:

Nelson Elementary School is a small public elementary school in Nelson, New Hampshire, serving 59 students from kindergarten to 5th grade. The school is part of the Nelson School District, which is ranked 147 out of 163 districts in the state and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Nelson Elementary School stands out in several ways compared to nearby schools. The school has a significantly higher percentage of white students, ranging from 96-98% over the past three years, much higher than the state average and the racial diversity seen in schools like Fuller Elementary and Wheelock Elementary in Keene. The school's mathematics and reading proficiency rates have been generally higher than surrounding schools, but its science proficiency is much lower at 15%, well below the state average of 36%. Additionally, the percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch has increased from 12.31% in 2020-2021 to 32.2% in 2022-2023, indicating a growing population of economically disadvantaged students.

Nelson Elementary School's performance, as measured by its statewide ranking and SchoolDigger star rating, has fluctuated over the years, ranking 45th out of 231 New Hampshire elementary schools in 2017-2018 but dropping to 191st out of 234 schools in 2023-2024, with a 1-star rating. The school's small size, with only 59 students, could be both an advantage, allowing for more individualized attention, and a challenge, as it may limit the diversity of educational and extracurricular opportunities available to students. Overall, Nelson Elementary School presents a complex picture, with both strengths and areas for improvement, and continued monitoring and targeted interventions may be necessary to help the school achieve more consistent and equitable academic outcomes for its students.

Detail:

Public K-5

441 Granite Lake Rd.
Nelson, NH 03457-5116

(603) 847-3408

District: Nelson School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
191^st of 234 New Hampshire Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $18,452

Student/teacher ratio: 8.4

Number of students: 59

Racial breakdown:

White:

96.6%

Asian:

1.7%

Hispanic:

1.7%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 32.2%

See top rated New Hampshire elementary schools

Compare Nelson Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Nelson Elementary School ranks worse than 81.6% of elementary schools in New Hampshire. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 20.44. (See more...)

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (96.6%), Asian (1.7%), Hispanic (1.7%). (See more...)

Compare Details 32.2% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Nelson Elementary School is 8.4. (See more...)

Compare Nelson Elementary School employs 7 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Nelson Elementary School is $18,452.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Nelson Elementary School:

SchoolDigger ranks Nelson Elementary School 191^st of 234 New Hampshire public elementary schools. (See Nelson Elementary School in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

White students:

Nelson School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Nelson School District 147^th of 163 New Hampshire school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Rating:

Read all reviews and ratings detail for Nelson Elementary School.

What do you think?

Your rating for Nelson Elementary School?

(Ranking FAQ)

Rank History for Nelson Elementary School

Compare

Rank History for all students at Nelson Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	NH State Percentile
2008	50.06	133^rd	236	43.6%
2016	33.51	184^th	244	24.6%
2018	72.44	45^th	231	80.5%
2022	51.48	119^th	233	48.9%
2024	20.44	191^st	234	18.4%

See the entire list of New Hampshire Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for White students at Nelson Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	NH State Percentile
2018	62.77	75^th	227	67.0%
2022	50.32	124^th	229	45.9%
2024	24.37	181^st	228	20.6%

See the entire list of Best New Hampshire Elementary 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:
No reviews have been submitted!

Enrollment information for Nelson Elementary School

Compare

Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
1991	49	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	49
1992	55	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	55
1993	52	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	52
1994	63	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	63
1995	70	0	0	2	0	n/a	n/a	72
1996	70	0	0	2	0	n/a	n/a	72
1997	66	0	0	2	0	n/a	n/a	68
1998	70	0	0	3	0	n/a	n/a	73
1999	62	0	0	3	0	n/a	n/a	65
2000	62	0	0	6	1	n/a	n/a	69
2001	52	1	0	3	0	n/a	n/a	56
2002	59	0	0	5	0	n/a	n/a	64
2003	59	0	0	5	0	n/a	n/a	64
2004	58	3	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	61
2005	50	0	0	5	0	n/a	n/a	55
2006	55	0	0	4	0	n/a	n/a	59
2007	50	0	0	3	0	n/a	n/a	53
2008	40	0	0	2	0	n/a	n/a	42
2009	35	0	0	2	0	n/a	n/a	37
2010	29	0	0	1	0	0	0	30
2011	24	0	0	1	0	0	0	25
2012	25	0	0	0	0	0	0	25
2013	24	0	0	0	1	0	0	25
2014	51	0	0	0	2	0	1	54
2015	61	0	0	0	1	0	0	62
2016	78	0	0	0	1	0	1	80
2017	65	1	0	0	1	0	1	68
2018	66	1	1	0	1	0	1	70
2019	71	0	1	0	1	0	1	74
2020	77	1	0	1	2	0	1	82
2021	64	0	0	0	1	0	0	65
2022	59	0	0	1	1	0	0	61
2023	57	0	1	1	0	0	0	59

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 Nelson Elementary School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1991	49	4.1	11.9	6.1
1992	55	4.2	13.0	7.3
1993	52	4.2	12.4	9.6
1994	63	4.8	13.1	1.6
1995	72	4.9	14.7	15.3
1996	72	4.9	14.7	15.3
1997	68	5.5	12.4	17.6
1998	73	5.4	13.5	8.2
1999	65	5.4	12.0	10.8
2000	69	5.4	12.8	21.7
2001	56	5.1	11.0	21.4
2002	64	5.4	11.9	21.9
2003	64	5.4	11.9	21.9
2004	61	4.9	12.4	26.2
2005	55	4.7	11.7	27.3
2006	59	5.0	11.8	33.9
2007	53	5.4	9.8	35.8
2008	42	4.7	8.9	35.7
2009	37	4.3	8.6	37.8
2010	30	4.7	6.3	50
2011	25	4.7	5.3	36
2012	25	4.8	5.2	40
2013	25	4.8	5.2	16
2014	54	5.6	9.6	29.6
2015	62	6.0	10.3	32.3
2016	80	6.0	13.3	35
2017	68	5.8	11.7	39.7
2018	70	5.7	12.2	45.7
2019	74	6.8	10.8	35.1
2020	82	6.6	12.4	32.9
2021	65	7.8	8.3	12.3
2022	61	6.9	8.8	24.6
2023	59	7.0	8.4	32.2

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 Nelson Elementary School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1991	49	4.1	11.9	6.1
1992	55	4.2	13.0	7.3
1993	52	4.2	12.4	9.6
1994	63	4.8	13.1	1.6
1995	72	4.9	14.7	15.3
1996	72	4.9	14.7	15.3
1997	68	5.5	12.4	17.6
1998	73	5.4	13.5	8.2
1999	65	5.4	12.0	10.8
2000	69	5.4	12.8	21.7
2001	56	5.1	11.0	21.4
2002	64	5.4	11.9	21.9
2003	64	5.4	11.9	21.9
2004	61	4.9	12.4	26.2
2005	55	4.7	11.7	27.3
2006	59	5.0	11.8	33.9
2007	53	5.4	9.8	35.8
2008	42	4.7	8.9	35.7
2009	37	4.3	8.6	37.8
2010	30	4.7	6.3	50
2011	25	4.7	5.3	36
2012	25	4.8	5.2	40
2013	25	4.8	5.2	16
2014	54	5.6	9.6	29.6
2015	62	6.0	10.3	32.3
2016	80	6.0	13.3	35
2017	68	5.8	11.7	39.7
2018	70	5.7	12.2	45.7
2019	74	6.8	10.8	35.1
2020	82	6.6	12.4	32.9
2021	65	7.8	8.3	12.3
2022	61	6.9	8.8	24.6
2023	59	7.0	8.4	32.2

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.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Nelson Elementary School

Year	Total Expenditures Per Pupil
2019	$18,452

Data source: New Hampshire Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Nelson Elementary School

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.

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
4th Grade Mathematics (Nelson Elementary School)	67	54	13%
4th Grade Mathematics (Nelson School District)	67	54	13%
4th Grade Mathematics (New Hampshire)	52	51	1%
4th Grade Reading (Nelson Elementary School)	67	15	52%
4th Grade Reading (Nelson School District)	67	15	52%
4th Grade Reading (New Hampshire)	55	50	5%
All Grades Mathematics (Nelson Elementary School)	76	73	3%
All Grades Mathematics (Nelson School District)	76	73	3%
All Grades Mathematics (New Hampshire)	48	42	6%
All Grades Reading (Nelson Elementary School)	79	50	29%
All Grades Reading (Nelson School District)	79	50	29%
All Grades Reading (New Hampshire)	56	52	4%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	74	59	20.3%
African American	0	0
American Indian	1	0	100%
Asian	1	1
Hispanic	0	1
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	71	57	19.7%
Two or More Races	1	0	100%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	35.1%	32.2%	2.9%

Schools Near Nelson Elementary School

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				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	NH SAS Mathematics 3rd Grade	NH SAS Mathematics 4th Grade	NH SAS Mathematics 5th Grade	NH SAS Mathematics 6th Grade	NH SAS Mathematics 7th Grade	NH SAS Mathematics 8th Grade	NH SAS Mathematics All Grades	NH SAS Reading 3rd Grade	NH SAS Reading 4th Grade	NH SAS Reading 5th Grade	NH SAS Reading 6th Grade	NH SAS Reading 7th Grade	NH SAS Reading 8th Grade	NH SAS Reading All Grades	NH SAS Science 5th Grade	NH SAS Science 8th Grade	NH SAS Science All Grades	Total
Nelson Elementary School	Public	K-5	441 Granite Lake Rd.	Nelson	03457	Cheshire County	Nelson School District	No	No	No	Yes	(603) 847-3408	59	7	8.4	32.2%	57 (96.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.7%)	1 (1.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	20.4	191^st of 234 public elementary schools	18.4%					(n/a)			15.0				47.0			54.0				56.0	15.0		15.0	$18,452
James Faulkner Elementary School	Public	K-5	200 School St.	Stoddard	03464	Cheshire County	Stoddard School District	No	No	No	Yes	(603) 446-3348	58	6	9.2	34.5%	56 (96.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.7%)	56.4	99^th of 234 public elementary schools	57.7%		45	136^th of 237 public elementary schools	42.6%	37		27.0	54.0				37.0		64.0	54.0				56.0	46.0		46.0	$21,127
Wells Memorial School	Public	K-6	235 Chesham Rd.	Harrisville	03450	Cheshire County	Harrisville School District	No	No	No	Yes	(603) 827-3272	55	5	10.1	14.5%	47 (85.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (12.7%)								(n/a)							36.0							48.0				$23,429
Gilsum STEAM Academy	Public	K-6	640 Route 10	Gilsum	03448	Cheshire County	Monadnock Regional School District	No	No	No	No	(603) 352-2226	52	5	10.4	44.2%	47 (90.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.9%)	4 (7.7%)	37.4	155^th of 234 public elementary schools	33.8%		14.4	217^th of 237 public elementary schools	8.4%	62		50.0		0.0			28.0		55.0		45.0			56.0				$19,944
Marlborough Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	41 Fitch Court	Marlborough	03455	Cheshire County	Marlborough School District	No	No	No	Yes	(603) 876-4465	154	17	9.3	43.5%	145 (94.2%)	2 (1.3%)	1 (0.6%)	1 (0.6%)	2 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.9%)	32.6	169^th of 234 public elementary schools	27.8%		26.5	184^th of 237 public elementary schools	22.4%	15	53.0	55.0	11.0	18.0	41.0	58.0	36.0	40.0	55.0	53.0	35.0	47.0	58.0	47.0	21.0	25.0	23.0	$22,127
Fuller Elementary School	Public	K-5	422 Elm St.	Keene	03431	Cheshire County	Keene School District	No	No	No	Yes	(603) 352-1245	310	27	11.4	32.9%	276 (89.0%)	5 (1.6%)	16 (5.2%)	3 (1.0%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (2.6%)	52.6	113^th of 234 public elementary schools	51.7%		44.8	137^th of 237 public elementary schools	42.2%	24	67.0	57.0	17.0				45.0	63.0	56.0	55.0				58.0	26.0		26.0	$18,710
Gathering Waters Charter School (E)	Public, Charter	K-8	98 South Lincoln Street	Keene	03431	Cheshire County	Gathering Waters Charter School	Yes	No	No	No	(603) 733-8701	220	23	9.7	14.1%	196 (89.1%)	5 (2.3%)	3 (1.4%)	12 (5.5%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.4%)								(n/a)
Franklin Elementary School	Public	K-5	217 Washington St.	Keene	03431	Cheshire County	Keene School District	No	No	No	Yes	(603) 352-1712	212	21	9.9	58.5%	167 (78.8%)	2 (0.9%)	17 (8.0%)	11 (5.2%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.4%)	12 (5.7%)	34	163^rd of 234 public elementary schools	30.3%		41.5	148^th of 237 public elementary schools	37.6%	15	33.0	38.0	43.0				38.0	32.0	52.0	43.0				42.0	36.0		36.0	$19,972
John D. Perkins Academy	Public	PK, KG-6	919 Nh Rte 10	Marlow	03456	Cheshire County	Marlow School District	No	No	No	Yes	(603) 446-3307	57	6	10.3	33.3%	55 (96.5%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (3.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)							36.0							39.0				$25,940
Surry Village Charter School	Public, Charter	K-8	449 Route 12A	Surry	03431	Cheshire County	Surry Village Charter School	Yes	No	No	Yes	(603) 357-9700	94	9	11.0	29.8%	83 (88.3%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (6.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (5.3%)	80.7	34^th of 234 public elementary schools	85.5%		59.2	87^th of 237 public elementary schools	63.3%	53			64.0	42.0			49.0			73.0	75.0			59.0	64.0		71.0

Frequently Asked Questions about Nelson Elementary School

What district is Nelson Elementary School in?

Nelson School District

How many students attend Nelson Elementary School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 59 students attended Nelson Elementary School.

Is Nelson Elementary School a good school?

Nelson Elementary School ranks in the bottom 18.4% of New Hampshire elementary schools.

What is the racial makeup of Nelson Elementary School?

Students at Nelson Elementary School are 97% White, 2% Asian, 2% Hispanic.

Rate Nelson Elementary School!

Other helpful SchoolDigger resources...

Compare to nearby schools

NHNew Hampshire Elementary School Rankings

NHNew Hampshire District Rankings

Schools in Nelson, NH

Sign up for updates!

Be the first to know when there is an update for Nelson Elementary School!

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.