Best Schools in Manchester, New Hampshire
43 schools · 26 Elementary · 7 Middle · 10 High
Choosing a school in Manchester?
Use this page to compare every school in Manchester by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies Charter School
High · Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Bartlett Elementary School
Elementary · Goffstown School District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Webster School
Elementary · Manchester School District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Manchester for 2026 are Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies Charter School (8.2/10), Bartlett Elementary School (7.9/10), and Webster School (7.7/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 29 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
43
29 public · 14 private
Avg Score
5.6
out of 10
Median Home
$351,100
home value · ACS
Districts
7
serving the city
Schools
43
29 public · 14 private
Avg Score
5.6
out of 10
Median Home
$351,100
home value · ACS
Districts
7
serving the city
Rates 7.2/10 despite 73% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.5 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Manchester schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +10.5 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Manchester schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Manchester
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 29 rated schools; 43 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies Charter School | 8.2 / 10 |
| 2 | Bartlett Elementary School | 7.9 / 10 |
| 3 | Webster School | 7.7 / 10 |
| 4 | Highland-Goffes Falls School | 7.3 / 10 |
| 5 | Bakersville School | 7.2 / 10 |
| 6 | Polaris Charter School | 7.0 / 10 |
| 7 | Smyth Road School | 6.9 / 10 |
| 8 | Jewett School | 6.7 / 10 |
| 9 | Green Acres School | 6.3 / 10 |
| 10 | Weston Elementary School | 6.3 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 5.6/10
- Median household income
- $76,557
- Median home value
- $351,100
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 35%
- Avg commute
- 25 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 43%
22% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Manchester compares
New Hampshire rank
#57 of 74
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.7
below New Hampshire avg (6.3)
Median household income
$77k
79% of New Hampshire median
Schools in this city
37
Manchester School District runs 72% of Manchester's public schools
Manchester touches 7 districts, but Manchester School District is the one most addresses actually attend.
Manchester School District accounts for 21 of 29 public schools (72%). The other 6 districts hold the remaining 8.
Among 29 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 2.7 to 8.2 — the spread is inside Manchester, not a citywide average.
7 of the 29 public schools are charters (24%), so the district split is not the whole market.
- Manchester School District21 public · 72%
- Kreiva Academy Public Charter School2 public · 7%
- The Founders Academy Charter School2 public · 7%
- Goffstown School District1 public · 3%
- Mill Falls Charter School1 public · 3%
About Schools in Manchester, New Hampshire
Manchester has 29 ranked public schools averaging 5.4 out of 10 — a city-wide baseline that lands squarely in the middle of the performance range. Six schools, or 21% of the ranked set, clear the 7-point threshold, meaning strong options exist but are not the norm. Parents who want above-average schools need to search deliberately rather than rely on neighborhood assignment alone.
The charter sector carries most of the top weight. The Founders Academy Charter School leads Manchester with a 9.0 out of 10 — the city's highest score and a wide gap above the 5.4 average. Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies Charter School follows at 8.2, also well into the upper tier. Kreiva Academy Public Charter School adds a third charter option at 7.2. All three are high schools, so families with older students have a clear pathway to high-rated schools — but it runs through applications and open enrollment, not automatic zoning.
The traditional public elementary tier produces its own standouts. Bartlett Elementary School and Webster School each score 7.4 out of 10, placing them meaningfully above the city average. Both represent the strongest options within the conventional attendance-zone system, and both matter most to families with younger children who cannot yet access charter high schools.
For parents comparing Manchester to regional peers or planning a move, the 5.4 average signals a genuinely mixed landscape. The city's top-rated schools are real and accessible, but accessing them requires planning. At the high school level, the charter pathway is the strongest route. At the elementary level, school-level scores vary enough that address selection matters. Families should confirm charter application deadlines well in advance, map attendance zones before choosing a neighborhood, and weigh school-level scores alongside in-person visits rather than relying on city-wide averages to guide their final decision.
Elementary Schools
26 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 180 students · 1st–4th | 7.9 |
| 2 | 374 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.7 |
| 3 | 337 students · Pre-K–4th | 7.3 |
| 4 | 344 students · Pre-K–4th | 7.2 |
| 5 | 122 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.0 |
| 6 | 390 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.9 |
| 7 | 453 students · Pre-K–4th | 6.7 |
| 8 | 433 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.3 |
| 9 | 507 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.3 |
| 10 | 394 students · Pre-K–4th | 6.1 |
Show all 26 elementary schools in Manchester
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
7 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 741 students · 5th–8th | 5.6 | ||
| 2 | 679 students · 6th–8th | 4.1 | ||
| 3 | 263 students · 5th–8th | 4.0 | ||
| 4 | 772 students · 6th–8th | 3.7 | ||
| 5 | 801 students · 5th–8th | 3.4 | ||
| 6 | 47 students · 6th–8th | 2.7 | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 106 students · 7th–8th | Not Rated | ||
High Schools
10 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 87 students · 9th–12th | 8.2 | ||
| 2 | 138 students · 9th–12th | 5.4 | ||
| 3 | 304 students · 9th–12th | 4.3 | ||
| 4 | 771 students · 9th–12th | 4.0 | ||
| 5 | 1,355 students · 9th–12th | 3.7 | ||
| 6 | 1,127 students · 9th–12th | 3.6 | ||
| 7 | 104 students · 9th–12th | 3.3 | ||
Private Schools3 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Trinity High SchoolPrivate 327 students · 9th–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | Holy Family AcademyPrivate 108 students · 7th–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 3 | The Derryfield SchoolPrivate 409 students · 6th–12th | Not Rated | ||
Schools in Manchester
Manchester, New Hampshire · 43 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 6 ZIP codes
Median Income
$76,557
Median Home Value
$351,100
Median Rent
$1,546/mo
Population
120,017
College Educated
35%
Homeownership
43%
Avg Commute
25 min
Poverty Rate
17.0%
Community Profile
Manchester has a median household income of $76,557. It is an area where 35% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $351,100, with a median rent of $1,546/month. The area has a poverty rate of 17.0%. The average commute for residents is 25 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- New Hampshire
- Elementary
- 26
- Middle
- 7
- High
- 10
Resources
School Districts (7)
Goffstown School District
5 schools · 2,798 students
Mill Falls Charter School
1 school · 167 students
Polaris Charter School
1 school · 122 students
The Founders Academy Charter School
2 schools · 401 students
Kreiva Academy Public Charter School
2 schools · 151 students
Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies
1 school · 87 students
Manchester School District
21 schools · 11,980 students
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Manchester, New Hampshire
How many schools are in Manchester, New Hampshire?
Manchester has 43 schools, including 29 public and 14 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Manchester, New Hampshire?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Manchester is 5.6 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Manchester, New Hampshire?
The top-ranked school in Manchester on MySchoolScout is Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies Charter School with a composite score of 8.2/10.
What is the best elementary school in Manchester, New Hampshire?
The top-ranked elementary school in Manchester on MySchoolScout is Bartlett Elementary School with a composite score of 7.9/10.
What is the best middle school in Manchester, New Hampshire?
The top-ranked middle school in Manchester on MySchoolScout is Southside Middle School with a composite score of 5.6/10.
What is the best high school in Manchester, New Hampshire?
The top-ranked high school in Manchester on MySchoolScout is Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies Charter School with a composite score of 8.2/10.
How many school districts serve Manchester, New Hampshire?
Manchester is served by 7 school districts: Goffstown School District, Mill Falls Charter School, Polaris Charter School, The Founders Academy Charter School, Kreiva Academy Public Charter School, Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies, Manchester School District.
What is the education level in Manchester, New Hampshire?
According to Census data, 35% of adults in Manchester have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Manchester, New Hampshire?
The median household income in Manchester is approximately $76,557 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Manchester, New Hampshire?
Yes, Manchester has 14 private schools alongside 29 public schools. The top-rated private school is North End Montessori School with a score of 8.4/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Manchester, New Hampshire?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Manchester is 11.0:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Manchester, New Hampshire?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, New Hampshire Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.