Best Schools in Nashua, New Hampshire
32 schools · 17 Elementary · 4 Middle · 5 High · 6 Other
Choosing a school in Nashua?
Use this page to compare every school in Nashua 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.
New Searles School
Elementary · Nashua School District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Bicentennial Elementary School
Elementary · Nashua School District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Broad Street Elementary School
Elementary · Nashua School District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Nashua for 2026 are New Searles School (8.8/10), Bicentennial Elementary School (8.1/10), and Broad Street Elementary School (7.9/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 20 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
32
23 public · 9 private
Avg Score
6.0
out of 10
Median Home
$372,625
home value · ACS
Districts
3
serving the city
Schools
32
23 public · 9 private
Avg Score
6.0
out of 10
Median Home
$372,625
home value · ACS
Districts
3
serving the city
Rates 8.8/10 despite 22% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.3 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 Nashua schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +13.0 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Nashua schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Nashua
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 20 rated schools; 32 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Searles School | 8.8 / 10 |
| 2 | Bicentennial Elementary School | 8.1 / 10 |
| 3 | Broad Street Elementary School | 7.9 / 10 |
| 4 | Sunset Heights School | 7.8 / 10 |
| 5 | Charlotte Ave Elementary School | 7.5 / 10 |
| 6 | Academy for Science and Design Charter (h) | 7.1 / 10 |
| 7 | Birch Hill Elementary School | 7.0 / 10 |
| 8 | Main Dunstable School | 6.8 / 10 |
| 9 | Nashua High School South | 5.9 / 10 |
| 10 | Academy for Science and Design Charter (m) | 5.8 / 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
- 6.0/10
- Median household income
- $94,842
- Median home value
- $372,625
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 41%
- Avg commute
- 26 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 58%
35% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Nashua compares
New Hampshire rank
#51 of 74
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.4
below New Hampshire avg (6.3)
Median household income
$95k
98% of New Hampshire median
Schools in this city
26
Nashua School District runs 87% of Nashua's public schools
Nashua touches 3 districts, but Nashua School District is the one most addresses actually attend.
Nashua School District accounts for 20 of 23 public schools (87%). The other 2 districts hold the remaining 3.
Among 20 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 3.3 to 8.8 — the spread is inside Nashua, not a citywide average.
3 of the 23 public schools are charters (13%), so the district split is not the whole market.
- Nashua School District20 public · 87%
- Academy For Science and Design Charter School2 public · 9%
- Microsociety Academy Charter School Foundation1 public · 4%
About Schools in Nashua, New Hampshire
Nashua's public school system spans 22 ranked schools, from elementary grades through high school, with an average rating of 5.7 out of 10. That average is serviceable, but the spread matters more than the mean: only 3 schools — 14% of the ranked total — score 7 or above, which means strong options exist but aren't evenly distributed across the city.
The standout is Academy for Science and Design Charter High School, rated 8.1 out of 10 and the highest-scoring school in Nashua. It's a charter, so enrollment isn't automatic — families need to track application windows and lottery timelines. At the elementary level, Bicentennial and Charlotte Ave each score 7.2 out of 10, giving parents of younger children two competitive options to compare directly. Birch Hill Elementary (6.8) and Nashua High School South (6.8) round out the top five, both landing above the city average.
For families with elementary-age children, the school assignment question is urgent. Bicentennial and Charlotte Ave both sit 1.5 points above the city mean, a real performance gap, but attendance zones in a city this size typically determine placement automatically. Confirming your home address's assigned school before settling on a neighborhood is one of the highest-leverage moves a parent can make here.
Parents evaluating high school options face a clear decision: the charter path through Academy for Science and Design (8.1) or the traditional route through Nashua High School South (6.8). A 1.3-point gap on a 10-point scale is significant. If the charter's program matches your student's interests and the application timeline is workable, it's the strongest academic option in the city by the data. If charter enrollment doesn't come through, South still outperforms the city average and functions as a solid default. Either way, understanding the charter application process early gives Nashua families the most options.
Elementary Schools
17 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 247 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.8 |
| 2 | 506 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.1 |
| 3 | 243 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.9 |
| 4 | 374 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.8 |
| 5 | 375 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.5 |
| 6 | 316 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.0 |
| 7 | 360 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.8 |
| 8 | 412 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.3 |
| 9 | 257 students · Pre-K–5th | 4.9 |
| 10 | 306 students · Kindergarten–8th | 3.9 |
Show all 17 elementary schools in Nashua
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
4 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 404 students · 5th–8th | 5.8 |
| 2 | 546 students · 6th–8th | 5.8 |
| 3 | 557 students · 6th–8th | 5.3 |
| 4 | 895 students · 6th–8th | 3.9 |
High Schools
5 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 236 students · 9th–12th | 7.1 | ||
| 2 | 1,635 students · 9th–12th | 5.9 | ||
| 3 | 1,579 students · 9th–12th | 5.1 | ||
Private Schools2 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Clearway High SchoolPrivate 48 students · 9th–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | Bishop Guertin High SchoolPrivate 803 students · 9th–12th | Not Rated | ||
Other Schools
6 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 57 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | 5.9 | ||
| 2 | 38 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | 5.3 | ||
| 3 | 213 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | — | ||
Private Schools3 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 2nd Nature AcademyPrivate 80 students · Pre-K–11th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | Heritage Baptist AcademyPrivate 27 students · TK–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 3 | 10 students · UG–UG | Not Rated | ||
Schools in Nashua
Nashua, New Hampshire · 32 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 4 ZIP codes
Median Income
$94,842
Median Home Value
$372,625
Median Rent
$1,666/mo
Population
91,131
College Educated
41%
Homeownership
58%
Avg Commute
26 min
Poverty Rate
7.0%
Community Profile
Nashua has a median household income of $94,842. It is a well-educated community where 41% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $372,625, with a median rent of $1,666/month. The local poverty rate of 7.0% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 26 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- New Hampshire
- Elementary
- 17
- Middle
- 4
- High
- 5
- Other
- 6
Resources
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 Nashua, New Hampshire
How many schools are in Nashua, New Hampshire?
Nashua has 32 schools, including 23 public and 9 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Nashua, New Hampshire?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Nashua is 6.0 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 Nashua, New Hampshire?
The top-ranked school in Nashua on MySchoolScout is New Searles School with a composite score of 8.8/10.
What is the best elementary school in Nashua, New Hampshire?
The top-ranked elementary school in Nashua on MySchoolScout is New Searles School with a composite score of 8.8/10.
What is the best middle school in Nashua, New Hampshire?
The top-ranked middle school in Nashua on MySchoolScout is Academy for Science and Design Charter (m) with a composite score of 5.8/10.
What is the best high school in Nashua, New Hampshire?
The top-ranked high school in Nashua on MySchoolScout is Academy for Science and Design Charter (h) with a composite score of 7.1/10.
How many school districts serve Nashua, New Hampshire?
Nashua is served by 3 school districts: Academy for Science and Design Charter School, Microsociety Academy Charter School Foundation, Nashua School District.
What is the education level in Nashua, New Hampshire?
According to Census data, 41% of adults in Nashua have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Nashua, New Hampshire?
The median household income in Nashua is approximately $94,842 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Nashua, New Hampshire?
Yes, Nashua has 9 private schools alongside 23 public schools. The top-rated private school is 2nd Nature Academy with a score of 7.4/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Nashua, New Hampshire?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Nashua is 10.4:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Nashua, 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.