Merrimack Valley School District
School District · Penacook, New Hampshire
Avg Rating
6.5
out of 10
Schools
7
5 elem, 1 mid, 1 high
Enrollment
2,235
Student-Teacher Ratio
12.1:1
Avg Rating
6.5
out of 10
Schools
7
5 elem, 1 mid, 1 high
Enrollment
2,235
Student-Teacher Ratio
12.1:1
How this district compares
New Hampshire rank
#44 of 90
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
+0.1
above New Hampshire avg
Per-pupil spending
$19,412
$2,970 vs New Hampshire median
District size
2,235 students
Much larger than New Hampshire median
The short answer
Merrimack Valley School District ranks #44 of 90 New Hampshire districts by overall school rating. Merrimack Valley School District's schools with real test data average 6.5/10 across 7 schools. Its top-rated schools are Salisbury Elementary School (9.2/10), Merrimack Valley Middle School (7.1/10), and Loudon Elementary School (6.4/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
STAAR proficiency rose +6.5 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Merrimack Valley School District schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Merrimack Valley School District
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (7 of 7). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Salisbury Elementary School | 9.2 / 10 |
| 2 | Merrimack Valley Middle School | 7.1 / 10 |
| 3 | Loudon Elementary School | 6.4 / 10 |
| 4 | Boscawen Elementary School | 6.2 / 10 |
| 5 | Penacook Elementary School | 5.8 / 10 |
| 6 | Webster Elementary School | 5.6 / 10 |
| 7 | Merrimack Valley High School | 5.1 / 10 |
See all 7 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Merrimack Valley School District
Merrimack Valley School District is a Penacook, New Hampshire school district serving 7 schools.The district educates 2,235 students with a student-teacher ratio of 12.1:1. District-level spending was $19,412 per student in fiscal year 2023 (NCES F-33).
With an average rating of 6.5/10, Merrimack Valley School District demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is Salisbury Elementary School, which has a composite score of 9.2/10.
In standardized testing, Merrimack Valley School District students show an average math proficiency of 46.1% and ELA proficiency of 55.0%.
The district includes 5 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 1 high school.
District Map
Schools in Merrimack Valley School District, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Merrimack Valley School District with test data.
Schools in Merrimack Valley School District
7 schoolsDistrict Details
- State
- New Hampshire
- City
- Penacook
- Total Enrollment
- 2,235
- Teachers (FTE)
- 185
- District spending per student
- $19,412NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- Child poverty rate
- 6.2%Census SAIPE · 2024
- District directory year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Merrimack Valley School District?
Merrimack Valley School District has 7 schools in total — 5 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Merrimack Valley School District?
The average composite rating for Merrimack Valley School District is 6.5/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the district spending per student in Merrimack Valley School District?
Merrimack Valley School District's district-level spending was $19,412 per student in fiscal year 2023, according to NCES F-33. This is district context, not an individual-school expense.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Merrimack Valley School District?
The average student-teacher ratio in Merrimack Valley School District is 12.1:1.
What is the top-rated school in Merrimack Valley School District?
Salisbury Elementary School is the highest-rated school in Merrimack Valley School District with a composite score of 9.2/10.
What are the test scores in Merrimack Valley School District?
Across schools in Merrimack Valley School District with test data, the average math proficiency is 46.1% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 55.0%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Merrimack Valley School District compare to other districts in New Hampshire?
Merrimack Valley School District has an average school rating of 6.5/10 across 7 schools. Families can compare this to other districts in New Hampshire by visiting individual district pages. Factors like school size, available programs, and community demographics also play a role in choosing the right fit.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools?
MySchoolScout ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and learning environment — plus college readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context without being factored into the score. Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.
District Averages
- Overall Rating
- 6.5/10
- Math Proficiency
- 46.1%
- ELA Proficiency
- 55.0%
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 rateOther School Districts in NH
Compare Merrimack Valley School District with neighboring districts in the state.
- Manchester School District (21)
- Nashua School District (21)
- Fall Mountain Regional School District (12)
- Contoocook Valley School District (11)
- Rochester School District (10)
- Derry Cooperative School District (8)
- Governor Wentworth Regional School District (8)
- Kearsarge Regional School District (8)
- Salem School District (8)
- Concord School District (7)
- Hudson School District (7)
- Keene School District (7)
- Monadnock Regional School District (7)
- Timberlane Regional School District (7)
- Bedford School District (6)
- Claremont School District (6)
- Londonderry School District (6)
- Merrimack School District (6)
- Newfound Area School District (6)
- Portsmouth School District (6)
- Conway School District (5)
- Dover School District (5)
- Goffstown School District (5)
- Laconia School District (5)
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.
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