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Very Good

#115 of 480 schools in NH

Top 24% in state

Little Harbour School

Elementary School · Portsmouth School District

50 Clough Dr., Portsmouth, NH 03801

Enrollment

335

Student-Teacher

10.2:1

Score

7.5

Grades

Kindergarten – 5th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Portsmouth

#3 of 5

public schools

New Hampshire elementary schools

#80 of 280

In district

#3 of 5

Portsmouth School District

Academic performance

9.5 / 10

Exceptional

About Little Harbour School

Little Harbour School serves 335 kindergarten through fifth-grade students in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, earning recognition as one of the state's top elementary schools. Ranked 20th out of 483 New Hampshire schools and placing in the 96th percentile, the school demonstrates strong academic achievement with 72% of students performing at proficient levels or above in both English Language Arts and mathematics. With 33 full-time equivalent teachers, the school maintains an excellent 10.2:1 student-teacher ratio, allowing for more personalized attention in the classroom.

This small class environment contributes to the school's impressive 9.4 out of 10 academic score and overall 8.2 out of 10 MySchoolScout rating. The school draws from a well-educated community where 63% of residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher, and the median household income reaches $100,839. This supportive environment, combined with a low 5.9% poverty rate, creates favorable conditions for student learning and family engagement in education.

Little Harbour School is situated in Portsmouth's small suburban setting on Clough Drive, where families enjoy the benefits of a tight-knit community while having access to the cultural and educational opportunities that the historic seaport city provides.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress6.3Above Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data3
Annual Change-2.33 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2022
TrendDeclining
Academics9.5Exceptional30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency72%
Reading/ELA Proficiency72%
Overall Proficiency72%
Expected (poverty-adj.)58%
vs. Expected+13.9 pts
Adjusted Percentile92th
College ReadinessNot Available

Data not available for this school

Resources & Environment7.6Very Good20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio10.2:1
Per-Pupil Spending$23,262

Little Harbour School — Students at Little Harbour School score 72% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 58%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

10.1%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores NH EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 74.0%
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 76.3%
School
State
N/A

Based on 6 test records from NH state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2019
Math
78%
ELA
80%
2021*
Math
72%
ELA
77%
2022
Math
72%
ELA
72%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 6.3/10.

How Little Harbour School Compares

See how Little Harbour School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
7.5/10
76th percentile in NH
Academic
9.5/10
9.5/10
Growth
6.3/10
Above average
Environment
7.6/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
10%
Teaching Staff
10:1 student-teacher ratio
33 teachers

Location

50 Clough Dr., Portsmouth, NH 03801

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Little Harbour School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Newington Public School (rated 9.5/10, 4.7 miles away, in nearby Newington), which scores notably higher. Another option is Rye Elementary School (rated 9.4/10, 2.6 miles away, in nearby Rye), which scores notably higher. Additionally, North Hampton School (rated 7.7/10, 7.5 miles away, in nearby North Hampton), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Portsmouth, see our Portsmouth schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 7.5 mi
School Distance Rating
PEEP School - Pre School Program Portsmouth 0.0 mi
Portsmouth Middle School Portsmouth 0.6 mi 8.0
Portsmouth High School Portsmouth 0.8 mi 8.1
Robert W Traip Academy Kittery 1.6 mi 5.8
New Franklin School Portsmouth 1.4 mi 7.5
Maude H. Trefethen School New Castle 1.5 mi
Mary C. Dondero Elementary School Portsmouth 2.1 mi 6.5
Rye Elementary School Rye 2.6 mi 9.4
ST PATRICK ACADEMY Portsmouth 2.4 mi 5.1
Shapleigh School Kittery 3.4 mi 7.2
Horace Mitchell Primary School Kittery Point 2.9 mi 6.3
Rye Junior High School Rye 3.7 mi 6.9
Eliot Elementary School Eliot 4.3 mi 4.6
LEARNING SKILLS ACADEMY Rye 4.9 mi 7.1
SEACOAST WALDORF SCHOOL Eliot 5.4 mi 5.7
Newington Public School Newington 4.7 mi 9.5
Greenland Central School Greenland 4.7 mi 5.7
Marshwood Middle School Eliot 6.4 mi 5.2
BRIXHAM MONTESSORI FRIENDS SCHOOL York 6.7 mi
North Hampton School North Hampton 7.5 mi 7.7

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 03801 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$106,520

Median Home Value

$647,500

Median Rent

$1,783/mo

Population

23,231

College Educated

63.4%

Homeownership

53.2%

Avg Commute

22.1 min

Poverty Rate

5.5%

Median Age

42.8

Community Profile

The community surrounding Little Harbour School has a median household income of $106,520. It is a well-educated community where 63% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $647,500, with a median rent of $1,783/month. The local poverty rate of 5.5% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 22 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Main Street School Exeter, NH 7.5
New Franklin School Portsmouth, NH 7.5
Atkinson Academy Atkinson, NH 7.4
Charlestown Primary School Charlestown, NH 7.6
Franklin Elementary School Keene, NH 7.4
Allenstown Elementary School Allenstown, NH 7.3

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Little Harbour School

What grades does Little Harbour School serve?

Little Harbour School serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.

How many students attend Little Harbour School?

Little Harbour School has an enrollment of approximately 335 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Little Harbour School?

The student-teacher ratio at Little Harbour School is 10.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Little Harbour School rank in NH?

Little Harbour School is ranked #115 out of 480 schools in NH.

What is Little Harbour School's MySchoolScout rating?

Little Harbour School has a composite rating of 7.5 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Little Harbour School?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Little Harbour School has 74.0% math proficiency and 76.3% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Little Harbour School a charter school?

No, Little Harbour School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Little Harbour School a Title I school?

No, Little Harbour School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Little Harbour School?

10.1% of students at Little Harbour School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
48 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
68 Bikeable
City Safety
Elevated (1,485/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Portsmouth). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
335
Student-Teacher Ratio
10.2:1
Teachers (FTE)
33
Free/Reduced Lunch
10.1%
Type
regular
Setting
Small Suburb
County
Rockingham County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

Portsmouth School District
District Enrollment
2,449
Schools in District
6
Per-Pupil Spending
$25,139
District Rank
#3 of 5

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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