Excellent
#19 of 480 schools in NH
Top 4% in state
Mary C. Dondero Elementary School
Elementary School · Portsmouth School District · Portsmouth, NH
A Portsmouth School District elementary school where students score 11 points above what's typical for similar communities.
32 Van Buren Ave., Portsmouth, NH 03801
- Math 62% proficient (2022)
- Reading 72% proficient (2022)
- 11.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Mary C. Dondero Elementary School score 67% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 56%).
2022 EdFacts proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. NH average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 10 points since 2019, to 67% in 2022, across a 14-year record (2009–2022).
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 70% (multi-year average, 2009-2022) · reading/ELA 75% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 28 test records from NH state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
13.4%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
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 rateThe neighborhood
Where Mary C. Dondero Elementary School sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries. Open the Boston map →
Getting around & local context
- Walk 27Car-Dependent
- Bike 35Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: Elevated1,485/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Portsmouth), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$106,520
Median home value
$647,500
Median rent
$1,783/mo
College educated
63.4%
Homeownership
53.2%
Poverty rate
5.5%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 03801; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rye Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 9.6 | PK–4 | 0.9 mi | 209 | Compare → |
| St Patrick AcademyPrivate · tuition | 5.1private | PK–8 | 1.0 mi | 191 | Compare → |
| Little Harbour SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 8.9 | K–5 | 2.1 mi | 335 | Compare → |
| New Franklin SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 9.3 | K–5 | 2.7 mi | 256 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Portsmouth School District
- Schools in district
- 6
- Rank in district
- #2 of 5
- District spending per student
- $25,139NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 4.2%Census SAIPE · 2024
Mary C. Dondero Elementary School is listed in Portsmouth School District; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Mary C. Dondero Elementary School
Mary C. Dondero Elementary School is a public elementary school in Portsmouth, NH, part of Portsmouth School District, serving approximately 337 students in grades Kindergarten-5th with a 11.6:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 9.0 out of 10 and ranks #19 of 480 schools in NH.
State assessment records show 70% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 75% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Mary C. Dondero Elementary School
What grades does Mary C. Dondero Elementary School serve?
Mary C. Dondero Elementary School serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.
How many students attend Mary C. Dondero Elementary School?
Mary C. Dondero Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 337 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Mary C. Dondero Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Mary C. Dondero Elementary School is 11.6:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Mary C. Dondero Elementary School rank in NH?
Mary C. Dondero Elementary School ranks #19 of 480 schools in NH.
What is Mary C. Dondero Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?
Mary C. Dondero Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 9.0 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Mary C. Dondero Elementary School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Mary C. Dondero Elementary School has 70% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 75% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Is Mary C. Dondero Elementary School a charter school?
No, Mary C. Dondero Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Mary C. Dondero Elementary School a Title I school?
No, Mary C. Dondero Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Mary C. Dondero Elementary School?
13.4% of students at Mary C. Dondero Elementary 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.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 5th
- Enrollment
- 337
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 11.6:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 29
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small Suburb
- County
- Rockingham County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 24.9%
- Phone
- (603) 436-2231
- Area population (ZIP 03801)
- 23,231
- Area average commute
- 22.1 min
- Area median age
- 42.8
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
- Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
- Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 03801; this does not measure the attendance area.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2022; directory SY 2023–24
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