Excellent
#19 of 480 schools in NH
Top 4% in state
Mary C. Dondero Elementary School
Elementary School · Portsmouth School District
32 Van Buren Ave., Portsmouth, NH 03801
Enrollment
337
Student-Teacher
11.6:1
Score
9.0
Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
337
Student-Teacher
11.6:1
Score
9.0
Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Data vintage
2022-23
Data vintage2022-23
How this school compares
New Hampshire schools
#19 of 480
In Portsmouth
#2 of 5
public schools
In district
#2 of 5
Portsmouth School District
Academic growth
9.4 / 10
Excellent
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Mary C. Dondero Elementary School
Elementary School in Portsmouth · grades Kindergarten – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.
Rye Elementary School
0.9 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
St Patrick Academy
1.0 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
About Mary C. Dondero Elementary School
Mary C. Dondero Elementary School is a public elementary school in Portsmouth, NH, part of Portsmouth School District. Mary C.
Dondero Elementary School serves approximately 337 students, and covers grades Kindergarten-5th, and has a 11.6:1 student-teacher ratio. Mary C. Dondero Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 9.0 out of 10 and ranks #19 of 480 schools in NH.
Structured state assessment records for Mary C. Dondero Elementary School show 70% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 75% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
- This school 9.0 · Excellent
- District avg 9.1
- NH avg 6.2
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Mary C. Dondero Elementary School — Students at Mary C. Dondero Elementary School score 67% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 56%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
13.4%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores NH EDFACTS (2021-22)
Based on 28 test records from NH state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
→ StableAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* 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: 9.4/10.
How Mary C. Dondero Elementary School Compares
See how Mary C. Dondero Elementary School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Location
32 Van Buren Ave., Portsmouth, NH 03801
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Mary C. Dondero Elementary School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Rye Elementary School (rated 9.6/10, 0.9 miles away, in nearby Rye), which scores slightly higher. Another option is New Franklin School (rated 9.3/10, 2.7 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, Little Harbour School (rated 8.9/10, 2.1 miles away), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Portsmouth, see our Portsmouth schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 7.4 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Rye Elementary School Rye | 0.9 mi | 9.6 |
| ST PATRICK ACADEMY Portsmouth | 1.0 mi | 5.1 |
| Portsmouth High School Portsmouth | 1.5 mi | 8.7 |
| Rye Junior High School Rye | 1.6 mi | 9.1 |
| Little Harbour School Portsmouth | 2.1 mi | 8.9 |
| PEEP School - Pre School Program Portsmouth | 2.1 mi | — |
| Portsmouth Middle School Portsmouth | 2.5 mi | 8.8 |
| New Franklin School Portsmouth | 2.7 mi | 9.3 |
| LEARNING SKILLS ACADEMY Rye | 2.9 mi | 7.1 |
| Maude H. Trefethen School New Castle | 3.2 mi | — |
| Robert W Traip Academy Kittery | 3.7 mi | 6.0 |
| Greenland Central School Greenland | 3.3 mi | 8.2 |
| Shapleigh School Kittery | 5.5 mi | 6.8 |
| Horace Mitchell Primary School Kittery Point | 4.7 mi | 6.8 |
| North Hampton School North Hampton | 5.4 mi | 8.2 |
| Eliot Elementary School Eliot | 6.0 mi | 4.5 |
| Newington Public School Newington | 5.7 mi | 8.6 |
| SQUAMSCOTT RIVER ACADEMY North Hampton | 6.3 mi | — |
| SEACOAST WALDORF SCHOOL Eliot | 7.2 mi | 5.7 |
| Adeline C. Marston School Hampton | 7.4 mi | 8.9 |
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
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| Grantham Village School Grantham, NH | 9.0 |
| Mont Vernon Village School Mont Vernon, NH | 9.0 |
| Adeline C. Marston School Hampton, NH | 8.9 |
| Little Harbour School Portsmouth, NH | 8.9 |
| Mast Way School Lee, NH | 9.1 |
| Moharimet School Madbury, NH | 8.9 |
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.
Neighborhood Context
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Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 5th
- Enrollment
- 337
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 11.6:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 29
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 13.4%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small Suburb
- County
- Rockingham County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 24.9%
- Phone
- (603) 436-2231
Resources & Links
District
Portsmouth School District- District Enrollment
- 2,449
- Schools in District
- 6
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $25,139
- District Rank
- #2 of 5
Other Schools in This District
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