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Excellent

#34 of 480 schools in NH

Top 7% in state

Portsmouth High School

High School · Portsmouth School District

50 Andrew Jarvis Dr., Portsmouth, NH 03801

Enrollment

1,025

Student-Teacher

11.8:1

Score

8.7

Grades

9th – UG

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

New Hampshire schools

#34 of 480

In Portsmouth

#5 of 5

public schools

In district

#5 of 5

Portsmouth School District

Academic growth

9.8 / 10

Excellent

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Portsmouth High School

8.7/10

High School in Portsmouth · grades 9th – UG. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Little Harbour School

8.9/10

0.8 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Peep School - Pre School Program

Nearby

0.8 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Portsmouth High School

Portsmouth High School is a public high school in Portsmouth, NH, part of Portsmouth School District. Portsmouth High School serves approximately 1,025 students, and covers grades 9th-UG, and has a 11.8:1 student-teacher ratio. Portsmouth High School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.7 out of 10 and ranks #34 of 480 schools in NH.

Structured state assessment records for Portsmouth High School show 51% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 75% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

How it compares2.0 pts above NH schools
  • This school 8.7 · Excellent
  • NH avg 6.7

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress9.8Excellent25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change+0.68 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2022
TrendStable
Academics9.3Excellent25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency61% (2022 EdFacts)
Reading/ELA Proficiency79% (2022 EdFacts)
Overall Proficiency70% (2022 EdFacts, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)58% (model expectation from 2022 EdFacts)
vs. Expected+11.5 pts
Adjusted Percentile89th
College Readiness8.2Excellent30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
4-Year Graduation Rate96%
AP Participation17.2%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment7.5Very Good20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio11.8:1
Per-Pupil Spending$25,139
Chronic Absenteeism28.1%

Portsmouth High School — Students at Portsmouth High School score 70% 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

9.6%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores NH EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 51.2% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 75.2% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
School
State
N/A

Based on 28 test records from NH state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

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

2009
Math
41%
ELA
75%
2010
Math
48%
ELA
79%
2011
Math
41%
ELA
87%
2012
Math
46%
ELA
79%
2013
Math
46%
ELA
81%
2014
Math
41%
ELA
42%
2015
Math
47%
ELA
77%
2016
Math
63%
ELA
80%
2017
Math
55%
ELA
76%
2018
Math
52%
ELA
72%
2019
Math
52%
ELA
72%
2020*
Math
62%
ELA
77%
2021*
Math
62%
ELA
77%
2022
Math
61%
ELA
79%

* 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: 9.8/10.

How Portsmouth High School Compares

See how Portsmouth High School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
8.7/10
93th percentile in NH
Academic
9.3/10
Excellent
Growth
9.8/10
Excellent
Environment
7.5/10
Very Good
AP Courses
3
State avg: 2.5
Sports
25
12 boys' · 13 girls'
Advanced STEM
5/5
Subjects offered

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
10%
Teaching Staff
12:1 student-teacher ratio
87 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
28.1%

Programs & Offerings

AP/IB Programs3 AP courses offered
17.2% participation·State avg: 2.5 AP courses·CRDC 2021-22
Athletics25sports offered
12 boys'·13 girls'·45 teams (incl. JV)·CRDC 2021-22
Advanced STEM Courses5 of 5 advanced subjects offered
Algebra II, Advanced Math, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics·CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

50 Andrew Jarvis Dr., Portsmouth, NH 03801

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Portsmouth High School may also want to explore other high schools in the area. Robert W Traip Academy (rated 6.0/10, 2.3 miles away, in nearby Kittery), a more accessible option. Additionally, ST THOMAS AQUINAS HIGH SCHOOL (rated 5.5/10, 7.4 miles away, in nearby Dover), a more accessible option. For more schools in Portsmouth, see our Portsmouth schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 7.4 mi
School Distance Rating
Little Harbour School Portsmouth 0.8 mi 8.9
PEEP School - Pre School Program Portsmouth 0.8 mi
Portsmouth Middle School Portsmouth 1.0 mi 8.8
New Franklin School Portsmouth 1.4 mi 9.3
Mary C. Dondero Elementary School Portsmouth 1.5 mi 9.0
ST PATRICK ACADEMY Portsmouth 1.6 mi 5.1
Rye Elementary School Rye 2.2 mi 9.6
Robert W Traip Academy Kittery 2.3 mi 6.0
Maude H. Trefethen School New Castle 2.3 mi
Rye Junior High School Rye 3.1 mi 9.1
Shapleigh School Kittery 4.0 mi 6.8
LEARNING SKILLS ACADEMY Rye 4.2 mi 7.1
Eliot Elementary School Eliot 4.6 mi 4.5
Horace Mitchell Primary School Kittery Point 3.7 mi 6.8
Greenland Central School Greenland 3.9 mi 8.2
Newington Public School Newington 4.6 mi 8.6
SEACOAST WALDORF SCHOOL Eliot 5.8 mi 5.7
Marshwood Middle School Eliot 6.7 mi 6.4
North Hampton School North Hampton 6.8 mi 8.2
ST THOMAS AQUINAS HIGH SCHOOL Dover 7.4 mi 5.5

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
Souhegan Coop High School Amherst, NH 8.6
Hollis-Brookline High School Hollis, NH 8.8
Bedford High School Bedford, NH 8.5
Oyster River High School Durham, NH 8.5
Londonderry Senior High School Londonderry, NH 8.3
Windham High School Windham, NH 8.3

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Portsmouth High School

What grades does Portsmouth High School serve?

Portsmouth High School serves students in grades 9th through UG.

How many students attend Portsmouth High School?

Portsmouth High School has an enrollment of approximately 1,025 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Portsmouth High School?

The student-teacher ratio at Portsmouth High School is 11.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Portsmouth High School rank in NH?

Portsmouth High School ranks #34 of 480 schools in NH.

What is Portsmouth High School's MySchoolScout rating?

Portsmouth High School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.7 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 Portsmouth High School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Portsmouth High School has 51% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 75% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Is Portsmouth High School a charter school?

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

Is Portsmouth High School a Title I school?

No, Portsmouth High School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Portsmouth High School?

9.6% of students at Portsmouth High 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
38 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
42 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
9th – UG
Enrollment
1,025
Student-Teacher Ratio
11.8:1
Teachers (FTE)
87
Free/Reduced Lunch
9.6%
Type
regular
Setting
Small Suburb
County
Rockingham County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
28.1%
4-Year Graduation
96.0%

District

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

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