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Amherst NH Common, 2006Photo: Smuttynoser at English Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
B+
Schools in Amherst · Amherst School District, Souhegan Cooperative School District

Amherst’s public schools outscore 74% of New Hampshire districts

Math proficiency in Amherst’s districts is 53%, above the New Hampshire average (40%). The grade covers the two public school districts serving Amherst, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within New Hampshire, not nationally.

#28of 126 New Hampshire townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From New Hampshire state tests taken in spring 2022, when 94% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
60%
▲ 9 pts vs NH 51%
2021–22
Math proficiency
53%
▲ 12 pts vs NH 40%
2021–22
Graduate on time
95–100%
▲ 7–12 pts vs NH 88%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$23.2K
▼ 1% vs NH $23.3K
FY2024 · Amherst
Students per teacher
10.7
NH 11.2
Schools in town
4
2,007 students on the public path
In brief

Amherst’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 63 New Hampshire towns with household incomes within a quarter of Amherst’s, its schools beat 48%, lower than their 74% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Amherst runs its own schools through grade 8, then shares

Clark-Wilkins School (PK–4) and Amherst Middle School (5–8) are Amherst’s own. From grade 9, students attend the Souhegan Cooperative School District with Mont Vernon: Souhegan Coop High School. The high school’s own results earn an A, the highest on the path. See the path ↓

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 60% and math 53% across both districts in spring 2022, against 51% and 40% statewide; 95–100% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

Amherst spends $23,171 per student and Souhegan Cooperative $26,337, against $23,296 across New Hampshire (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓

Choice beyond the district

Country Village Montessori School (private) is in town. Every school ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Amherst’s grade

B+ Test scoresA Graduation

B+: better than 74% of New Hampshire school districts, #28 of 126 New Hampshire towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the New Hampshire average; graduation is the stronger of the two.

New Hampshire school districts we grade (172)Better than 74%
Lower resultsHigher results
New Hampshire towns with similar household incomes (63)Better than 48%
Towns in Hillsborough County (28)Better than 75%
B+A−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 1,046 test results and a graduating class of 181 could put Amherst anywhere from B+ to A−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 94% of Amherst’s students in the tested grades sat them (1,049 in math, 1,042 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Amherst, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–4Clark-Wilkins SchoolAmherst School DistrictA
5–8Amherst Middle SchoolAmherst School DistrictB+
9–12Souhegan Coop High SchoolSouhegan Cooperative School DistrictA

Amherst runs its own schools through grade 8 (Amherst School District). From grade 9, students attend the Souhegan Cooperative School District, shared with Mont Vernon. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Two districts serve Amherst

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Amherst School DistrictGrades PK–8 · 2 schools · 1,311 students, up 4% since 2020–21 · 10.9 per teacher (NH 11.2)
$23,171NH $23,296 · FY2024
B+
Souhegan Cooperative School DistrictGrades 9–12 · 1 schools · 696 students, down 2% since 2020–21 · 10.4 per teacher (NH 11.2)
$26,337NH $23,296 · FY2024
A−
Test scores · 2021–22

Well above the state in reading

Reading · PK–8, Amherst School District58%
State average 50.8% · 868 students tested
Math · PK–8, Amherst School District55%
State average 40.5% · 875 students tested
Reading · 9–12, Souhegan Cooperative School District67%
State average 50.8% · 174 students tested
Math · 9–12, Souhegan Cooperative School District42%
State average 40.5% · 174 students tested

Amherst vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the New Hampshire towns that share Amherst’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
AmherstB+Amherst PK–8 · Souhegan Cooperative 9–12
MilfordB−Milford
Mont VernonAMont Vernon K–6 · Souhegan Cooperative 9–12
MerrimackB−Merrimack
BedfordABedford
HollisAHollis PK–6 · Hollis-Brookline Cooperative 7–12

Every school in Amherst

4 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with New Hampshire’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Amherstby address
Clark-Wilkins School
Elementary · Grades PK–4
A
676 students10:1Rate it →
Amherst Middle School
Middle · Grades 5–8
B+
635 students12:1Rate it →
Souhegan Coop High School
High · Grades 9–12
A
696 students10:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Country Village Montessori School
Elementary · Grades PK–5
Private · Nonsectarian
27 students6:1Rate it →

Questions about Amherst’s schools

Are Amherst’s schools good?

By New Hampshire’s own tests, yes: the public schools Amherst children attend outscore 74% of New Hampshire’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B+ Schools grade, #28 of 126 New Hampshire towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 48%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Amherst in?

Two districts: Amherst School District runs grades PK–8, and Souhegan Cooperative School District runs grades 9–12, shared with Mont Vernon.

Where do Amherst kids go to high school?

Souhegan Coop High School, with 696 students; its own test results earn an A.

What is Amherst’s graduation rate?

95–100% of the class of 2023 in Souhegan Cooperative School District graduated in four years, against 88% across New Hampshire.

How much does Amherst spend per student?

$23,171 in Amherst School District and $26,337 in Souhegan Cooperative School District (FY2024), against $23,296 across New Hampshire. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Amherst?

Yes: Country Village Montessori School (nonsectarian, grades PK–5, 27 students).

Parents talk

What Amherst families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Amherst → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within New Hampshire. Stars are from neighbors.