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Barnstead Parade Cong ChurchPhoto: Ken Gallager at English Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
D
Schools in Barnstead · Prospect Mountain High School Joint Maintenance Agreement District, Barnstead School District

Barnstead’s public schools score below 92% of New Hampshire districts on tests and graduation

22% of students in Barnstead’s public schools are proficient in math, below the New Hampshire average (40%). The grade covers the two public school districts serving Barnstead, 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.

#118of 126 New Hampshire townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From New Hampshire state tests taken in spring 2022, when 90% 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
33%
▼ 17 pts vs NH 51%
2021–22
Math proficiency
22%
▼ 18 pts vs NH 40%
2021–22
Graduate on time
90–94%
▲ 2–6 pts vs NH 88%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$21.4K
▼ 8% vs NH $23.3K
FY2024 · Barnstead
Students per teacher
11.3
NH 11.2
Schools in town
1
851 students on the public path
In brief

Barnstead’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 155 New Hampshire towns with household incomes within a quarter of Barnstead’s, its schools beat 3%, lower than their 8% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Barnstead runs its own schools through grade 8, then shares

Barnstead Elementary School (PK–8) is Barnstead’s own. From grade 9, students attend the Prospect Mountain High School Joint Maintenance Agreement District with Alton: Prospect Mountain High School in Alton. The high school’s own results earn a B−, the highest on the path. See the path ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 33% of tested students were proficient in reading and 22% in math, against 51% and 40% statewide; 90% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

90–94% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88% across New Hampshire (the state reports Barnstead’s rate as a range). Districts ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $21,409 per student, against $23,296 across New Hampshire (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

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 Barnstead’s grade

D Test scoresB Graduation

D: better than 8% of New Hampshire school districts, #118 of 126 New Hampshire towns. Graduation is above the New Hampshire average; test scores are below it.

New Hampshire school districts we grade (172)Better than 8%
Lower resultsHigher results
New Hampshire towns with similar household incomes (155)Better than 3%
Towns in Belknap County (10)Better than 0%
D−C−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 381 test results and a graduating class of 92 could put Barnstead anywhere from D− to C−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 90% of Barnstead’s students in the tested grades sat them (383 in math, 379 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–8Barnstead Elementary SchoolBarnstead School DistrictC−
9–12Prospect Mountain High Schoolin AltonB−

Barnstead runs its own schools through grade 8 (Barnstead School District). From grade 9, students attend the Prospect Mountain High School Joint Maintenance Agreement District, shared with Alton. Its high school is in Alton. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Two districts serve Barnstead

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

Prospect Mountain High School Joint Maintenance Agreement DistrictGrades 9–12 · 1 schools · 402 students, down 9% since 2020–21 · 11.1 per teacher (NH 11.2)
B−
Barnstead School DistrictGrades PK–8 · 1 schools · 449 students · 11.5 per teacher (NH 11.2)
$21,409NH $23,296 · FY2024
D−
Test scores · 2021–22

Well below the state in reading

Reading · 9–12, Prospect Mountain High School Joint Maintenance Agreement District62%
State average 50.8% · 70 students tested
Math · 9–12, Prospect Mountain High School Joint Maintenance Agreement District27%
State average 40.5% · 70 students tested
Reading · PK–8, Barnstead School District27%
State average 50.8% · 309 students tested
Math · PK–8, Barnstead School District21%
State average 40.5% · 313 students tested

Barnstead vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
BarnsteadDBarnstead PK–8 · Prospect Mountain High School Joint Maintenance Agreement District 9–12
GilmantonA−Gilmanton
AltonC−Alton PK–8 · Prospect Mountain High School Joint Maintenance Agreement District 9–12
StraffordC−Strafford
PittsfieldC−Pittsfield
FarmingtonC−Farmington

Every school in Barnstead

2 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 Barnsteadby address
Barnstead Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–8 · Ctr. Barnstead
C−
449 students12:1Rate it →
Also serving Barnsteadin other towns
Prospect Mountain High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Alton
B−
402 students11:1Rate it →

Questions about Barnstead’s schools

Are Barnstead’s schools good?

On New Hampshire’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Barnstead children attend score below 92% of New Hampshire’s school districts on tests and graduation, a D Schools grade, #118 of 126 New Hampshire towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 3%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Barnstead in?

Two districts: Barnstead School District runs grades PK–8, and Prospect Mountain High School Joint Maintenance Agreement District runs grades 9–12, shared with Alton.

Where do Barnstead kids go to high school?

Prospect Mountain High School in Alton, with 402 students; its own test results earn a B−.

What is Barnstead’s graduation rate?

90–94% of the class of 2023 in Prospect Mountain High School Joint Maintenance Agreement District graduated in four years, against 88% across New Hampshire.

How much does Barnstead spend per student?

$21,409 in Barnstead School District (FY2024), against $23,296 across New Hampshire. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Barnstead families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Barnstead → 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.