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C+

Dover School District

Public school districtGrades PK–12

Serves Dover.

Dover’s School Grade C+ better than 38% of New Hampshire school districts

Students
3,498
Schools
5
Spent per student
$21,232
NH $23,296
Students per teacher
13:1
Free or reduced lunch
25%
Debt
$76M
fiscal 2024
The gist

What stands out about Dover School District

  • Its letter, C+: results better than 38% of New Hampshire districts
  • Spends 9% less per student than the NH average
  • 13 students per teacher
  • Enrollment down 8.5% since 2020–21
  • Debt of $76M, about $21,722 per student
The School Grade

What this district adds to its towns’ grade

C+: better than 38% of the 172 New Hampshire school districts we grade. Each town’s School Grade weighs its districts by the students they test; spending and class size are shown but don’t count.

Test scoresReading and math below the state, 2021–22
C+
GraduationFour-year graduation close to the state, class of 2023
C+
The town it serves, and its School Grade
C+Dover 34,623

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where would my kid go?

The school path for Dover. Grade by grade →

K–43 elementary schoolsThis district
5–8Dover Middle SchoolThis district
9–12Dover Senior High SchoolThis district

Test scores vs. NH

2021–22 · class of 2023
Math proficiency37%
State average 40.5% · 1,806 students tested
Reading / language arts49%
State average 50.8% · 1,796 students tested
Graduation rate (4-year)87%
State average 88.1% · 379 in the class

93% of students in the tested grades sat the 2022 tests.

Reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express and the Urban Institute); the newest year for each measure.

Where the money goes

fiscal 2024
$21,232 per student · 9% below NH
Spending
Classroom instruction 65%Support & administration 33%Other 2%
Paid for by
Local (mostly property tax) 66%State 26%Federal 8%

Fiscal 2022–24 includes federal pandemic relief (ESSER).

U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances.

Enrollment over time
3,823’20
3,819’21
3,743’22
3,611’23
3,498’24

Down 8.5% since 2020–21.

Students
White 79%Two or more races 8%Asian 6%Hispanic 5%Black 2%American Indian/Alaska Native <1%

Schools in the district

5 public schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with New Hampshire’s other public schools.

Woodman Park School
Elementary · Grades PK–4 · Dover
C
421 students12:1
Frances G. Hopkins Elementary School at Horne Street
Elementary · Grades K–4 · Dover
C+
412 students13:1
Garrison School
Elementary · Grades K–4 · Dover
B+
353 students12:1
Dover Middle School
Middle · Grades 5–8 · Dover
C+
941 students13:1
Dover Senior High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Dover
B+
1,371 students13:1

Nearby districts

Compare spending and schools next door.

School Administrative District 35Eliot, South Berwick
$18,730per student
Newington School DistrictNewington
$40,208per student
Oyster River Cooperative School DistrictMadbury
$23,769per student
Rochester School DistrictRochester
$20,774per student

District facts: U.S. Department of Education (NCES school directory 2024–25 and district boundaries) and the U.S. Census Bureau’s school finance survey. Test scores and graduation: state results reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express and the Urban Institute). The letters are our own summary, graded within New Hampshire.