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Dover City HallPhoto: MidniteOIL · CC BY-SA 4.0
C+
Schools in Dover · Dover School District

Dover’s public schools score below 62% of New Hampshire districts on tests and graduation

The grade covers the public school district serving Dover, 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.

#73of 126 New Hampshire townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From New Hampshire state tests taken in spring 2022, when 93% 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
49%
▼ 2 pts vs NH 51%
2021–22
Math proficiency
37%
▼ 4 pts vs NH 40%
2021–22
Graduate on time
87%
▼ 1 pts vs NH 88%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$21.2K
▼ 9% vs NH $23.3K
FY2024
Students per teacher
12.8
NH 11.2 · larger classes
Schools in town
9
3,498 students on the public path
In brief

Dover’s schools, in brief

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 49% of tested students were proficient in reading and 37% in math, against 51% and 40% statewide; 93% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

87% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88% across New Hampshire. Districts ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $21,232 per student, against $23,296 across New Hampshire (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Three elementary schools, then one middle and one high school

Which elementary school depends on the address; from grade 5 the district’s path is Dover Middle School, then Dover Senior High School. Enrollment is down 9% since 2020–21. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Seacoast Charter School, St. Thomas Aquinas High School (private), St. Mary Academy (private) and My School (private) are 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 Dover’s grade

C+ Test scoresC+ Graduation

C+: better than 38% of New Hampshire school districts, #73 of 126 New Hampshire towns. Both inputs trail the New Hampshire average; graduation is the closer of the two to typical.

New Hampshire school districts we grade (172)Better than 38%
Lower resultsHigher results
New Hampshire towns with similar household incomes (168)Better than 42%
CB−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 1,801 test results and a graduating class of 379 could put Dover anywhere from C to B−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 93% of Dover’s students in the tested grades sat them (1,806 in math, 1,796 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
K–43 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressC to B+
5–8Dover Middle SchoolDover School DistrictC+
9–12Dover Senior High SchoolDover School DistrictB+

Dover’s public schools are run by Dover School District. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

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

Dover School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 5 schools · 3,498 students, down 9% since 2020–21 · 12.8 per teacher (NH 11.2)
$21,232NH $23,296 · FY2024
C+
Test scores · 2021–22

Below the state in reading

Reading49%
State average 50.8% · 1796 students tested
Math37%
State average 40.5% · 1806 students tested

Dover vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
DoverC+Dover
RollinsfordC+Rollinsford
Newington—Newington
MadburyAOyster River Cooperative
SomersworthC−Somersworth
RochesterDRochester

Eliot, ME and South Berwick, ME border Dover but are graded on their own state’s tests, so they’re left out.

Every school in Dover

9 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 Doverby address
Woodman Park School
Elementary · Grades PK–4
C
421 students12:1Rate it →
Frances G. Hopkins Elementary School at Horne Street
Elementary · Grades K–4
C+
412 students13:1Rate it →
Garrison School
Elementary · Grades K–4
B+
353 students12:1Rate it →
Dover Middle School
Middle · Grades 5–8
C+
941 students13:1Rate it →
Dover Senior High School
High · Grades 9–12
B+
1,371 students13:1Rate it →
Charter schoolsfree, open by application
Seacoast Charter School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
B−
Charter
287 students14:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
St. Thomas Aquinas High School
High · Grades 9–12
Private · Catholic
354 students12:1Rate it →
St. Mary Academy
Elementary · Grades PK–8
Private · Catholic
215 students11:1Rate it →
My School
Elementary · Grades PK–2
Private · Nonsectarian
80 studentsRate it →

Questions about Dover’s schools

Are Dover’s schools good?

On New Hampshire’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Dover children attend score below 62% of New Hampshire’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C+ Schools grade, #73 of 126 New Hampshire towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 42%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Dover in?

Dover School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 3,498 students in 5 schools (2024–25).

Where do Dover kids go to high school?

Dover Senior High School, with 1,371 students; its own test results earn a B+.

What is Dover’s graduation rate?

87% of the class of 2023 in Dover School District graduated in four years, against 88% across New Hampshire.

How much does Dover spend per student?

$21,232 in Dover School District (FY2024), against $23,296 across New Hampshire. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Dover?

Yes: St. Thomas Aquinas High School (Catholic, grades 9–12, 354 students), St. Mary Academy (Catholic, grades PK–8, 215 students) and My School (nonsectarian, grades PK–2, 80 students). Dover also has 1 charter school, free and open by application.

Parents talk

What Dover families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Dover → 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.