Signer's House and Matthew Thornton Cemetery · Photo: Jane023 · CC BY-SA 4.0

B⁻

Schools in Merrimack · Merrimack School District

Merrimack’s public schools score below 55% of New Hampshire districts on tests and graduation

The grade covers the public school district serving Merrimack, 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.

#67of 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

51%

▲ 0 pts vs NH 51%

2021–22

Math proficiency

38%

▼ 2 pts vs NH 40%

2021–22

Graduate on time

88%

▼ 0 pts vs NH 88%

class of 2023

Spent per student

$23.0K

▼ 1% vs NH $23.3K

FY2024

Students per teacher

12.0

NH 11.2 · larger classes

Schools in town

3,453 students on the public path

In brief

Merrimack’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 122 New Hampshire towns with household incomes within a quarter of Merrimack’s, its schools beat 30%, lower than their 45% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state in reading, below in math

Reading proficiency is 51% and math 38% in spring 2022, against 51% and 40% statewide; 88% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $23,018 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 7 the district’s path is Merrimack Middle School, then Merrimack High School. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Gate City Charter School for the Arts, South Merrimack Christian Academy (private) and Kindercare Learning Center (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 Merrimack’s grade

C⁺ Test scoresB⁻ Graduation

B−: better than 45% of New Hampshire school districts, #67 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 45%

Lower resultsHigher results

New Hampshire towns with similar household incomes (122)Better than 30%

Towns in Hillsborough County (28)Better than 29%

CBA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 1,760 test results and a graduating class of 268 could put Merrimack anywhere from C to B. The tests are from spring 2022, when 94% of Merrimack’s students in the tested grades sat them (1,762 in math, 1,758 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

Kindergarten in Merrimack · depends on your address

Reeds Ferry School

Grades PK–4 · 504 students · 12:1 students per teacher

B⁺

Thorntons Ferry School

Grades PK–4 · 504 students · 12:1 students per teacher

B⁻

James Mastricola Elementary School

Grades PK–4 · 375 students · 12:1 students per teacher

B⁻

The path, start to finish

PK–43 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressB⁻ to B⁺

7–8Merrimack Middle SchoolMerrimack School DistrictC⁺

9–12Merrimack High SchoolMerrimack School DistrictA⁻

Merrimack’s public schools are run by Merrimack 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.

Merrimack School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 6 schools · 3,453 students, down 3% since 2020–21 · 12.0 per teacher (NH 11.2)

$23,018NH $23,296 · FY2024

B⁻

Test scores · 2021–22

Close to the state in reading

Reading51%

State average 50.8% · 1758 students tested

Math38%

State average 40.5% · 1762 students tested

Merrimack vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door

Town	Schools	Main districts
Merrimack	B⁻	Merrimack
Nashua	C	Nashua
Litchfield	B⁺	Litchfield
Amherst	B⁺	Amherst PK–8 · Souhegan Cooperative 9–12
Manchester	D⁻	Manchester
Bedford	A	Bedford
Hollis	A	Hollis PK–6 · Hollis-Brookline Cooperative 7–12

Every school in Merrimack

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 Merrimackby address

Reeds Ferry School

Elementary · Grades PK–4

B⁺

504 students12:1Rate it →

Thorntons Ferry School

Elementary · Grades PK–4

B⁻

504 students12:1Rate it →

James Mastricola Elementary School

Elementary · Grades PK–4

B⁻

375 students12:1Rate it →

James Mastricola Upper Elementary School

Middle · Grades 5–6

B⁻

533 students13:1Rate it →

Merrimack Middle School

Middle · Grades 7–8

C⁺

480 students10:1Rate it →

Merrimack High School

High · Grades 9–12

A⁻

1,057 students12:1Rate it →

Charter schoolsfree, open by application

Gate City Charter School for the Arts

Elementary · Grades K–8

Charter

160 students16:1Rate it →

Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade

South Merrimack Christian Academy

Grades PK–12

Private · Religious

265 students9:1Rate it →

Kindercare Learning Center

Elementary · Grades PK–K

Private · Nonsectarian

42 studentsRate it →

Left off: 1 public program with fewer than 25 students (Wellheart Chartered Public School).

Questions about Merrimack’s schools

Are Merrimack’s schools good?

On New Hampshire’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Merrimack children attend score below 55% of New Hampshire’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B− Schools grade, #67 of 126 New Hampshire towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 30%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Merrimack in?

Merrimack School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 3,453 students in 6 schools (2024–25).

Where do Merrimack kids go to high school?

Merrimack High School, with 1,057 students; its own test results earn an A−.

What is Merrimack’s graduation rate?

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

How much does Merrimack spend per student?

$23,018 in Merrimack School District (FY2024), against $23,296 across New Hampshire. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Merrimack?

Yes: South Merrimack Christian Academy (religious, grades PK–12, 265 students) and Kindercare Learning Center (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 42 students). Merrimack also has 1 charter school, free and open by application.

Parents talk

What Merrimack families are saying about school.

Town Square →

Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Merrimack → 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.