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Portsmouth, NHPhoto: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0
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Schools in Portsmouth · Portsmouth School District

Portsmouth’s public schools outscore 90% of New Hampshire districts

In Portsmouth, 63% of tested students are proficient in math, above the New Hampshire average (40%). The grade covers the public school district serving Portsmouth, 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.

#8of 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
75%
▲ 24 pts vs NH 51%
2021–22
Math proficiency
63%
▲ 22 pts vs NH 40%
2021–22
Graduate on time
97%
▲ 9 pts vs NH 88%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$27.1K
▲ 17% vs NH $23.3K
FY2024
Students per teacher
10.1
NH 11.2 · smaller classes
Schools in town
7
2,427 students on the public path
In brief

Portsmouth’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 163 New Hampshire towns with household incomes within a quarter of Portsmouth’s, its schools beat 98%, higher than their 90% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 75% and math 63% in spring 2022, against 51% and 40% statewide; 97% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $27,140 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 6 the district’s path is Portsmouth Middle School, then Portsmouth High School. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

St. Patrick Academy (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 Portsmouth’s grade

A Test scoresA− Graduation

A: better than 90% of New Hampshire school districts, #8 of 126 New Hampshire towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the New Hampshire average; test scores are the stronger of the two.

New Hampshire school districts we grade (172)Better than 90%
Lower resultsHigher results
New Hampshire towns with similar household incomes (163)Better than 98%
A firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 1,167 test results and a graduating class of 279 wouldn’t change the letter. The tests are from spring 2022, when 93% of Portsmouth’s students in the tested grades sat them (1,175 in math, 1,159 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
K–53 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressA to A+
6–8Portsmouth Middle SchoolPortsmouth School DistrictA−
9–12Portsmouth High SchoolPortsmouth School DistrictA

Portsmouth’s public schools are run by Portsmouth 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.

Portsmouth School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 6 schools · 2,427 students, down 4% since 2020–21 · 10.1 per teacher (NH 11.2)
$27,140NH $23,296 · FY2024
A
Test scores · 2021–22

Well above the state in reading

Reading75%
State average 50.8% · 1159 students tested
Math63%
State average 40.5% · 1175 students tested

Portsmouth vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
PortsmouthAPortsmouth
New Castle—New Castle
Newington—Newington
RyeA+Rye
GreenlandA−Greenland

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

Every school in Portsmouth

7 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 Portsmouthby address
PEEP School - Pre School Program
Prekindergarten · Grades PK
24 students4:1Rate it →
Mary C. Dondero Elementary School
Elementary · Grades K–5
A
328 students9:1Rate it →
Little Harbour School
Elementary · Grades K–5
A+
325 students10:1Rate it →
New Franklin School
Elementary · Grades K–5
A+
247 students9:1Rate it →
Portsmouth Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8
A−
486 students10:1Rate it →
Portsmouth High School
High · Grades 9–12
A
1,017 students11:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
St. Patrick Academy
Elementary · Grades PK–8
Private · Catholic
255 students16:1Rate it →

Questions about Portsmouth’s schools

Are Portsmouth’s schools good?

By New Hampshire’s own tests, yes: the public schools Portsmouth children attend outscore 90% of New Hampshire’s school districts on tests and graduation, an A Schools grade, #8 of 126 New Hampshire towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 98%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Portsmouth in?

Portsmouth School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 2,427 students in 6 schools (2024–25).

Where do Portsmouth kids go to high school?

Portsmouth High School, with 1,017 students; its own test results earn an A.

What is Portsmouth’s graduation rate?

97% of the class of 2023 in Portsmouth School District graduated in four years, against 88% across New Hampshire.

How much does Portsmouth spend per student?

$27,140 in Portsmouth School District (FY2024), against $23,296 across New Hampshire. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Portsmouth?

Yes: St. Patrick Academy (Catholic, grades PK–8, 255 students).

Parents talk

What Portsmouth families are saying about school.

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Looking for colleges? Colleges near Portsmouth → 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.