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SalisburyNH TownHallAndHistoricSocietyPhoto: User:Magicpiano · CC BY-SA 4.0
B−
Schools in Salisbury · Merrimack Valley School District

Salisbury’s public schools score below 52% of New Hampshire districts on tests and graduation

The grade covers the public school district serving Salisbury, 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.

K–12Where will my kid go?

From New Hampshire state tests taken in spring 2022, when 92% 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
46%
▼ 5 pts vs NH 51%
2021–22
Math proficiency
39%
▼ 2 pts vs NH 40%
2021–22
Graduate on time
90–94%
▲ 2–6 pts vs NH 88%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$21.2K
▼ 9% vs NH $23.3K
FY2024
Students per teacher
11.3
NH 11.2
Schools in town
1
1,274 students on the public path
In brief

Salisbury’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 155 New Hampshire towns with household incomes within a quarter of Salisbury’s, its schools beat 43%, lower than their 48% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 46% of tested students were proficient in reading and 39% in math, against 51% and 40% statewide; 92% 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 Salisbury’s rate as a range). Districts ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $21,165 per student, against $23,296 across New Hampshire (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then one middle and one high school

From grade 6 the district’s path is Merrimack Valley Middle School, then Merrimack Valley High School. See the path ↓

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 Salisbury’s grade

C Test scoresB Graduation

B−: better than 48% of New Hampshire school districts. Graduation is above the New Hampshire average; test scores are below it.

New Hampshire school districts we grade (172)Better than 48%
Lower resultsHigher results
New Hampshire towns with similar household incomes (155)Better than 43%
Towns in Merrimack County (24)Better than 25%
C+B+A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 1,042 test results and a graduating class of 182 could put Salisbury anywhere from C+ to B+. The tests are from spring 2022, when 92% of Salisbury’s students in the tested grades sat them (1,042 in math, 1,042 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
K–5Salisbury Elementary SchoolMerrimack Valley School DistrictB
6–8Merrimack Valley Middle Schoolin PenacookC−
9–12Merrimack Valley High Schoolin PenacookC−

Salisbury’s public schools are run by Merrimack Valley School District, which also serves Boscawen, Loudon and Webster. 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 Valley School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 7 schools · 2,170 students, down 2% since 2020–21 · 11.3 per teacher (NH 11.2)
$21,165NH $23,296 · FY2024
B−
Test scores · 2021–22

Below the state in reading

Reading46%
State average 50.8% · 1042 students tested
Math39%
State average 40.5% · 1042 students tested

Salisbury vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
SalisburyB−Merrimack Valley
AndoverCAndover
FranklinD−Franklin
WarnerBKearsarge Regional
BoscawenB−Merrimack Valley
WebsterB−Merrimack Valley

2 of the 5 neighbors share Merrimack Valley with Salisbury, so their letters differ mainly through other districts.

Every school in Salisbury

3 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 Salisburyby address
Salisbury Elementary School
Elementary · Grades K–5
B
64 students7:1Rate it →
Also serving Salisburyin other towns
Merrimack Valley Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Penacook
C−
466 students10:1Rate it →
Merrimack Valley High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Penacook
C−
744 students14:1Rate it →

Questions about Salisbury’s schools

Are Salisbury’s schools good?

On New Hampshire’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Salisbury children attend score below 52% of New Hampshire’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B− Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 43%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Salisbury in?

Merrimack Valley School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 2,170 students in 7 schools (2024–25).

Where do Salisbury kids go to high school?

Merrimack Valley High School in Penacook, with 744 students; its own test results earn a C−.

What is Salisbury’s graduation rate?

90–94% of the class of 2023 in Merrimack Valley School District graduated in four years, against 88% across New Hampshire.

How much does Salisbury spend per student?

$21,165 in Merrimack Valley School District (FY2024), against $23,296 across New Hampshire. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Salisbury families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Salisbury → 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.