Belknap County Schools & Education
Belknap County, New Hampshire
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
56/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
82.9%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
82.9%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 87.2%
Per-Pupil Spending
$12,574
National avg $13,239
State avg $12,649
School Score
56/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 66/100
State Score Position
#10
of 10 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Belknap County
Measured School Summary
Belknap County has midrange measured school signals (score: 56/100) with a graduation rate of 82.9%, which warrants review in official state and district records.
Funding Context
With $12,574 per pupil, Belknap County has adequate funding that generally covers core educational needs and some supplemental services.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 15% below the New Hampshire average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 4.3 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 1% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Belknap County before comparing districts
County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.
Local context that changes the interpretation
23 public schools and 7 districts are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.
Overall screen
56/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #10 of 10 New Hampshire counties with school score data.
Completion
82.9%
4.3 pts below the state average
Funding context
$12,574
$75 below the state average
School coverage
23
7 districts represented in the county school list.
Start with measured county context
This county needs a closer look at district mix, school level, and local context. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.
Check the local school mix
Belknap County has 23 public schools across 7 districts, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.
Verify local rules
Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.
What Belknap County school data means before you move
County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.
Mixed school landscape
Belknap County has enough school-level records to compare the local mix, but no single county metric should be treated as the answer. Use district shape, grade span, and data coverage together.
State position
#10
of 10 New Hampshire counties with school score data. The county score is 10 points below the state average.
Data confidence
Usable
3 of 5 county signals are present, and 100% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.
K-12 continuity check
These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.
Laconia School District
Elementary to high school visible
1,828 students
5 listed schools in this county slice.
Gilford School District
Elementary to high school visible
1,126 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
Shaker Regional School District
Elementary to high school visible
1,045 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
Barnstead School District
Elementary school only in this slice
469 students
1 listed school in this county slice.
District reality check
Laconia School District is the largest listed district slice, with 5 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.
What the data cannot tell you
NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.
Questions to ask before choosing an address
Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Belknap County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Belknap County district systems?
What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?
If we need a program not visible in the NCES flags, which district office can confirm current offerings?
Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?
Education Overview
About Schools in Belknap County, New Hampshire
This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.
A Network of Seven Diverse School Districts
Belknap County manages an educational infrastructure of 23 public schools serving 7,590 students. The system includes 11 elementary, 5 middle, and 6 high schools spread across 7 distinct districts. This provides a focused learning environment with one school for every 330 students on average.
Spotlight on Laconia and Shaker Regional Districts
Laconia School District stands as the largest provider, overseeing 5 schools and 1,828 students. The Shaker Regional and Gilford districts follow closely, together educating over 2,200 children. Notably, the county currently operates without charter schools, relying entirely on traditional district structures.
Rural Roots and Intimate Learning Environments
Education here feels personal, with 14 rural schools and 9 town-based settings defining the landscape. Laconia High School is the largest campus with 590 students, while many others, like Alton Central, maintain a smaller feel. The average school size of 330 ensures students do not get lost in the crowd.
School Overview
Total Schools
23
in Belknap County
Reported Enrollment
7,590
23 schools reporting
School Districts
7
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
7 School Districts in Belknap County
Laconia School District
Shaker Regional School District
Gilford School District
Barnstead School District
Alton School District
Prospect Mountain JMA School District
Gilmanton School District
23 Public Schools in Belknap County
Sorted by reported enrollment. Every NCES public school remains listed here; no school-level profile pages are included in the current generated coverage for this county.
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataLevel
Showing 20 of 23 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laconia High School | Record | Laconia School District | Laconia, 03246Town: Distant | 9–UG | High | 590 |
| Gilford High School | Record | Gilford School District | Gilford, 03249Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 499 |
| Barnstead Elementary School | Record | Barnstead School District | Ctr. Barnstead, 03225Rural: Distant | PK–8 | Primary | 469 |
| Winnisquam Regional High School | Record | Winnisquam Regional School District | Tilton, 03276Town: Distant | 9–12 | High | 421 |
| Alton Central School (Elem) | Record | Alton School District | Alton, 03809Rural: Distant | PK–8 | Primary | 417 |
| Laconia Middle School | Record | Laconia School District | Laconia, 03246Town: Distant | 6–8 | Middle | 408 |
| Inter-Lakes Elementary School | Record | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Meredith, 03253Rural: Distant | PK–6 | Primary | 401 |
| Winnisquam Regional Middle School | Record | Winnisquam Regional School District | Tilton, 03276Town: Distant | 5–8 | Middle | 398 |
| Prospect Mountain High School | Record | Prospect Mountain JMA School District | Alton, 03809Rural: Distant | 9–12 | High | 387 |
| Belmont High School | Record | Shaker Regional School District | Belmont, 03220Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 366 |
| Gilmanton Elementary School | Record | Gilmanton School District | Gilmanton IW, 03837Rural: Distant | KG–8 | Primary | 365 |
| Belmont Middle School | Record | Shaker Regional School District | Belmont, 03220Rural: Distant | 5–8 | Middle | 345 |
| Belmont Elementary School | Record | Shaker Regional School District | Belmont, 03220Rural: Distant | PK–4 | Primary | 334 |
| Gilford Elementary School | Record | Gilford School District | Gilford, 03249Town: Distant | KG–4 | Primary | 322 |
| Gilford Middle School | Record | Gilford School District | Gilford, 03249Rural: Fringe | 5–8 | Middle | 305 |
| Woodland Heights Elementary School | Record | Laconia School District | Laconia, 03246Town: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 304 |
| Inter-Lakes High School | Record | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Meredith, 03253Rural: Distant | 9–UG | High | 289 |
| Pleasant Street School | Record | Laconia School District | Laconia, 03246Town: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 266 |
| Elm Street School | Record | Laconia School District | Laconia, 03246Town: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 260 |
| Sanbornton Central School | Record | Winnisquam Regional School District | Sanbornton, 03269Rural: Fringe | KG–4 | Primary | 177 |
Barnstead Elementary School
Barnstead School District
Ctr. Barnstead, 03225 / Rural: Distant
Winnisquam Regional High School
Winnisquam Regional School District
Tilton, 03276 / Town: Distant
Alton Central School (Elem)
Alton School District
Alton, 03809 / Rural: Distant
Laconia Middle School
Laconia School District
Laconia, 03246 / Town: Distant
Inter-Lakes Elementary School
Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District
Meredith, 03253 / Rural: Distant
Winnisquam Regional Middle School
Winnisquam Regional School District
Tilton, 03276 / Town: Distant
Prospect Mountain High School
Prospect Mountain JMA School District
Alton, 03809 / Rural: Distant
Belmont High School
Shaker Regional School District
Belmont, 03220 / Rural: Fringe
Gilmanton Elementary School
Gilmanton School District
Gilmanton IW, 03837 / Rural: Distant
Belmont Middle School
Shaker Regional School District
Belmont, 03220 / Rural: Distant
Belmont Elementary School
Shaker Regional School District
Belmont, 03220 / Rural: Distant
Gilford Elementary School
Gilford School District
Gilford, 03249 / Town: Distant
Gilford Middle School
Gilford School District
Gilford, 03249 / Rural: Fringe
Woodland Heights Elementary School
Laconia School District
Laconia, 03246 / Town: Distant
Inter-Lakes High School
Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District
Meredith, 03253 / Rural: Distant
Pleasant Street School
Laconia School District
Laconia, 03246 / Town: Distant
Sanbornton Central School
Winnisquam Regional School District
Sanbornton, 03269 / Rural: Fringe
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$12,574
State avg $12,649
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Belknap County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.
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See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.
View SchoolsFrequently Asked Questions
Which New Hampshire counties have the highest graduation rates?
What is per-pupil spending like in New Hampshire?
How should I read the school score in Belknap County?
What is the graduation rate in Belknap County?
How much does Belknap County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Belknap County, New Hampshire — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Belknap County, New Hampshire?
Belknap County manages an educational infrastructure of 23 public schools serving 7,590 students. The system includes 11 elementary, 5 middle, and 6 high schools spread across 7 distinct districts. This provides a focused learning environment with one school for every 330 students on average.
What are the major school districts in Belknap County, New Hampshire?
Laconia School District stands as the largest provider, overseeing 5 schools and 1,828 students. The Shaker Regional and Gilford districts follow closely, together educating over 2,200 children. Notably, the county currently operates without charter schools, relying entirely on traditional district structures.
What is the school experience like in Belknap County?
Education here feels personal, with 14 rural schools and 9 town-based settings defining the landscape. Laconia High School is the largest campus with 590 students, while many others, like Alton Central, maintain a smaller feel. The average school size of 330 ensures students do not get lost in the crowd.
Counties with Similar School Profile
Data Sources
Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.
Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.