Can I use Merrimack County's school score to choose a house?

No. Use the Merrimack County school score as a first-pass county screen, then verify the exact district, attendance boundary, transfer rules, and grade pathway for any address you are considering.

Does SchoolsByCounty confirm school attendance boundaries in Merrimack County?

No. SchoolsByCounty publishes NCES and Census-backed public-school records. Attendance zones, magnet eligibility, charter lotteries, transportation, and transfer rules must be confirmed with local districts.

How should parents compare public schools in Merrimack County?

Start with the 55 listed public schools and 20 district entries, then compare similar grade bands and confirm the address-level rules locally.

Merrimack County Schools & Education

Name: Merrimack County, New Hampshire Education Data
Creator: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

Merrimack County, New Hampshire

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

School Score

62/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Midrange Signal

Graduation Rate

86.6%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

86.6%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 87.2%

Per-Pupil Spending

$12,007

National avg $13,239

State avg $12,649

School Score

62/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 66/100

State Score Position

of 10 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Merrimack County

Measured School Summary

Merrimack County performs at an average level with a school score of 62/100 and a solid graduation rate of 86.6%.

Funding Context

With $12,007 per pupil, Merrimack County has adequate funding that generally covers core educational needs and some supplemental services.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 6% below the New Hampshire average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 0.6 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 5% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Merrimack 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

55 public schools and 20 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

62/100

Mixed county signal. Ranks #6 of 10 New Hampshire counties with school score data.

Completion

86.6%

0.6 pts below the state average

Funding context

$12,007

$642 below the state average

School coverage

20 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

Merrimack County has 55 public schools across 20 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.

View Public Schools Compare Counties

Parent decision brief

What Merrimack 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.

Large multi-district county

Merrimack County has many school records across many districts. County averages are only the opening screen; neighborhood-level assignment and grade-band fit matter more here.

State position

of 10 New Hampshire counties with school score data. The county score is 4 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.

Concord School District

Elementary to high school visible

4,025 students

Elementary 5Middle 1High 1Other 0

7 listed schools in this county slice.

Merrimack Valley School District

Elementary to high school visible

2,226 students

Elementary 5Middle 1High 1Other 0

7 listed schools in this county slice.

Kearsarge Regional School District

Elementary to high school visible

1,728 students

Elementary 4Middle 1High 1Other 1

7 listed schools in this county slice.

Bow School District

Elementary to high school visible

1,663 students

Elementary 1Middle 1High 1Other 0

3 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

Concord School District is the largest listed district slice, with 7 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 Merrimack County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Merrimack County district systems?

What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?

Which charter, magnet, or virtual options require a lottery, application window, separate transportation plan, or address eligibility check?

Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?

Education Overview

About Schools in Merrimack 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.

Centralized Schooling in the Capital Region

Merrimack County hosts 55 public schools serving a total of 17,493 students. The educational system is organized into 20 districts and features 33 elementary and 10 high schools. This provides a stable and wide-reaching network for families living in and around the state capital.

Concord and Kearsarge Lead the Way

The Concord School District is the county's largest, managing 7 schools and 4,025 students. Merrimack Valley and Kearsarge Regional are also significant players, each overseeing 7 schools. Charter schools make up 7.3% of the local options, with 4 institutions available to residents.

A Blend of Town and Country Schools

Most schools here are rural (31) or town-based (18), though a small suburban pocket exists near the capital. Concord High School is the largest in the county with 1,467 students, providing a comprehensive large-school experience. On average, schools serve about 318 students, offering a middle-ground size for most families.

School Overview

Total Schools

in Merrimack County

Reported Enrollment

17,493

55 schools reporting

School Districts

districts

Charter Schools

7% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary33

Middle11

High10

Other1

20 School Districts in Merrimack County

Concord School District

Merrimack Valley School District

7 schools

2,226 students

Kearsarge Regional School District

7 schools

1,728 students

Bow School District

3 schools

1,663 students

Pembroke School District

3 schools

1,431 students

Winnisquam Regional School District

5 schools

1,296 students

Hooksett School District

3 schools

1,251 students

Franklin School District

3 schools

935 students

Hopkinton School District

4 schools

935 students

Pittsfield School District

3 schools

517 students

55 Public Schools in Merrimack County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 1 high-enrollment school; every NCES public school remains listed here.

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

Search schools

Level

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Showing 20 of 55 matching schools

Public schools in Merrimack County, including district, location, profile availability, grades, type, and enrollment.
School Name	Profile	District	Location	Grades	Type / Flags	Reported Enrollment
Concord High School	Profile	Concord School District	Concord, 03301Town: Fringe	9–12	High	1,467
Rundlett Middle School	Record	Concord School District	Concord, 03301Town: Fringe	6–8	Middle	826
Merrimack Valley High School	Record	Merrimack Valley School District	Penacook, 03303Town: Fringe	9–12	High	784
Pembroke Academy	Record	Pembroke School District	Pembroke, 03275Suburb: Midsize	9–12	High	783
Bow High School	Record	Bow School District	Bow, 03304Rural: Fringe	9–12	High	604
Bow Elementary School	Record	Bow School District	Bow, 03304Town: Fringe	PK–4	Primary	533
Bow Memorial School	Record	Bow School District	Bow, 03304Town: Fringe	5–8	Middle	526
Kearsarge Regional High School	Record	Kearsarge Regional School District	North Sutton, 03260Rural: Distant	9–UG	High	508
Merrimack Valley Middle School	Record	Merrimack Valley School District	Penacook, 03303Town: Fringe	6–8	Middle	472
David R. Cawley Middle School	Record	Hooksett School District	Hooksett, 03106Rural: Fringe	6–8	Middle	429
Fred C. Underhill School	Record	Hooksett School District	Hooksett, 03106Suburb: Midsize	PK–2	Primary	428
Kearsarge Regional Middle School	Record	Kearsarge Regional School District	North Sutton, 03260Rural: Remote	6–8	Middle	410
Henniker Community School	Record	Henniker School District	Henniker, 03242Rural: Distant	PK–8	Primary	400
Hooksett Memorial School	Record	Hooksett School District	Hooksett, 03106Suburb: Midsize	3–5	Primary	394
Epsom Central School	Record	Epsom School District	Epsom, 03234Rural: Distant	KG–8	Primary	392
Franklin Middle School	Record	Franklin School District	Franklin, 03235Town: Distant	4–8	Middle	378
Beaver Meadow School	Record	Concord School District	Concord, 03301Town: Fringe	PK–5	Primary	365
Christa McAuliffe School	Record	Concord School District	Concord, 03301Town: Fringe	KG–5	Primary	363
Mill Brook School	Record	Concord School District	Concord, 03301Town: Fringe	PK–2	Primary	354
Kearsarge Reg. Elem. School at New London	Record	Kearsarge Regional School District	New London, 03257Rural: Distant	KG–5	Primary	353

Concord High School

Concord School District

Concord, 03301 / Town: Fringe

Profile9–12High1,467 students

Rundlett Middle School

Concord School District

Concord, 03301 / Town: Fringe

Record6–8Middle826 students

Merrimack Valley High School

Merrimack Valley School District

Penacook, 03303 / Town: Fringe

Record9–12High784 students

Pembroke Academy

Pembroke School District

Pembroke, 03275 / Suburb: Midsize

Record9–12High783 students

Bow High School

Bow School District

Bow, 03304 / Rural: Fringe

Record9–12High604 students

Bow Elementary School

Bow School District

Bow, 03304 / Town: Fringe

RecordPK–4Primary533 students

Bow Memorial School

Bow School District

Bow, 03304 / Town: Fringe

Record5–8Middle526 students

Kearsarge Regional High School

Kearsarge Regional School District

North Sutton, 03260 / Rural: Distant

Record9–UGHigh508 students

Merrimack Valley Middle School

Merrimack Valley School District

Penacook, 03303 / Town: Fringe

Record6–8Middle472 students

David R. Cawley Middle School

Hooksett School District

Hooksett, 03106 / Rural: Fringe

Record6–8Middle429 students

Fred C. Underhill School

Hooksett School District

Hooksett, 03106 / Suburb: Midsize

RecordPK–2Primary428 students

Kearsarge Regional Middle School

Kearsarge Regional School District

North Sutton, 03260 / Rural: Remote

Record6–8Middle410 students

Henniker Community School

Henniker School District

Henniker, 03242 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–8Primary400 students

Hooksett Memorial School

Hooksett School District

Hooksett, 03106 / Suburb: Midsize

Record3–5Primary394 students

Epsom Central School

Epsom School District

Epsom, 03234 / Rural: Distant

RecordKG–8Primary392 students

Franklin Middle School

Franklin School District

Franklin, 03235 / Town: Distant

Record4–8Middle378 students

Beaver Meadow School

Concord School District

Concord, 03301 / Town: Fringe

RecordPK–5Primary365 students

Christa McAuliffe School

Concord School District

Concord, 03301 / Town: Fringe

RecordKG–5Primary363 students

Mill Brook School

Concord School District

Concord, 03301 / Town: Fringe

RecordPK–2Primary354 students

Kearsarge Reg. Elem. School at New London

Kearsarge Regional School District

New London, 03257 / Rural: Distant

RecordKG–5Primary353 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$12,007

State avg $12,649

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Merrimack County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.

Open Compare

Browse Public Schools

See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.

View Schools

Frequently Asked Questions

Which New Hampshire counties have the highest graduation rates?

Rockingham County (91.6%), Grafton County (91.3%), and Carroll County (91.0%) currently lead New Hampshire among counties with available NCES four-year adjusted cohort graduation-rate data. This answer is generated from the same dataset used in the county table and can change when federal data refreshes.

What is per-pupil spending like in New Hampshire?

Across New Hampshire counties with available NCES district-finance data, average per-pupil spending is $12,649. The highest current county values are Grafton County ($14,898), Carroll County ($14,666), and Sullivan County ($13,257). Compare counties in the table before treating the statewide average as representative of a local district.

How should I read the school score in Merrimack County?

Merrimack County has a school score of 62/100, which is a midrange measured signal in this county-level index. This score is calculated from available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data, with school-level records shown separately below.

What is the graduation rate in Merrimack County?

The high school graduation rate in Merrimack County is 86.6%, which is below the national average of 87.5%. This figure is based on NCES district-level data for public high schools in the county.

How much does Merrimack County spend per student?

Merrimack County spends $12,007 per pupil annually on public education, based on NCES district finance data. Current operating spending per fall enrollment, including instruction, support services, administration, transportation, and operations. It excludes capital outlays and debt service in the SchoolsByCounty methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Schools in Merrimack County, New Hampshire — FAQ

What does the school system look like in Merrimack County, New Hampshire?

What are the major school districts in Merrimack County, New Hampshire?

What is the school experience like in Merrimack County?

Counties with Similar School Profile

Sullivan County

New Hampshire

+1 pts

63/100

School score

Hillsborough County

New Hampshire

-5 pts

57/100

School score

Coos County

New Hampshire

-6 pts

57/100

School score

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated May 13, 2026Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

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.

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