Top Rankings
Portsmouth School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in New Hampshire for:
Category
Attribute
Overall Rank
Highest overall rank (Top 20%)
Math Proficiency
Highest math proficiency (Top 20%)
Reading/Language Arts Proficiency
Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 20%)
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 20%)
Diversity
Most diverse schools (Top 1%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2025 school year, there are 6 public schools serving 2,440 students in Portsmouth School District. This district's average testing ranking is 9/10, which is in the top 20% of public schools in New Hampshire.
Public Schools in Portsmouth School District have an average math proficiency score of 63% (versus the New Hampshire public school average of 41%), and reading proficiency score of 75% (versus the 51% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 21% of the student body (majority Asian and Hispanic), which is more than the New Hampshire public school average of 18% (majority Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NH)
# Schools
6 Schools
508 Schools
# Students
2,440 Students
165,155 Students
# Teachers
225 Teachers
14,445 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
11:1
11:1
District Rank
Portsmouth School District, which is ranked within the top 20% of all 189 school districts in New Hampshire (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 95% has decreased from 97% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#22 out of 189 school districts
(Top 20%)
(Top 20%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
63%
40%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
75%
51%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
46%
36%
Graduation Rate
95%
88%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.37
0.32
# American Indian Students
4 Students
308 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
n/a
# Asian Students
152 Students
4,993 Students
% Asian Students
6%
3%
# Hispanic Students
140 Students
12,212 Students
% Hispanic Students
6%
8%
# Black Students
26 Students
3,437 Students
% Black Students
1%
2%
# White Students
1,918 Students
135,947 Students
% White Students
79%
82%
# Hawaiian Students
n/a
133 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
203 Students
8,195 Students
% of Two or more races Students
8%
5%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
18
4,442
# Students in K Grade:
146
10,942
# Students in 1st Grade:
158
11,733
# Students in 2nd Grade:
160
12,179
# Students in 3rd Grade:
144
12,078
# Students in 4th Grade:
157
12,182
# Students in 5th Grade:
163
12,522
# Students in 6th Grade:
151
11,957
# Students in 7th Grade:
163
12,326
# Students in 8th Grade:
158
12,086
# Students in 9th Grade:
270
13,698
# Students in 10th Grade:
255
13,269
# Students in 11th Grade:
251
13,028
# Students in 12th Grade:
246
12,713
# Ungraded Students:
-
-
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $22,971 is higher than the state median of $22,075. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $23,000 is higher than the state median of $21,293. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$56 MM
$3,646 MM
Spending
$56 MM
$3,517 MM
Revenue / Student
$22,971
$22,075
Spending / Student
$23,000
$21,293
Best Portsmouth School District Public Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
New Franklin School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
1 Franklin Dr.
Portsmouth, NH 03801
(603) 436-0910
Portsmouth, NH 03801
(603) 436-0910
Grades: K-5
| 256 students
Rank: #22.
Little Harbour School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
50 Clough Dr.
Portsmouth, NH 03801
(603) 436-1708
Portsmouth, NH 03801
(603) 436-1708
Grades: K-5
| 335 students
Rank: #33.
Mary C. Dondero Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
32 Van Buren Ave.
Portsmouth, NH 03801
(603) 436-2231
Portsmouth, NH 03801
(603) 436-2231
Grades: K-5
| 337 students
Rank: #44.
Portsmouth High School
(Math: 61% | Reading: 79%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
50 Andrew Jarvis Dr.
Portsmouth, NH 03801
(603) 436-7100
Portsmouth, NH 03801
(603) 436-7100
Grades: 9-13
| 1,022 students
Rank: #55.
Portsmouth Middle School
(Math: 57% | Reading: 74%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
155 Parrott Ave.
Portsmouth, NH 03801
(603) 436-5781
Portsmouth, NH 03801
(603) 436-5781
Grades: 6-8
| 472 students
Rank: n/an/a
50 Clough Dr.
Portsmouth, NH 03801
(603) 422-8228
Portsmouth, NH 03801
(603) 422-8228
Grades: PK
| 18 students
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools belong to Portsmouth School District?
Portsmouth School District manages 6 public schools serving 2,440 students.
What is the rank of Portsmouth School District?
Portsmouth School District is ranked #20 out of 189 school districts in New Hampshire (top 20%) based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data for the 2021-2022 school year. This district ranks in the top 20% of New Hampshire school districts for: Highest overall rank (Top 20%), Highest math proficiency (Top 20%), Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 20%), Highest graduation rate (Top 20%), Most diverse schools (Top 1%) and Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
What is the racial composition of students in Portsmouth School District?
79% of Portsmouth School District students are White, 8% of students are Two or more races, 6% of students are Asian, 6% of students are Hispanic, and 1% of students are Black.
What is the student/teacher ratio of Portsmouth School District?
Portsmouth School District has a student/teacher ratio of 11:1, which is equal to the New Hampshire state average of 11:1.
What is Portsmouth School District's spending/student ratio?
The school district's spending/student of $23,000 is higher than the state median of $21,293. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Recent Articles
Year-Round Or Traditional Schedule?
Which is more appropriate for your child? A year-round attendance schedule or traditional schedule? We look at the pros and cons.
Why You Should Encourage Your Child to Join a Sports Team
Participating in team sports has a great many benefits for children, there is no doubt. In this article you will learn what those benefits are.
White Students are Now the Minority in U.S. Public Schools
Increasing birth rates among immigrant families from Asia and Central and South America, combined with lower birth rates among white families, means that for the first time in history, public school students in the United States are majority-minority. This shift in demographics poses difficulties for schools as they work to accommodate children of varying language abilities and socio-economic backgrounds.
