Manchester School District

Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. District totals are aggregated directly from the schools reporting under this district in the source records. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.

Manchester, New Hampshire - 21 schools

An equity score of 38/100 ranks Manchester School District #82 of 114 districts in New Hampshire (state average 51). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $16,178 per pupil, Manchester School District ranks #161 of 161 New Hampshire districts by per-pupil spending (New Hampshire districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

12,105
Total Enrollment
21
Schools
$16,178
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, Elementary
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Manchester School District operates 21 public schools serving 12,105 students, placing it in the mid-size range in New Hampshire. The school portfolio breaks down into 9 combined, 6 elementary, 4 high, 2 middle schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Hillsborough County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $16,178 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, among the bottom 17 of 161 New Hampshire districts by per-pupil spending. See how New Hampshire compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 41.8% local, 41.3% state, and 16.9% federal, a balanced mix across local, state, and federal sources, spreading budget risk across funding cycles rather than concentrating it in one. The district's equity score is 38/100, ranked #82 of 114 in New Hampshire against a state average of 51, notably less even than the typical district in the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

Academic infrastructure includes 3 of 21 schools offering Advanced Placement (36 AP courses district-wide), a 305.6:1 student-counselor ratio, somewhat above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 47.6% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 48.1% White, 26.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.0% African American across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Bakersville School, with a diversity index of 74.7/100.

Its largest campus is Manchester Memorial High School, enrolling 1,296 students (11% of the district's total enrollment). Its smallest is Manchester School of Technology (High School), at 302 students, a 4x enrollment spread across the district's campuses.

Manchester School District school enrollment varies 4.3× across entities

Manchester School District school enrollment ranges from 302 students (lowest) to 1,296 students (highest), a spread of 994 students. That relatively narrow ratio reflects an unusually homogeneous campus portfolio, most districts have a wider mix of school sizes. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Manchester School District student-counselor ratio is 306:1 — near the typical range (US average ~408) — within the typical range for U.S. public districts

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment, districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Variation between sub-units within Manchester School District is typically wider than the Manchester School District-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Manchester School District chronic absenteeism rate is 47.6% — well above typical (typically associated with unusually large scale or acute resource constraints)

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason, illness, family obligations, or disengagement Values this far above typical often signal acute resource constraints or a structurally different scale than most peers — worth reading alongside the underlying counts, not the ratio alone.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

16.9%
Federal
41.3%
State
41.8%
Local

Funding Equity

38
Equity Score
82 / 114
State Rank
51
State Average

This district scores below average on funding equity. High reliance on local revenue or lower spending may contribute.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 21 schools in Manchester School District.

White 48.1%
Hispanic or Latino 26.0%
African American 11.0%
Asian 3.8%
Multiracial 10.9%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 65.7/100

Average Simpson diversity index across Manchester School District's schools, above the New Hampshire average of 24.3.

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Bakersville School 74.7
  2. 2 Gossler Park School 72.8
  3. 3 Beech Street School 71.7
  4. 4 Manchester Central High School 71.6
  5. 5 Manchester West High School 70.5

Programs & Resources

3 / 21
Schools with AP
36 AP courses total
305.6:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
47.6%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in Manchester School District

School Enrollment
Manchester Memorial High School
1,296
Manchester Central High School
1,130
Hillside Middle School
1,071
Henry J. Mclaughlin Jr. Middle School
889
Middle School at Parkside
775
Southside Middle School
768
Manchester West High School
764
Mcdonough School
534
Beech Street School
524
Northwest Elementary School
487
Jewett School
443
Weston Elementary School
438
Henry Wilson Elementary School
434
Parker-Varney School
406
Gossler Park School
366
Webster School
362
Smyth Road School
344
Green Acres School
343
Highland-Goffes Falls School
336
Bakersville School
329
Manchester School of Technology (High School)
302

How Manchester School District Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The New Hampshire districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Nashua School District Similar size Similar spending More locally funded
Bedford School District Smaller Similar spending More locally funded
Londonderry School District Smaller Higher spending More locally funded
Concord School District Smaller Higher spending More locally funded
Rochester School District Smaller Similar spending Similar funding mix

Comparisons are relative to Manchester School District's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data and the F-33 Finance Survey.

Nearby Districts in New Hampshire

Top districts in the same state, compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Nashua School District
10,004 students · 20 schools · $17,617/pupil
Compare vs Manchester School District →
Bedford School District
4,169 students · 6 schools · $17,544/pupil
Compare vs Manchester School District →
Londonderry School District
4,128 students · 6 schools · $20,160/pupil
Compare vs Manchester School District →
Concord School District
4,037 students · 7 schools · $21,765/pupil
Compare vs Manchester School District →
Rochester School District
3,943 students · 11 schools · $17,400/pupil
Compare vs Manchester School District →

Compare Manchester School District

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs Nashua School District →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Manchester School District?

Manchester School District has 21 schools, including 4 high, 2 middle, 6 elementary, 9 combined. Total enrollment is 12,105 students.

How much does Manchester School District spend per student?

Manchester School District spends $16,178 per student. The district has an equity score of 38/100, ranking #82 in New Hampshire.

What is the demographic composition of Manchester School District?

Manchester School District students are 48.1% White, 26.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.0% African American, 3.8% Asian, averaged across 21 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Manchester School District?

Manchester School District has an equity score of 38/100, ranking #82 out of 114 districts in New Hampshire.