Portsmouth School District

Portsmouth, New Hampshire — 6 schools

2,490
Total Enrollment
6
Schools
$23,365
Per-Pupil Spending
Elementary, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Portsmouth School District operates 6 public schools serving 2,490 students, placing it among the smaller districts in New Hampshire. The school portfolio breaks down into 3 elementary, 1 high, 1 middle, 1 other schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. Aggregated across those campuses, enrollment totals 2,427 pupils using the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 release, and the district is geographically located in Rockingham County County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $23,365 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, which aggregates every revenue and spending line reported under federal accounting standards. The funding mix is 69.8% local, 24.3% state, and 5.9% federal — a breakdown that matters because districts leaning heavily on local revenue are more exposed to property-tax swings, while higher federal shares typically track Title I concentration. Average teacher compensation clocks in at $133,670 per NCES F-33, a signal of the district's ability to recruit and retain staff against neighbouring districts. The district's equity score — 46/100, ranked #69 of 114 in New Hampshire against a state average of 51 — measures how evenly funding reaches schools within its boundaries.

Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 6 schools offering Advanced Placement (10 AP courses district-wide), a 180.6:1 student-counselor ratio that meets the ASCA-recommended benchmark, and 29.9% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 77.4% White, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 6.1% Asian across the district's schools.

Portsmouth High School accounts for 41.9% of all Portsmouth School District student enrollment

That concentration — well above the 8.4% national median for largest-entity share — means Portsmouth School District-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: high. A single dominant campus often anchors a district's program offerings and staffing patterns; the share helps explain why district-wide averages may not reflect the typical neighbourhood-school experience. When one entity dominates a region's footprint, its programmatic and budget decisions effectively set policy for a majority of the affected population.

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

Portsmouth School District school enrollment varies 42× across entities

Portsmouth School District school enrollment ranges from 24 students (lowest) to 1,017 students (highest), a spread of 993 students. That ratio is among the widest observed and reflects extreme enrollment heterogeneity — the district operates both small specialty programs and large comprehensive campuses inside a single budgeting unit. 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

Portsmouth School District student-counselor ratio is 181:1 — low (typically associated with meeting or exceeding the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) recommended 250:1 benchmark, which correlates with stronger college and career counseling capacity)

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 Lower values often correlate with smaller scale and population characteristics rather than higher resource budgets per se.

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

Portsmouth School District chronic absenteeism rate is 29.9% — near the typical range (US average ~28) — aligned with the national post-pandemic baseline of roughly 28% chronic absenteeism

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 Variation between sub-units within Portsmouth School District is typically wider than the Portsmouth School District-aggregate figure suggests.

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

Where does the funding come from?

5.9%
Federal
24.3%
State
69.8%
Local

Funding Equity

46
Equity Score
69 / 114
State Rank
51
State Average

This district has moderate funding equity. There may be room to improve funding diversity or resource allocation.

Local Rent Costs

Fair Market Rents in Rockingham County county, where this district is located.

$1,565
Studio/mo
$1,730
1 BR/mo
$2,270
2 BR/mo
$2,722
3 BR/mo
$3,006
4 BR/mo

Average Teacher Salary

$133,670
Average annual teacher salary

Source: NCES CCD F-33 (Finance Survey).

Teacher salary data from NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 6 schools in Portsmouth School District.

White 77.4%
Hispanic or Latino 6.2%
African American 1.9%
Asian 6.1%
Multiracial 8.2%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

1 / 6
Schools with AP
10 AP courses total
180.6:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
29.9%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Portsmouth School District

School Enrollment
Portsmouth High School
1,017
Portsmouth Middle School
486
Mary C. Dondero Elementary School
328
Little Harbour School
325
New Franklin School
247
Peep School - Pre School Program
24

Nearby Districts in New Hampshire

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

Manchester School District
12,105 students · 21 schools · $16,662/pupil
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Nashua School District
10,004 students · 20 schools · $20,794/pupil
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Bedford School District
4,169 students · 6 schools · $17,957/pupil
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Londonderry School District
4,128 students · 6 schools · $20,569/pupil
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Concord School District
4,037 students · 7 schools · $22,771/pupil
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Compare Portsmouth School District

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

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Portsmouth School District?

Portsmouth School District has 6 schools, including 1 high, 1 middle, 3 elementary, 1 other. Total enrollment is 2,490 students.

How much does Portsmouth School District spend per student?

Portsmouth School District spends $23,365 per student. The district has an equity score of 46/100, ranking #69 in New Hampshire.

What is the average teacher salary in Portsmouth School District?

The average teacher salary in Portsmouth School District is $133,670 per year, according to the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

What is the average rent near Portsmouth School District?

The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Rockingham County County is $N/A/month (2026). This affects housing affordability for families in the district.

What is the demographic composition of Portsmouth School District?

Portsmouth School District students are 77.4% White, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 6.1% Asian, 1.9% African American, averaged across 6 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Portsmouth School District?

Portsmouth School District has an equity score of 46/100, ranking #69 out of 114 districts in New Hampshire. This score measures resource distribution fairness across schools in the district.

Federal data Last updated 2026 Free public data

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