Enrollment
585
New Hampshire · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Nashua, NH
Fairgrounds Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Fairgrounds Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 47/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 330498000319
👥 S:T ratio 58
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 79
📋 Attendance 21
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Fairgrounds Middle School earns 47/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the New Hampshire median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most New Hampshire schools.
- #2 of 4
- middle schools in Nashua · Resource Index
- 47
- Resource Index · Typical
- 10.4:1
- students per teacher
- 29.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Fairgrounds Middle School has class sizes near the New Hampshire median. Computed live against every New Hampshire school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Fairgrounds Middle School ranks #2 of 4 middle schools in Nashua, NH.
School address
District: Nashua School District · New Hampshire
NCES ID 330498000319 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
56.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
10.4:1
vs 11.3:1 New Hampshire avg
-8% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
29.1%
vs 21.5% New Hampshire avg
+35% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Fairgrounds Middle School compares with New Hampshire and U.S. medians
What stands out at Fairgrounds Middle School
Fairgrounds Middle School is a large middle school in Nashua, New Hampshire, enrolling 585 students.
At 10.4:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the New Hampshire median, within a few percentage points of the 11.3:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 29.1% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 585 puts it in the larger third of New Hampshire schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 500 scored New Hampshire schools.
Among 55 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need New Hampshire schools statewide, it ranks #4, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (52%) and Hispanic or Latino (33%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 62/100).
Counselor coverage is strong, about 106 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 31.6% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Nashua School District spends $17,617 per pupil, 38% below the New Hampshire average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Discipline events run high: 150 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 585 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
Among Nashua's middle schools, it stands alongside Elm Street Middle School (874 students): Fairgrounds Middle School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (10.4:1 vs 9.9:1).
Nashua School District also operates Nashua High School South (1,686 students) and Nashua High School North (1,543 students) alongside Fairgrounds Middle School.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Fairgrounds Middle School compares
Fairgrounds Middle School on the metrics families compare, against New Hampshire and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs New Hampshire | New Hampshire avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 10.4:1 | ▼ 8% | 11.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 29.1% | ▲ 35% | 21.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 585 | top 12% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
10.4:1
Leaner classes than 87% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
585
Bigger than 71% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
29.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 35% above the New Hampshire average of 21.5%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
10.4:1
students per teacher
- 8% below state mean
Top 41% in New Hampshire - lower ratio than 59% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
31.6%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$17,617
per pupil, district-wide
- below New Hampshire avg of $28,358
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors5.5 FTE
Per 106 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
99
in-school suspensions + 51 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 16.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 25.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
White 51.5%
Hispanic or Latino 32.6%
Two or More 7.0%
Asian 6.5%
African American 2.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: White at 51.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 61.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 61.9, Fairgrounds Middle School is more mixed than the New Hampshire school average of 24.3.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Nashua School District, which includes Fairgrounds Middle School.
$17,617
Per student
-38%
vs New Hampshire
Avg $28,358
+6%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 55.0%
State 33.5%
Federal 11.5%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Fairgrounds Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashua High School South | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Nashua High School North | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Elm Street Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Pennichuck Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Bicentennial Elementary School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Fairgrounds Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,686
- Students per teacher
- 12.6:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 1,543
- Students per teacher
- 12:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 874
- Students per teacher
- 9.9:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 768
- Students per teacher
- 14:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 481
- Students per teacher
- 12:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
Similar middle schools in Nashua
3 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Similar middle schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of New Hampshire, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~585 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Fairgrounds Middle School's federal record.
- Compare Fairgrounds Middle School against another school. Compare schools
- Nashua School District's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Fairgrounds Middle School
How many students attend Fairgrounds Middle School?
Fairgrounds Middle School has 585 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Nashua, NH.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Fairgrounds Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Fairgrounds Middle School is 10.4:1, which is 8% lower than the New Hampshire average of 11.3:1 and 34% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Fairgrounds Middle School?
29.1% of students at Fairgrounds Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the New Hampshire average of 21.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Fairgrounds Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Fairgrounds Middle School is White at 51.5% of enrollment, in Nashua, NH. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 61.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Fairgrounds Middle School?
Fairgrounds Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 47/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Fairgrounds Middle School rank among middle schools in Nashua?
By Resource Investment Index, Fairgrounds Middle School ranks #2 of 4 middle schools in Nashua, NH. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Nashua on the city page.
Is Fairgrounds Middle School a good school?
Fairgrounds Middle School earns 47/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the New Hampshire median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most New Hampshire schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Nashua School District?
Besides Fairgrounds Middle School, Nashua School District also operates Nashua High School South (1,686 students), Nashua High School North (1,543 students), and Elm Street Middle School (874 students). See the Nashua School District district page for the complete list.
Related tools
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. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.