Enrollment
359
New Hampshire · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Nashua, NH
Main Dunstable School
Federal NCES profile for Main Dunstable School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 46/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 330498000321
👥 S:T ratio 60
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 60
📋 Attendance 34
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Main Dunstable School earns 46/100 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.
- #3 of 10
- elementary schools in Nashua · Resource Index
- 46
- Resource Index · Typical
- 10:1
- students per teacher
- 11.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Main Dunstable School has class sizes near the New Hampshire median. Computed live against every New Hampshire school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Main Dunstable School ranks #3 of 10 elementary schools in Nashua, NH.
School address
District: Nashua School District · New Hampshire
NCES ID 330498000321 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
36.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
10:1
vs 11.3:1 New Hampshire avg
-12% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
11.3%
vs 21.5% New Hampshire avg
-47% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Main Dunstable School compares with New Hampshire and U.S. medians
What stands out at Main Dunstable School
Main Dunstable School is a lower-poverty, mid-sized elementary school in Nashua, New Hampshire, enrolling 359 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 10:1 puts it in the smaller third of New Hampshire schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 11.3% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 359 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.
Against 153 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #30.
Its student body is led by White (58%) and Asian (20%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 60/100).
Counselor coverage is strong, about 199 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 26.5% 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.
Among Nashua's elementary schools, it stands alongside Ledge Street School (454 students): Main Dunstable School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (10:1 vs 10.6:1).
Nashua School District also operates Nashua High School South (1,686 students) and Nashua High School North (1,543 students) alongside Main Dunstable 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 Main Dunstable School compares
Main Dunstable 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 | 10:1 | ▼ 12% | 11.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 11.3% | ▼ 47% | 21.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 359 | top 32% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
10:1
Leaner classes than 89% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
359
Bigger than 41% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
11.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 47% below 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
10:1
students per teacher
- 12% below state mean
Top 35% in New Hampshire - lower ratio than 65% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
26.5%
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
Counselors1.8 FTE
Per 199 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
13
in-school suspensions + 5 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 3.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 5.0 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 57.7%
Asian 20.3%
Hispanic or Latino 12.0%
Two or More 8.6%
African American 1.4%
Largest group: White at 57.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 60.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 60.4, Main Dunstable 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 Main Dunstable 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 Main Dunstable School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashua High School South | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Nashua High School North | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Elm Street Middle School | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Pennichuck Middle School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Fairgrounds Middle School | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Main Dunstable 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
- 585
- Students per teacher
- 10.4:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
Similar elementary schools in Nashua
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Ledge Street School
Standard public school
454 students 10.6:1 students per teacher
Fairgrounds Elementary School
Standard public school
445 students 11.7:1 students per teacher
Charlotte Ave Elementary School
Standard public school
362 students 11:1 students per teacher
Dr. Norman W. Crisp School
Standard public school
361 students 10.3:1 students per teacher
Sunset Heights School
Standard public school
356 students 11.1:1 students per teacher
Birch Hill Elementary School
Standard public school
332 students 6.1:1 students per teacher
Similar elementary 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 (~359 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Main Dunstable School's federal record.
- Compare Main Dunstable 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 Main Dunstable School
How many students attend Main Dunstable School?
Main Dunstable School has 359 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Nashua, NH.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Main Dunstable School?
The student-teacher ratio at Main Dunstable School is 10:1, which is 12% lower than the New Hampshire average of 11.3:1 and 36% 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 Main Dunstable School?
11.3% of students at Main Dunstable School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the New Hampshire average of 21.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Main Dunstable School?
The largest demographic group at Main Dunstable School is White at 57.7% of enrollment, in Nashua, NH. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 60.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Main Dunstable School?
Main Dunstable School has a Resource Investment Index of 46/100 (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 Main Dunstable School rank among elementary schools in Nashua?
By Resource Investment Index, Main Dunstable School ranks #3 of 10 elementary 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 elementary schools in Nashua on the city page.
Is Main Dunstable School a good school?
Main Dunstable School earns 46/100 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 Main Dunstable 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.