- Enrollment
- 466
- Students per teacher
- 10.6:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Penacook, NH
Merrimack Valley High School
Federal NCES profile for Merrimack Valley High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 39/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 330476000284
👥 S:T ratio 47
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 79
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Merrimack Valley High School earns 39/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 84% of New Hampshire schools.
- #3 of 4
- public schools in Penacook · Resource Index
- 39
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.3:1
- large classes for New Hampshire
- 18.5%
- free-lunch eligible
Merrimack Valley High School has class sizes larger than 84% of New Hampshire schools. Computed live against every New Hampshire school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Merrimack Valley High School ranks #3 of 4 public schools in Penacook, NH.
School address
District: Merrimack Valley School District · New Hampshire
NCES ID 330476000284 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-28 students YoY
Merrimack Valley High School held near 756 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-28 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 56.0 → 54.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-28 students YoY 330476000284 · Penacook, NH High · MID · TRAD
744 enr · 13.3:1 · 18.5% lunch · RII 39
Nearest enrollment peer: Merrimack Valley Middle School (466 students)
Merrimack Valley High School held near 756 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-28 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 56.0 → 54.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · New Hampshire schools → · Find another →
Merrimack Valley High School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- This school
Merrimack Valley High School
744 students
- Merrimack Vall
Merrimack Valley Middle School
466 students
- Penacook Eleme
Penacook Elementary School
325 students
- Loudon Element 243
Loudon Elementary School
243 students
- Boscawen Eleme 240
Boscawen Elementary School
240 students
- Webster Elemen 88
Webster Elementary School
88 students
What this shows Merrimack Valley High School reports 744 students on the CCD universe file.
How Merrimack Valley High School compares
Merrimack Valley High School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs New Hampshire and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs New Hampshire | New Hampshire avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.3:1 | ▲ 18% | 11.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 18.5% | ▼ 14% | 21.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 744 | top 8% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.3:1
Leaner classes than 64% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
744
Bigger than 83% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
18.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 14% 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
13.3:1
students per teacher
- 18% above state mean
Top 84% in New Hampshire - lower ratio than 16% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
48.5%
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
$19,273
per pupil, district-wide
- below New Hampshire avg of $24,919
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors7.0 FTE
Per 106 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
69
in-school suspensions + 78 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 9.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 19.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 1 expulsion.
Student demographics
White 90.9%
Hispanic or Latino 3.4%
Two or More 2.6%
African American 2.3%
Asian 0.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Largest group: White at 90.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 17.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 17.1, Merrimack Valley High School is less mixed than the New Hampshire school average of 24.3.
Programs
AP courses offered 4
District finance for Merrimack Valley School District reports $19,273 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Merrimack Valley High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Merrimack Valley Middle School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Penacook Elementary School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Loudon Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Boscawen Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Webster Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Merrimack Valley High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 325
- Students per teacher
- 12:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 243
- Students per teacher
- 11:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 240
- Students per teacher
- 10.9:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 88
- Students per teacher
- 12.6:1
- Resource Index
- 51/100
Similar high schools in Penacook
1 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Nationwide high schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~744 students)
Frequently asked questions about Merrimack Valley High School
How many students attend Merrimack Valley High School?
Merrimack Valley High School has 744 students enrolled. It is a high school in Penacook, NH. CCD year-over-year: 784 (2022-23) → 756 (2023-24), nearly flat (-28).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Merrimack Valley High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Merrimack Valley High School is 13.3:1, which is 18% higher than the New Hampshire average of 11.3:1 and 15% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Merrimack Valley High School?
18.5% of students at Merrimack Valley High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the New Hampshire average of 21.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Merrimack Valley High School?
The largest demographic group at Merrimack Valley High School is White at 90.9% of enrollment, in Penacook, NH.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Merrimack Valley High School?
Merrimack Valley High School has a Resource Investment Index of 39/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Merrimack Valley High School rank among public schools in Penacook?
By Resource Investment Index, Merrimack Valley High School ranks #3 of 4 public schools in Penacook, NH. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking.
What other schools are in Merrimack Valley School District?
Besides Merrimack Valley High School, Merrimack Valley School District also operates Merrimack Valley Middle School (466 students), Penacook Elementary School (325 students), and Loudon Elementary School (243 students). See the Merrimack Valley School District district page for the complete list.