Enrollment
356
New Hampshire · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Nashua, NH
Sunset Heights School
Federal NCES profile for Sunset Heights School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 34/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 330498000326
👥 S:T ratio 56
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 29
📋 Attendance 20
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Sunset Heights School earns 34/100 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.
- #10 of 10
- elementary schools in Nashua · Resource Index
- 34
- Resource Index · Typical
- 11.1:1
- students per teacher
- 32.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Sunset Heights School has class sizes near the New Hampshire median. Computed live against every New Hampshire school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Sunset Heights School ranks #10 of 10 elementary schools in Nashua, NH.
School address
District: Nashua School District · New Hampshire
NCES ID 330498000326 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
32.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
11.1:1
vs 11.3:1 New Hampshire avg
-2% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
32.1%
vs 21.5% New Hampshire avg
+49% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Sunset Heights School compares with New Hampshire and U.S. medians
What stands out at Sunset Heights School
Sunset Heights School is a mid-sized elementary school in Nashua, New Hampshire, enrolling 356 students.
At 11.1:1, 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 32.1% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 356 puts it in the larger third of New Hampshire schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 500 scored New Hampshire schools.
Among 100 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need New Hampshire schools statewide, it ranks #77, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (53%) and Hispanic or Latino (26%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 63/100).
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 356 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 32.0% 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): Sunset Heights School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (11.1:1 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 Sunset Heights 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 Sunset Heights School compares
Sunset Heights 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 | 11.1:1 | ▼ 2% | 11.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 32.1% | ▲ 49% | 21.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 356 | top 33% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
11.1:1
Leaner classes than 82% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
356
Bigger than 41% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
32.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 49% 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
11.1:1
students per teacher
- 2% below state mean
Top 55% in New Hampshire - lower ratio than 45% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
32.0%
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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 356 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
5
in-school suspensions + 3 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.2 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 53.1%
Hispanic or Latino 25.6%
Two or More 12.1%
Asian 6.7%
African American 2.5%
Largest group: White at 53.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 63.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 63.3, Sunset Heights 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 Sunset Heights 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 Sunset Heights 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 | Similar 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 |
| Fairgrounds Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Sunset Heights 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
Main Dunstable School
Standard public school
359 students 10:1 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 (~356 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Sunset Heights School's federal record.
- Compare Sunset Heights 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 Sunset Heights School
How many students attend Sunset Heights School?
Sunset Heights School has 356 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Nashua, NH.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Sunset Heights School?
The student-teacher ratio at Sunset Heights School is 11.1:1, which is 2% lower than the New Hampshire average of 11.3:1 and 29% 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 Sunset Heights School?
32.1% of students at Sunset Heights School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the New Hampshire average of 21.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Sunset Heights School?
The largest demographic group at Sunset Heights School is White at 53.1% of enrollment, in Nashua, NH. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 63.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Sunset Heights School?
Sunset Heights School has a Resource Investment Index of 34/100 (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 Sunset Heights School rank among elementary schools in Nashua?
By Resource Investment Index, Sunset Heights School ranks #10 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 Sunset Heights School a good school?
Sunset Heights School earns 34/100 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 Sunset Heights 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.