Total enrollment
7,344
-833 (-10%) vs SY 2017-18
Belknap County
New Hampshire · Public K-12
Inside Belknap County, New Hampshire, public K-12 schools number 23 and serve about 7,344 students out of a population of 64,659. By grade band, the county runs 12 elementary, 5 middle, and 6 high schools.
7-year change in Belknap County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
23
+1 (+5%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
91%
was 93%
% Hispanic
3%
was 2%
% Black
1%
was 1%
% Asian
1%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
23
10 districts
Enrollment
7,344
NCES CCD
Median income
$92,783
Above New Hampshire avg
Free/reduced lunch
29.0%
Above New Hampshire avg
Elementary
12
3,359 students
Middle
5
1,539 students
High
6
2,446 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Laconia School District
1,808 students · 10 districts in Belknap County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Belknap County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".
County residents
School enrollment
Bachelor's+
33.6%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
6.3%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
3.1%
civilian labor
Median age
48
17.3% under 18
Test scores in Belknap County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 22 schools ranked. New Hampshire state average: 55.2%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Inter-Lakes High School· 71.0%
- New Hampton Community School· 69.0%
- Gilford High School· 68.0%
- Gilford Middle School· 67.0%
- Prospect Mountain High School· 67.0%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Barnstead Elementary School· 31.0%
- Woodland Heights Elementary School· 38.0%
- Winnisquam Regional Middle School· 41.0%
- Laconia High School· 45.0%
- Alton Central School (Elem)· 46.0%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laconia High School | Laconia | High | 09-13 | 562 | · |
| Gilford High School | Gilford | High | 09-13 | 470 | · |
| Barnstead Elementary School | Ctr. Barnstead | Elementary | PK-08 | 449 | · |
| Laconia Middle School | Laconia | Middle | 06-08 | 414 | · |
| Alton Central School (Elem) | Alton | Elementary | PK-08 | 407 | · |
| Prospect Mountain High School | Alton | High | 09-13 | 402 | · |
| Inter-Lakes Elementary School | Meredith | Elementary | PK-06 | 397 | · |
| Belmont High School | Belmont | High | 09-12 | 361 | · |
| Winnisquam Regional Middle School | Tilton | Middle | 05-08 | 361 | · |
| Winnisquam Regional High School | Tilton | High | 09-12 | 357 | · |
| Belmont Middle School | Belmont | Middle | 05-08 | 350 | · |
| Belmont Elementary School | Belmont | Elementary | PK-04 | 336 | · |
| Gilmanton Elementary School | Gilmanton Iw | Elementary | KG-08 | 335 | · |
| Woodland Heights Elementary School | Laconia | Elementary | PK-05 | 318 | · |
| Gilford Elementary School | Gilford | Elementary | KG-04 | 303 | · |
| Inter-Lakes High School | Meredith | High | 09-13 | 294 | · |
| Gilford Middle School | Gilford | Middle | 05-08 | 277 | · |
| Elm Street School | Laconia | Elementary | PK-05 | 259 | · |
| Pleasant Street School | Laconia | Elementary | PK-05 | 255 | · |
| Sanbornton Central School | Sanbornton | Elementary | KG-04 | 177 | · |
| Inter-Lakes Middle School | Meredith | Middle | 07-08 | 137 | · |
| New Hampton Community School | New Hampton | Elementary | KG-05 | 93 | · |
| Winnisquam Early Learning Center | Tilton | Elementary | PK-PK | 30 | · |
Cities in Belknap County
About Belknap County
Across the medium-population New Hampshire county of Belknap County of about 64,659 residents, the public-school footprint covers 23 schools and about 7,344 students.
Looking at the broader picture, census numbers show median household income runs near $92,783, roughly 34% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and the federal-poverty share is near 6%.
On the school-mix side, Belknap County is made up of 12 elementary schools (3,359 students), 5 middle schools (1,539), and 6 high schools (2,446).
Laconia School District dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 1,808 students on its own.
Five-year track record. Combined enrollment now sits at 7,344 students, contracted 10% from the 8,177 reported in SY 2017-18. Belknap County now counts 23 public schools, up from 22 in SY 2017-18.
On this page, the community for Belknap County discusses school events, board meetings, and seasonal calendars. Parents, students, and educators in the area can post or comment.
Frequently asked questions
Belknap County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data