Total enrollment
8,298
-76 (-1%) vs SY 2020-21
Cheshire County
New Hampshire · Public K-12
41 public K-12 schools operate inside Cheshire County, with roughly 8,365 students enrolled, an average of 204 per school. That works out to 28 elementary, 6 middle, and 7 high schools.
4-year change in Cheshire County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
39
+1 (+3%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Cheshire County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In New Hampshire | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 40.5% | #9 of 10 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 8,365 | #6 of 10 | #934 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 40 | #5 of 10 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 11.1:1 | #6 of 10 | #305 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 29.9% | #4 of 10 | #2,392 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 20.1% | #6 of 9 | #2,151 of 2,707 |
Counties need at least 3 schools and 1,000 students to be ranked. Test proficiency is ranked within the state only, since each state gives a different test. Each rank links to the full list.
Cheshire County school rankings
Residents
77,297
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
41
19 districts
Enrollment
8,365
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$83,329
Below New Hampshire avg
Free/reduced lunch
29.9%
Above New Hampshire avg
Elementary
28
4,456 students
Middle
6
1,468 students
High
7
2,441 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Keene School District
3,007 students · 19 districts in Cheshire County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Cheshire 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+
35.5%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
4.4%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
3.3%
civilian labor
Median age
44
17.8% under 18
Test scores in Cheshire County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 29 schools ranked. New Hampshire state average: 55.2%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Keene High School· 69.0%
- Walpole Elementary School· 69.0%
- Wells Memorial School· 68.0%
- Westmoreland School· 68.0%
- North Walpole School· 67.0%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Hinsdale Elementary School· 27.0%
- Hinsdale Middle High School· 30.0%
- Winchester School· 30.0%
- Marlborough Elementary School· 34.0%
- Monadnock Regional Middle School· 36.0%
Cities in Cheshire County
Keene11 schoolsAlstead3 schoolsHinsdale3 schoolsJaffrey3 schoolsE. Swanzey2 schoolsWalpole2 schoolsChesterfield1 schoolDublin1 schoolFitzwilliam1 schoolGilsum1 schoolHarrisville1 schoolMarlborough1 schoolMarlow1 schoolNelson1 schoolNorth Walpole1 schoolRindge1 schoolStoddard1 schoolSurry1 schoolSwanzey1 schoolTroy1 schoolW. Swanzey1 schoolWestmoreland1 schoolWinchester1 school
About Cheshire County
In New Hampshire, Cheshire County is a middle-population county of about 77,297 residents. 41 public schools across the county educates about 8,365 students between them.
Looking at the broader picture, census numbers show median household income runs near $83,329, roughly 36% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and the federal-poverty share is near 4%. That income level is 7% noticeably below the New Hampshire median.
Looking at the level breakdown, Cheshire County covers 28 elementary schools (4,456 students), 6 middle schools (1,468), and 7 high schools (2,441).
The largest single district in Cheshire County is Keene School District, which alone enrolls about 3,007 students.
Looking at the last 4 years. Total public-school enrollment in Cheshire County has remained close to its prior level since SY 2020-21, moving from about 8,374 students to 8,298. The school count climbed from 38 to 39 across the same 4-year window.
On this page, the community for Cheshire County discusses comparison threads between local schools and program reviews. Parents, students, and educators in the area can post or comment.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data