Hillsborough County
For a New Hampshire county, Hillsborough County operates a sizable public-school system: 127 schools and 53,974 students, broken out as 72 elementary, 30 middle, and 25 high.
7-year change in Hillsborough County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Hillsborough 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".
Test scores in Hillsborough County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 98 schools ranked. New Hampshire state average: 55.2%.
- Hollis-Brookline High School· 87.0%
- Bedford High School· 86.0%
- Mason Elementary School· 84.0%
- Peter Woodbury School· 82.0%
- Academy for Science and Design Charter (M)· 81.0%
- Beech Street School· 11.0%
- McDonough School· 16.0%
- Dr. Norman W. Crisp School· 18.0%
- Bakersville School· 20.0%
- Parker-Varney School· 20.0%
Cities in Hillsborough County
About Hillsborough County
In New Hampshire, Hillsborough County is a wide-reaching county of about 426,378 residents. 127 public schools across the county hosts about 53,974 students between them.
Looking at the broader picture, census numbers show the median household earns about $103,545 a year, about 42% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and the federal-poverty share is near 4%. That income level is 15% meaningfully above the New Hampshire median.
Looking at the level breakdown, Hillsborough County consists of 72 elementary schools (22,076 students), 30 middle schools (15,225), and 25 high schools (16,673).
The largest single district in Hillsborough County is Manchester School District, which alone enrolls about 12,295 students.
Trend over the past 7 years. Total public-school enrollment in Hillsborough County has contracted 9% since SY 2017-18, moving from about 58,090 students to 52,691. Hillsborough County now counts 122 public schools, up from 117 in SY 2017-18. Demographically, the White share of enrollment declined from 76% to 70%.
Within the allk12 community for this area, the community for Hillsborough County discusses school events, board meetings, and seasonal calendars. Anyone with firsthand knowledge of these schools is welcome to weigh in.