Total enrollment
17,094
-162 (-1%) vs SY 2020-21
Merrimack County
New Hampshire · Public K-12
Parents in Merrimack County researching K-12 options have 61 public schools to consider, with combined enrollment near 17,429 (37 elementary, 12 middle, and 12 high).
4-year change in Merrimack County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
58
+3 (+5%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Merrimack County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In New Hampshire | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 47.5% | #3 of 10 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 17,429 | #3 of 10 | #536 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 60 | #3 of 10 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 11.7:1 | #10 of 10 | #454 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 24.9% | #9 of 10 | #2,462 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 24.1% | #4 of 9 | #1,984 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.
Merrimack County school rankings
Residents
155,967
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
61
24 districts
Enrollment
17,429
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$97,004
Above New Hampshire avg
Free/reduced lunch
24.9%
Below New Hampshire avg
Elementary
37
8,739 students
Middle
12
3,854 students
High
12
4,836 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Concord School District
3,835 students · 24 districts in Merrimack County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Merrimack 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+
38.9%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
4.1%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
3.1%
civilian labor
Median age
43
18.4% under 18
Test scores in Merrimack County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 46 schools ranked. New Hampshire state average: 55.2%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Hopkinton High School· 82.0%
- Bow High School· 81.0%
- Hopkinton Middle School· 76.0%
- Maple Street Elementary School· 76.0%
- Salisbury Elementary School· 74.0%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
Cities in Merrimack County
Concord7 schoolsBow4 schoolsPembroke4 schoolsPenacook4 schoolsContoocook3 schoolsFranklin3 schoolsHooksett3 schoolsLoudon3 schoolsNorthfield3 schoolsPittsfield3 schoolsAllenstown2 schoolsBradford2 schoolsNew London2 schoolsNorth Sutton2 schoolsAllenstown1 schoolAndover1 schoolBoscawen1 schoolCanterbury1 schoolChichester1 schoolConcord1 schoolDanbury1 schoolDunbarton1 schoolEpsom1 schoolHenniker1 schoolHill1 schoolHopkinton1 schoolSalisbury1 schoolSutton Mills1 schoolWarner1 schoolWebster1 school
About Merrimack County
Merrimack County is a mid-sized New Hampshire county of about 155,967 residents, home to 61 public schools and roughly 17,429 students.
Stepping back, census numbers show median household income runs near $97,004, 39% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the federal-poverty share is near 4%. That income level is 8% higher than the New Hampshire median.
On the level-by-level breakdown, Merrimack County covers 37 elementary schools (8,739 students), 12 middle schools (3,854), and 12 high schools (4,836).
Concord School District is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 3,835 students across Merrimack County.
Over the past 4-year window. Total public-school enrollment in Merrimack County has held roughly steady since SY 2020-21, moving from about 17,256 students to 17,094. The school count climbed from 55 to 58 across the same 4-year window.
On allk12, the community for Merrimack County discusses sports rivalries, cross-district programs, and shared facilities. Discussions cut across districts, schools, and grade levels.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data