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Okay, Okay, I get it ... Londonderry schools are very good, possible the flagship of Southern New Hampshire, but its a story of extremes. The only two comments I seem to see is New Hampshire schools are terrible and Londonderry schools are amazing. I am including Londonderry for my home searches but thats a limited field, are there any other schools in Southern New Hampshire that are acheiving stellar results en masse?
The question was regarding school systems, town v. town. Not how to raise a child.
I am compiling a list of schools that are known to be quality schools with excellent recources so that I can be sure my child doesnt attend. This tactic coupled with parental uninvolvement and poor nutrition will prepare my unfortunate leech for the same crappy life they bestowed unto me. You get?
I live in Londonderry and am thrilled with the school system. I'm guessing that Windham, Pelham, Bedford, Amherst and Merrimack would also have good systems.
Okay, no need to get snarky. Sure, the rich towns like Amherst and Hollis have a great rep. The cities like Manchester and Nashua get a bad rap. But that doesn't mean all their schools/teachers are bad. I live in Nashua. Some elementary schools are great, some not so much. Do the high schools have issues? Sure. But the kids who apply themselves academically go on to excellent colleges/careers. I'm sending my kids to private school. I live in a great neighborhood served by one of the best elementary schools in the city. But my hubby and I have decided to go the Catholic school route. If we couldn't afford private, I would have no issues about sending my boys to the Nashua public schools.
IMO, there is more to picking a city to live in than just the school system. Yes, it's a factor, but there is so much more to a community.
Okay, Okay, I get it ... Londonderry schools are very good, possible the flagship of Southern New Hampshire, but its a story of extremes. The only two comments I seem to see is New Hampshire schools are terrible and Londonderry schools are amazing. I am including Londonderry for my home searches but thats a limited field, are there any other schools in Southern New Hampshire that are acheiving stellar results en masse?
- Delvek
I'm in Londonderry, and 2 of my 3 kids have been educated here. The schools are the main reason I chose this town. Is it the BEST? The flagship of NH? That's doubtful--we've been deemed a district in need of improvement more than once in the last couple of years. We've become a magnet district for many with special needs BECAUSE of the strong schools. Well guess what... if you concentrate on providing the best services possible for special needs, something else needs to slip. Would I chose Londonderry again? Maybe... probably... the music program IS amazing, one of the best in the state. It's a nice community, and we enjoy living here. A very high percentage of LHS graduates do go on to 4-year university, some to the ivies, but you'd likely have to look in a higher income per capita to get a higher percentage that continues on to Harvard, etc.
Other towns/schools systems I'd consider: Hollis (Hollis-Brookline HS), Bedford, Windham, Amherst (Souhegan HS), Hampstead (and also Chester/Auburn) Pinkerton HS. Away from Rte 93, SAU 16 (the Exeter district) and Lee/Durham/Madbury (Oyster River). OR and Sau 16 towns are closer to the seacoast, but all the towns (except Exeter) are pretty rural in nature (no pun intended )
Are you looking for performance of ALL grades, or are you mainly concerned with HS results?
Is there a reason Portsmouth High is not mentioned? It seems that the ratings have been high as well as parental satisfaction. Also community schools such as Rye have high ratings.
Chester and Auburn don't have a high school. They send their kids to Manchester or Derry. The most recent ruling is all of Auburn goes to Derry's Pinkerton Academy now. They used to go to Manchester Memorial (east side). Candia doesn't have a HS either and their students go to Manchester Central.
Alverne HS, Hudson and High Mowing School, Wilton rec. good reports.
Timberlane in Plaistow has some outstanding sports teams.
NH football is currently undergoing some divisional changes. There will be 3 divisions based on enrollment. Each of the three divisions will also be split into four conferences. Division I will have an East, West, North (where Concord will play) and South conference, Division II will have a North, South (John Stark), West (Kearsarge) and Central (Pembroke and Merrimack Valley) conference, and Division III will have a South (Bow), Lakes (Winnisquam, Franklin), West (Bishop Brady) and East conference.
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