The top reported proficiency rate is 54% in English language arts. The lowest is 25% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on East Derry Memorial Elementary School
East Derry Memorial Elementary School is a regular public school serving kindergarten through fifth grade in Derry, New Hampshire, part of the Derry Cooperative School District. The enrollment is moderate for an elementary school, with students spread fairly evenly across the six grade levels. The student body is predominantly white, with a small Hispanic presence and smaller still shares of students identifying as Asian, Black, American Indian or Alaska Native, or two or more races. A small fraction of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which puts the school on the lower end economically compared with many public schools. Data on English learners and students with individualized education programs was not available, so a parent wanting to understand those populations would need to ask the school directly.
On state assessments, the most recent results show a mixed academic picture. In English language arts, roughly half of third and fourth graders reached proficiency, with fourth grade slightly ahead of third. Math results were similar, with fourth grade again performing somewhat better than third. These are middling results: a solid core of students is meeting state standards, but a substantial portion is not. Science results from the prior year's fifth-grade assessment were notably lower, with only a quarter of tested students reaching proficiency. This is a single grade in a single year, and the tested group is small, but a parent may want to look into this further with the school, particularly how science instruction builds across the upper elementary grades. Participation rates were high across all tested subjects and grades. No multi-year trend data was available, so it is hard to say whether these results represent improvement, decline, or stability.
Because this is an elementary school, there is no graduation rate to report, and the grade range also means kindergartners through second graders are not yet part of state testing. The school does not have charter or magnet status. No data was available on discipline, course access, staffing ratios, or attendance, and no locale classification was provided, so those dimensions of school environment cannot be characterized here.
Derry itself is a large residential town in Rockingham County, the most populous municipality in the county and the fourth most populous in New Hampshire. Its growth was driven by proximity to Boston and Manchester and by the construction of Interstate 93, which turned it into a bedroom community after World War II. The town has a compact historic downtown at the intersection of Routes 28 and another major route, with a former train depot converted into a commercial hub and the Adams Memorial Building housing the Derry Opera House. Outside downtown, the built environment is largely suburban. Publicly reported resources include multiple parks, two libraries, golf courses, a dog park, walking trails, and the Robert Frost Farm, a National Historic Landmark. There is no passenger rail service in town; the nearest connection is in Haverhill, Massachusetts. The nearest airport is Manchester-Boston Regional.
The housing market around the school is expensive relative to national benchmarks. Typical home values in the school's zip code sit below the broader Rockingham County median listing price but above both state and national averages. Rents are also elevated. Homes in the county are selling relatively quickly, and both supply and demand indicators point to a competitive market. For a family considering a move into the attendance area, housing costs will be a real factor.
One district-level change is worth noting for families thinking ahead. West Running Brook, previously a middle school, was reconfigured as an intermediate school serving grades five and six, opening in that new configuration in July 2024. This means East Derry Memorial fifth graders now transition into West Running Brook Intermediate rather than into a middle school, a shift that affects the pathway students follow after elementary school.
East Derry Memorial fits a family looking for a conventional public elementary experience in an established suburban community with relatively low economic need among its student body. The academic results are adequate but not standout, with science a particular area to watch. The surrounding town offers substantial recreational and civic amenities, though housing costs are high and the commute pattern is car-dependent.
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