Nottingham Elementary School, Nottingham NH

Original Research by School Decision on Nottingham Elementary School

Nottingham Elementary School is a regular public school serving pre-kindergarten through eighth grade in the town of Nottingham, New Hampshire. It is the town's only public school, and enrollment sits in a moderate range for a single-school community. The student body is predominantly white, and a very small share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The school does not have charter or magnet status. Information on individualized education programs and English learner populations was not available in the data we reviewed, so those gaps are left as gaps rather than filled.

On state assessments, the most recent results paint a generally strong picture with one clear soft spot. In mathematics, most grades show proficiency rates well above what one might expect for a typical New Hampshire school, with the upper grades standing out. Eighth grade in particular posted a striking proficiency rate, and grades six and seven were strong as well. Third and fifth grades also performed well. The exception is fourth grade, where math proficiency dropped sharply. English language arts results follow a similar pattern: fifth grade was a high point, and the upper grades generally performed well, while fourth grade again lagged behind the rest. Science is tested only in fifth and eighth grades, and results there were moderate, with a majority of students reaching proficiency in both cases but with more room to grow. Participation rates were high across all grades and subjects, which means these results reflect nearly the full student body.

The fourth-grade dip in both math and English language arts is worth noting. It could reflect a cohort effect or a curricular transition at that grade level. A parent with a child entering or approaching fourth grade may want to look into this further with the school to understand what is driving the pattern.

Because Nottingham Elementary ends at eighth grade, there is no graduation rate or high school-level data to report. The town tuitioned its high school students out to Dover High School or Coe-Brown Northwood Academy in neighboring Northwood, so secondary education takes place on campuses outside the town. Career technical education is also accessed in Dover, Rochester, or Somersworth.

Nottingham itself is a rural, low-density community. Publicly reported sources describe a town that has grown substantially over recent decades but retains a self-described small-town character. There is no public transportation, no municipal wastewater treatment plant, and no dense commercial downtown. The town center sits at a road junction rather than forming a walkable village core. Pawtuckaway State Park is the dominant recreational anchor, with an extensive trail system, a lake beach, and distinctive geology. The town also claims the oldest continually operating municipal recycling center in the country.

The housing market reflects the broader Rockingham County pattern: expensive relative to both state and national benchmarks. The typical home value in the school's zip code sits well above the New Hampshire state benchmark and well above the national figure. Homes move quickly, with a median time on market that has shortened considerably over the past year. Supply and demand indicators are both strong, pointing to a competitive market for buyers. The price-to-income ratio is high, which means families buying into this area face a steep affordability hurdle.

The district underwent a governance change, when Nottingham School District separated from SAU 44 and joined a newly formed administrative unit. The data did not provide detail on curriculum changes, tax shifts, or other district-level developments beyond that structural reorganization.

For a family considering this school, the academic picture is largely positive, with strong outcomes in the upper elementary and middle grades especially. The school's size and rural setting mean a quieter, more close-knit environment than what a larger suburban school would offer. The housing market is a real constraint, and the lack of public transit or walkable infrastructure is part of the trade-off. The fourth-grade results are the one area a parent should probe. Beyond that, the school appears to be delivering solid academic results in a community that has invested in its rural identity and outdoor assets.

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Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 366%

School 66% · District 66%

▲ 12 pts above state median · ▲ 5 pts above county median

Grade 423%

School 23% · District 23%

▼ 27 pts below state median · ▼ 38 pts below county median

Grade 565%

School 65% · District 65%

▲ 26 pts above state median · ▲ 10 pts above county median

Grade 677%

School 77% · District 77%

▲ 37 pts above state median · ▲ 24 pts above county median

Grade 770%

School 70% · District 70%

▲ 32 pts above state median · ▲ 23 pts above county median

Grade 888%

School 88% · District 86% · ▲ 2 pts above district

▲ 52 pts above state median · ▲ 44 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 357%

School 57% · District 57%

▲ 7 pts above state median · ▲ 1 pts above county median

Grade 441%

School 41% · District 41%

▼ 12 pts below state median · ▼ 21 pts below county median

Grade 583%

School 83% · District 83%

▲ 25 pts above state median · ▲ 16 pts above county median

Grade 668%

School 68% · District 68%

▲ 16 pts above state median · ▲ 1 pts above county median

Grade 768%

School 68% · District 68%

▲ 12 pts above state median · ▲ 2 pts above county median

Grade 877%

School 77% · District 76% · ▲ 1 pts above district

▲ 24 pts above state median · ▲ 14 pts above county median

Science

Grade 554%

School 54% · District 54%

▲ 19 pts above state median · ▲ 11 pts above county median

Grade 862%

School 62% · District 61% · ▲ 1 pts above district

▲ 26 pts above state median · ▲ 20 pts above county median

This schoolNottingham School District, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.