The top reported proficiency rate is 88% in English language arts. The lowest is 62% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on New Franklin School
New Franklin School sits on Franklin Drive in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, serving kindergarten through fifth grade as a regular public school in the Portsmouth School District. It is a small elementary school by enrollment, with a fairly even distribution across its six grade levels. The student body is predominantly white, with a smaller share of students identifying as Hispanic, two or more races, Asian, or Black. A modest portion of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Data on individualized education programs and English learner status was not reported, so those figures are unavailable here.
On the most recent New Hampshire Statewide Assessment System results, New Franklin posted strong proficiency numbers across reading and mathematics. In English language arts, the large majority of third graders met or exceeded proficiency, and fifth graders performed at a similarly high level. Fourth grade ELA proficiency was somewhat lower but still well above what most schools achieve. Mathematics followed a similar pattern: third grade proficiency was notably high, with fifth grade also strong, while fourth grade dipped below the other two grades. Science, assessed only in fifth grade, showed a lower share of students reaching proficiency, a pattern that mirrors what many elementary schools experience. Participation rates were high across all tested grades and subjects. Multi-year trend data was not available, so it is not possible to say whether these results represent improvement, decline, or stability over time.
Because New Franklin is an elementary school, there is no graduation rate to report, and the grade band does not include the years when dropout or cohort metrics apply. The same applies to advanced coursework, dual credit, and career pathway data, which are not part of what this school offers.
Portsmouth is a historic seacoast city with deep cultural roots. Publicly reported landmarks include the USS Albacore Museum and Park, Strawbery Banke Museum with its restored Colonial, Georgian, and Federal homes, and the Portsmouth African Burying Ground memorial, the only archeologically verified eighteenth-century African burying ground in New England. The Music Hall serves as a longstanding theater venue. Transit options include the COAST bus network covering the Seacoast region, Wildcat Transit connecting to the University of New Hampshire campus, and a private intercity bus link to Boston and New York. Amtrak's Downeaster stops in nearby Dover. Interstate 95, US Routes 1 and 4, and several state routes cross the city.
The housing market in Portsmouth is expensive by both state and national standards. Typical home values in the school's zip code sit well above the New Hampshire benchmark and more than double the national figure. Rents are also high relative to most of the country. Rockingham County's broader market shows active and new listing counts rising year over year, with homes moving faster than they did a year prior. The price-to-income ratio is steep, meaning families eyeing this area should expect housing costs to consume a large share of household income. Mortgage rates nationally remain elevated compared to the past decade.
The Portsmouth School District has seen sustained budget growth, according to publicly reported city budget documents. Negotiated salary increases and special education costs are cited as primary drivers, and the school portion of property taxes is a factor families should weigh when considering a move into the district. The district has also launched a community curriculum review for its K through 12 math program and K through 5 English language arts program, inviting parent and community feedback. For families at New Franklin, that ELA review could shape how literacy instruction looks in the coming years.
Taken together, New Franklin presents as a small, relatively homogeneous elementary school with solid academic results in reading and math, set in a costly but culturally rich seacoast community. The fourth grade math dip and the fifth grade science result are areas a parent may want to look into further with the school, particularly as the district undertakes its curriculum review. The combination of strong early-grade literacy and a community actively discussing how it teaches math and reading makes this a school worth engaging with directly.
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