Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
High· 6 schools in district

Portsmouth High School

50 Andrew Jarvis Dr., Portsmouth, NH 03801Portsmouth School District →
Federal DataRegular SchoolGrades 09–13Non-Charter
1,032
Students
Total enrolled
95%
Grad Rate
Nat'l avg 87%
↑ 10% vs nat'l
$23,440
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
↑ 63% vs nat'l
11.7 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
↓ 24% vs nat'l
54/100
Opportunity Score
Neighborhood outcomes
~avg
⇄ Compare with another school
Large public school
Serves 1,032 students in grades 09–13 in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
63% above average funding
District spends $23,440 per pupil, 63% more than the national average of $14,347.
Near-median opportunity
Children from this neighborhood historically reach the 54th income percentile as adults, per Harvard/Census Opportunity Atlas data.
About This School

Portsmouth High School is a very large high in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, serving grades 09–13 with 1,032 students. The district invests $23,440 per student — 63% above the national average of $14,347, and maintains a 11.7:1 student-teacher ratio — smaller than the national norm of 15.4:1. With only 11% of students on free or reduced-price lunch, the school primarily serves an economically stable community. The school's 95% graduation rate — above the national average of 87% — reflects strong completion outcomes for its students.

Student Body & Demographics at Portsmouth High School

1,032
Total Students
11.7 : 1
Student:Teacher
11%
Free Lunch
88
Teacher FTE
Grade Range
PK
K
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Highlighted grades (09–13) are served by this school
Gender Distribution492 male · 540 female
48%
52%
Male 48%Female 52%
Free / Reduced Lunch Eligibility11%
National avg 52% · 112 students
Student Composition
82%
8%
Asian5%
White82%
Hispanic / Latino5%
Black1%
Multiracial8%
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 330582000379

Academic Outcomes at Portsmouth High School

Graduation Rate (Adjusted Cohort)
95
High
National avg 87%
Graduation Rate Comparison
This school
95%
State avg
87%
National avg
87%
Neighborhood Opportunity Score
54
/ 100
Near-median opportunity

Children from modest-income families in this neighborhood reach the 54th income percentile as adults. This school is in the 90th percentile nationally.

0 — Low50 — MedianHigh — 100
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census) · Census tract · ZIP 03801

School Resources & Funding

Per-Pupil Expenditure$23,440Above avg
National avg $14,347
Per-Pupil Spending Comparison
This school
$23,440
State avg
$34,704
National avg
$14,347
How School Funding Is Typically Spent
44%
19%
12%
15%
Instruction$10,314
Student Support$4,454
Administration$2,813
Operations$3,516
Other$2,344
Estimated using national average spending distribution (NCES) · School-level breakdowns not publicly reported
Of the $23,440 spent per student, an estimated $10,384 (~44%) goes directly to classroom instruction.
Where Funding Comes From
24%
70%
State government
24.3%
Local (property tax)
69.8%
Federal programs
5.9%
NCES F-33 Finance Survey · District-level data applied to this school
Strengths & Considerations
Strengths
  • 95% graduation rate — well above the 87% national average
  • Above-average funding — $23,440/student vs $14,347 nationally
  • 11.7:1 student-teacher ratio — smaller classes than the national norm of 15.4:1
  • Low economic disadvantage rate — only 11% of students on free or reduced lunch
  • Traditional public school — open enrollment, no application process required
Strengths and considerations are derived from federal data thresholds — not editorial judgements. See data sources below.
K–12 Pathway in District
Elementary
Little Harbour SchoolMary C. Dondero Elementary SchoolNew Franklin School
↓
Middle
Portsmouth Middle School
School Profile
TypeRegular School
LevelHigh
Grades09 – 13
Location—
CountyRockingham County
CharterNo
VirtualNo
DistrictPortsmouth School District →
Phone: (603)436-7100
NCES ID: 330582000379
Who Is This School For?

Best suited for families in Portsmouth seeking a public high school, especially those prioritizing above-average resources and classroom investment. We always recommend an in-person visit and a conversation with current families before making any enrollment decision.

More in Portsmouth School District
Mid
Portsmouth Middle School
499 students · 06–08
● 54 opp16% FRL
Elem
Little Harbour School
346 students · KG–05
● 54 opp12% FRL
Elem
Mary C. Dondero Elementary School
323 students · KG–05
● 54 opp18% FRL
Elem
New Franklin School
259 students · KG–05
● 54 opp19% FRL
Other
PEEP School - Pre School Program
23 students · PK–PK
● 54 opp26% FRL
District School Rankings
Location
50 Andrew Jarvis Dr., Portsmouth, NH 03801
Data Sources & Transparency
Enrollment & Profile
NCES Common Core of Data. Grades, enrollment, demographics, school characteristics. Updated annually.
Funding & Spending
NCES F-33 Finance Survey. District-level spending data. School-level breakdowns are not publicly reported.
Graduation Rate
EDFacts Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR). High schools only. Small cohorts may be range-coded for privacy.
Opportunity Score
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census Bureau). Census tract outcomes for children born in the 1980s.
Fact-Based Rankings
Best-school rankings are computed from federal metrics only — enrollment, per-pupil spending, student-teacher ratio, opportunity score, and graduation rate. No editorial opinion or paid placements.
Equity Data (Coming Soon)
AP access, counselor ratios, and chronic absenteeism from the CRDC will be added in a future update.

Questions to Ask on Your School Visit

Research shows the most important factors are invisible in the data. Here is what to ask when you visit.

High
1
What percentage of students take AP or dual enrollment courses?
Indicates academic rigor and college prep
2
What college counseling and application support is provided?
Ratio of students per counselor matters
3
What career and vocational pathways are offered?
CTE programs, internships, industry partnerships
4
How does the school support students at risk of not graduating?
Credit recovery, attendance intervention
5
What's the school's culture around attendance and behavior?
Discipline approach, restorative practices
6
What happens after graduation — where do students go?
Ask about college, career, military outcomes
7
What does the school do with student performance data?
How data is used to personalize instruction
8
How would you describe teacher retention here?
High turnover can disrupt continuity of learning
9
What's the culture around student diversity and inclusion?
How differences are celebrated and managed

Frequently Asked Questions

About this school and the data on this page

About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.