Public schools in Derry, NH
9 open public schools with an address in Derry, operated by 3 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
9
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
6,080
9 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
12.1:1
New Hampshire median 11:1
Charter schools
1
0 virtual
An overview of Derry public schools
The federal directory lists 9 public schools in Derry, NH: 4 elementary, 2 middle, 2 high, 1 combined or other. The 9 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 6,080 students, an average of 676 per school. The largest campus is Pinkerton Academy (2,990 students), and the largest elementary school is Ernest P. Barka Elementary School (485).
Derry Cooperative School District operates the most schools here (7), and 2 regular districts have at least one Derry campus, plus 1 charter, service, or other agency. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 12.1:1, higher than the statewide school median of 11:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
School choice options include 1 charter school. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 2 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 1 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 1 of 2 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 18% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving Derry
Elementary schools in Derry
4| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Derry Memorial Elementary School Derry Cooperative School District | KG–04 | 388 | 11.9:1 | |
| Ernest P. Barka Elementary School Derry Cooperative School District | KG–04 | 485 | 12.1:1 | |
| Grinnell School Derry Cooperative School District | KG–04 | 338 | 11.1:1 | |
| South Range Elementary School Derry Cooperative School District | KG–04 | 333 | 12.6:1 |
Middle schools in Derry
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gilbert H. Hood Middle School Derry Cooperative School District | 07–08 | 696 | 12.7:1 | |
| West Running Brook Intermediate School Derry Cooperative School District | 05–06 | 639 | 12.1:1 |
High schools in Derry
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Next Charter School Next Charter School · Charter | 09–12 | 79 | 8.8:1 | |
| Pinkerton Academy Pinkerton Academy School District | 09–13 | 2,990 | 13.9:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Derry
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Derry Early Education Program Derry Cooperative School District | PK–PK | 132 | 33:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White84.8%
- Hispanic6.4%
- Black1.2%
- Asian1.9%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.3%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0%
- Multiracial5.4%
Enrollment-weighted across 9 Derry schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (6,080 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Derry
How many public schools are in Derry, NH?
The current NCES directory lists 9 open public schools with a location address in Derry: 4 elementary, 2 middle, 2 high, 1 combined or other. Together they reported 6,080 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Derry?
Schools with an address in Derry belong to 3 education agencies, led by Derry Cooperative School District (7 schools), Next Charter School (1 school), Pinkerton Academy School District (1 school). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Derry?
Pinkerton Academy reported the largest high-school enrollment in Derry, with 2,990 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–13). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Derry?
Yes. 1 of the 9 public schools in Derry are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Next Charter School. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Derry schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Derry public schools is 12.1:1, higher than the New Hampshire school median of 11:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Derry guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby New Hampshire cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All New Hampshire cities