Public schools in Exeter, NH
7 open public schools with an address in Exeter, operated by 4 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
7
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
2,819
7 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
9.4:1
New Hampshire median 11:1
Charter schools
4
2 virtual
An overview of Exeter public schools
The federal directory lists 7 public schools in Exeter, NH: 4 elementary, 3 high. The 7 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 2,819 students, an average of 403 per school. The largest campus is Exeter High School (1,348 students), and the largest elementary school is Main Street School (406).
Exeter School District operates the most schools here (2), and 2 regular districts have at least one Exeter campus, plus 2 charter, service, or other agencies. 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 9.4:1, lower 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 4 charter schools, 2 virtual schools. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 3 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 2 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 2 of 3 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 12% 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 Exeter
Exeter School District
Public school district
2 schools in Exeter
Great Bay Charter School
Independent charter agency
2 schools in Exeter
Virtual Learning Academy Charter School
Independent charter agency
2 schools in Exeter
Exeter Region Cooperative School District
Public school district
1 school in Exeter · 2 total
Elementary schools in Exeter
4| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great Bay Charter School (E) Great Bay Charter School · Charter | KG–08 | 60 | 7.3:1 | |
| Lincoln Street Elementary School Exeter School District | 03–05 | 401 | 10.3:1 | |
| Main Street School Exeter School District | PK–02 | 406 | 9.4:1 | |
| Virtual Learning Academy (E) Virtual Learning Academy Charter School · Charter · Virtual | KG–08 | 124 | 7.3:1 |
High schools in Exeter
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exeter High School Exeter Region Cooperative School District | 09–12 | 1,348 | 12.1:1 | |
| Great Bay Charter School (H) Great Bay Charter School · Charter | 09–12 | 94 | 11.9:1 | |
| Virtual Learning Academy (H) Virtual Learning Academy Charter School · Charter · Virtual | 09–12 | 386 | 5.8:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White88.7%
- Hispanic3.4%
- Black1.5%
- Asian2.7%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.5%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.2%
- Multiracial3%
Enrollment-weighted across 7 Exeter schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (2,819 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Exeter
How many public schools are in Exeter, NH?
The current NCES directory lists 7 open public schools with a location address in Exeter: 4 elementary, 3 high. Together they reported 2,819 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Exeter?
Schools with an address in Exeter belong to 4 education agencies, led by Exeter School District (2 schools), Great Bay Charter School (2 schools), Virtual Learning Academy Charter School (2 schools). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Exeter?
Exeter High School reported the largest high-school enrollment in Exeter, with 1,348 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Exeter?
Yes. 4 of the 7 public schools in Exeter are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Great Bay Charter School (E), Great Bay Charter School (H), Virtual Learning Academy (E). Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Exeter schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Exeter public schools is 9.4:1, lower 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 Exeter 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