Derry NH Schools Guide (2026): Rankings, Ratings & Homes

Quick answer: Derry NH schools are split between two systems. The Derry Cooperative School District runs grades PK–8 for roughly 3,100 students, and students then attend Pinkerton Academy—the largest independent high school in the country—which serves as Derry's public high school for grades 9–12 through a town tuition arrangement.

If you are house-hunting in southern New Hampshire and schools are on your list, Derry is one of the more unusual towns to understand. It does not run its own high school the way most towns do. Instead, Derry families flow into Pinkerton Academy, a privately incorporated academy that has educated local students since 1814. Here is how the whole system fits together, how it rates, and what it costs to buy into a Derry school zone this summer.

How are the Derry NH schools structured?

Derry uses a two-district model. The Derry Cooperative School District (SAU 10) covers preschool through grade 8, spread across a handful of neighborhood elementary schools plus two middle schools—Gilbert H. Hood Middle School and West Running Brook Middle School. Together the district serves about 3,100 students, which makes it one of the larger PK–8 systems in the region.

After eighth grade, students move up to Pinkerton Academy in the center of town. Pinkerton is not a typical district high school—which is exactly why so many buyers ask about it before they make an offer.

Is Pinkerton Academy a public or private school?

Both, in a sense. Pinkerton Academy is a privately incorporated, independently governed academy, but it functions as the public high school for Derry and several surrounding towns. Derry, Hampstead, Chester, Auburn, Candia, and Hooksett all send their high-schoolers to Pinkerton, and each town pays tuition on behalf of its resident students. For the 2025–2026 year, the sending-town tuition rate is about $17,226 per student—paid by the town, not the family, for residents.

With roughly 3,100 students in grades 9–12, Pinkerton is the largest independent high school in the United States. That scale buys a lot of choice: more than 320 courses, a wide slate of Advanced Placement options, career and technical programs, and 60-plus clubs and activities. For a family that wants a big-school menu—think dedicated arts wings, competitive athletics, and specialized electives—that breadth is the main draw. You can review the school's programs directly on the Pinkerton Academy website.

How are Derry's schools rated?

Ratings for the Derry NH schools land in a solid middle-to-upper tier for New Hampshire. On Niche, Pinkerton Academy earns generally favorable marks for academics, teachers, and diversity, and independent ranking sites place it roughly in the 30s among New Hampshire's 80-plus high schools. Reading proficiency tends to run above the state average, while math and science are areas the school continues to work on—worth checking against the specific programs your student would use.

A few numbers families tend to focus on: a graduation rate near 89%, an AP participation rate around 19%, and a low dropout rate. As always, ratings are a starting point, not a verdict—we always encourage buyers to tour, sit in on an open house, and talk to current parents before deciding a school zone is right for them.

What does it cost to buy into a Derry school zone?

Derry remains one of southern New Hampshire's better values for families who want quality schools without a Bedford or Windham price tag. The median sale price in Derry was about $600,000 in May 2026, up roughly 3.9% year over year, with a year-to-date median near $593,500 (New Hampshire Association of Realtors data). Homes are moving fast—median days on market sat around 19, with only about 1.6 months of supply and sellers collecting close to 102% of list price.

Property taxes help the math: Derry's 2025 total tax rate was about $18.99 per $1,000 of assessed value, competitive for a town of its size and services. Because every Derry address feeds the same high school, you are not paying a premium to chase one specific attendance zone at the 9–12 level—a nice simplification compared with towns that have multiple high schools.

Want to see what's active in a given elementary zone right now? Browse current listings on our Derry NH real estate page, and if you're weighing the neighboring commuter towns, our Hooksett NH real estate page covers another Pinkerton sending town.

Related reading

If you're researching the town more broadly, start with Is Derry NH a Good Place to Live? for the full lifestyle picture. Neighborhood-focused? See our East Derry neighborhood guide. Ready to shop, take a look at our Derry homes-for-sale buyer guide.

Derry NH schools: frequently asked questions

What high school do Derry students attend?

Derry students attend Pinkerton Academy, a privately incorporated academy in the center of Derry that serves as the public high school for grades 9–12. The town pays tuition for its resident students, so families do not pay high-school tuition out of pocket.

Do you have to pay tuition to send your child to Pinkerton Academy?

Not if you live in a sending town. Derry and its partner towns pay Pinkerton's tuition on behalf of resident students—about $17,226 for 2025–2026. Private students from non-sending towns pay a higher rate to attend.

What towns send students to Pinkerton Academy?

Pinkerton draws from Derry, Hampstead, Chester, Auburn, Candia, and Hooksett. That combined enrollment is what makes it the largest independent high school in the country, with about 3,100 students.

Are Derry's elementary and middle schools good?

The Derry Cooperative School District serves PK–8 with neighborhood elementary schools and two middle schools. Ratings sit in a solid middle tier for New Hampshire; specific school scores vary, so compare the schools in the zones you're considering.

Which is a better school town, Derry or Londonderry?

They differ mainly at the high-school level: Londonderry runs its own Londonderry High School, while Derry sends to Pinkerton Academy. Both are well regarded; the right fit depends on whether your student prefers a large-academy environment or a traditional district high school.

Thinking about a move built around the Derry NH schools? The Phinney Team lives and works in southern New Hampshire, and we're happy to walk you through the elementary zones, current inventory, and what your budget buys near each one. Reach out anytime at info@teamphinney.com.