School…. enough to make the bravest parent take a deep breath. There’s just so much to consider! How is the quality of education? What does the curriculum look like? How big are class sizes? Should I homeschool? What resources would I have? How much is private school tuition? The list goes on and on! While ultimately it’s a very personal decision with no right or wrong answer it certainly helps to be informed.
Here in Northern NH there are many rural communities. It’s fairly common to see a regional or cooperative public school serving multiple nearby towns. In some cases even those may be small enough to accommodate K-12 in one building. Although there is an appeal to the small community school, often welcoming parental involvement, public schools are not always the best fit for every family.
Those wishing to explore private schools will certainly find options, though traveling a bit may be in the cards. The City of Berlin has one private/Christian school. Lancaster and North Conway offer Montessori schools for preschool & kindergarten children. Though a worthy option as a starting point they still leave the same dilemma of what to do for the following 12 years. Also in Lancaster there is a charter school, as well as a recently established Catholic school. There is a Waldorf school in Conway serving K-8 and a full on boarding school for grades 9-12 in Bethlehem.
Many a North Country family has decided homeschooling is best for them. There is a thriving online group, North Country Homeschoolers, where families can connect, support one another, and share ideas/resources. To homeschool legally a letter of intent must be submitted. Beyond that it is parents’ choice whether to incorporate online learning, traditional textbooks, meet with other homeschool families for shared learning time, etc. Homeschooled children may utilize public school extra-curriculars.
When considering a move to NH (well anywhere for that matter) education is, rightfully so, at the forefront of parental concerns. My suggestion to new movers: decide ahead of time what system you feel is best for your family and consider areas that meet those needs/preferences for your children’s education. If you know a Waldorf school is what you want, look at an easy commute to Conway. If you like the idea of a small cooperative public school district try to visit before you move and arrange for school tours in perspective areas. If you’re an established homeschool family take a look at what’s offered at local public schools in case any desire to play sports or join the band should arise.
I never expected to see so many options outside of major cities, but New Hampshire definitely takes childhood education seriously. Since moving I’ve met children from various school arrangements who seem bright and well adjusted. It’s reassuring as a parent to know my family has readily available options and resources for education in Northern New Hampshire.
Hello tiffany my daughter cant start kindergarden 2020 but here where i live now rochester ny she in bosces where teachers come out to house to do ot and sensory therapy how can i transfer her into right school because she has many environmental allergies asthma this is why they come out i need a guide into right direction before moving to gorham nh
Hi Melody! I think we connected on Facebook awhile back! Here is the homepage for Ed Fenn Elementary School in Gorham, I’m sure if you give them a call they can fill you in on programs offered there. Hope that helps! https://med.stanford.edu/newborns/professional-education/breastfeeding/hand-expressing-milk.html
I am a retired woman considering a move to New Hampshire. Since I’ve been in Florida I have had the good fortune to find a first grade teacher who let’s me help out in her class on a regular basis. I get to see how truly awful and ridiculous the common core curriculum is but I love working with the kids.
I know that it’s very hard to find a teacher with the self confidence to let a stranger in their classroom. I wonder if I will find volunteer work with kids in New Hampshire. Maybe this is impossible to predict. Just throwing it out there.
Hi Fran, how wonderful thank you for volunteering your time to work with school children! I’m sure there are volunteer opportunities in NH schools. Certainly library programs, church based groups, and family resource centers are always looking for volunteers. We hope to welcome you home to New Hampshire soon!
Hi Tiffany, my name is Kaylan. We will be moving to the North County in the mid of March. We are a homeschooling family with three boys and intend to continue homeschooling after the move. Could you please help me connect with the North County homeschool community so I can introduce new children to my boys? I don’t have social media, so I’d like your help please! Thank you and we look forward to being apart of this community!
Hi Kaylan, you can find the North Country Porcupines Potluck on the third Saturday every month listed on fsp.org/calendar, please RSVP for the location as they change town each month!
You can also find lists of local homeschool groups and resources here https://granitestatehomeeducators.org/support-groups/
Hello,
My wife, three kids and I currently live in SC. We are planning a visit to NH and the question is not “if” we should move to NH but “where.” We sure could use some inside information.
Hi! A visit is a great way to explore different regions. Seacoast meetups are every Thursday. Bardo Farm potluck in Upper Valley is the first Saturday of the month, and the New Mover Potluck in Manchester is the first Tuesday. So you could see a cross-section of the state and get a feel for at least three communities in a long weekend! You can find all these events on fsp.org/calendar