schools & higher education
Peterborough places high importance on public education and its schools are rated in the top half within the state. The region has many private elementary and secondary schools. There is a strong Waldorf community in the area, with a Waldorf childcare center, a preschool, two elementary schools, a high school, and graduate education in Waldorf teaching. Private denominational schools are in the area.
Peterborough's close proximity to centers of higher education contributes to an ongoing educational lifestyle for adults as well as children. There are also many day care centers, home-based day care, and preschools located in the Peterborough area.
Peterborough's close proximity to centers of higher education contributes to an ongoing educational lifestyle for adults as well as children. There are also many day care centers, home-based day care, and preschools located in the Peterborough area.
Peterborough Public Schools
The Contoocook Valley Regional School District (ConVal) serves 3,100 students from Peterborough and eight surrounding towns.
Peterborough Elementary School, K-4, 374 students
PES fosters curiosity and academic excellence, offering developmentally appropriate hands-on activities and problem solving, and encouraging critical and creative thinking.
South Meadow Middle School, grades 5-8, 520 students
SMS recently won the New Hampshire middle school of the year award. The school offers introductory courses in Spanish and French, an honors algebra course, bands, choruses, and an extended learning program that includes robotics, radio broadcasting, and journalism.
Contoocook Valley Regional ("ConVal") High School, grades 9-12, 1,162 students. Student/faculty ratio: 23:1
ConVal is committed to academic excellence, offering an instructional program that challenges students with high, attainable standards and expectations. Honors classes in all grades; AP courses for junior and seniors.
The Region 14 Applied Technology Center (ATC), offering career, vocational, and technical education, is located on the ConVal High School campus.
The Contoocook Valley Regional School District (ConVal) serves 3,100 students from Peterborough and eight surrounding towns.
Peterborough Elementary School, K-4, 374 students
PES fosters curiosity and academic excellence, offering developmentally appropriate hands-on activities and problem solving, and encouraging critical and creative thinking.
South Meadow Middle School, grades 5-8, 520 students
SMS recently won the New Hampshire middle school of the year award. The school offers introductory courses in Spanish and French, an honors algebra course, bands, choruses, and an extended learning program that includes robotics, radio broadcasting, and journalism.
Contoocook Valley Regional ("ConVal") High School, grades 9-12, 1,162 students. Student/faculty ratio: 23:1
ConVal is committed to academic excellence, offering an instructional program that challenges students with high, attainable standards and expectations. Honors classes in all grades; AP courses for junior and seniors.
The Region 14 Applied Technology Center (ATC), offering career, vocational, and technical education, is located on the ConVal High School campus.
Private Schools
Preparatory Schools
Dublin School, Dublin. Grades 9-12. A coeducational college preparatory school in Dublin for 85 boarding and day students.
Mountain Shadows School, Dublin. Grades 1-8. An integrated day curriculum for 65 students who study in a family-farm setting, with all ages learning together.
The Well School, Peterborough, Pre-K–Grade 8. Program includes rigorous academics, music, art, yoga, meditation, communication, dance, theater, competitive sports, and daily jobs to enrich both mind and heart.
Waldorf Schools
Waldorf Schools Home
Cobb Meadow School, Dublin. Waldorf-inspired preschool and kindergarten.
Monadnock Waldorf School, Keene
Young nursery for children ages 2 years, 9 months to 3½; Nursery, for children 3½ - 5 years; Kindergarten, for children aged 5 and 6. Grades 1 – 8: Waldorf curriculum that balances academics and arts.
Pine Hill Waldorf School, Wilton
Children's Garden, birth to 3 years; Nursery, 3 – 4½ years; Kindergarten, 4½ - 6 years.
Grades 1- 8: The Waldorf curriculum is designed around the concept that every individual, as he or she grows, passes through stages parallel to the stages of human history.
High Mowing School, Wilton. Boarding and Day Waldorf High School. High Mowing is the oldest Waldorf High School in North America and the only one to offer a boarding program.
Antioch University New England, Keene. Waldorf Teacher Training Program offers a Waldorf Certificate for class teaching or an MEd in Waldorf Elementary Specialization.
Christian Schools
Dublin Christian Academy, Dublin. K-12. Coeducational. Offers boarding and day programs. 140 students; 40 boarding; 95 in junior and senior high.
St. Joseph's Regional School, Keene. Pre-K–8. Coeducational Catholic day school, enrolls 140 students. Offers before and after-school child care. Operates under Roman Catholic Diocese of Manchester.
St. Patrick School, Jaffrey, K–8. Catholic day school of 165 students. Affiliated with St. Patrick Church in Jaffrey.
Trinity Christian School, Keene. Pre-K–High School. Affiliated with Trinity Lutheran Church. New school building includes full-sized gymnasium.
Heritage Christian School, Rindge. K–8. 180 students.
Victory High School, Jaffrey. An alternative Christian school, offering flexible schedules and individual instruction with an enrollment of 35 - 50 students.
Home Schooling
Monadnock Home School Network. Affiliation of families in southwestern New Hampshire who have homeschooling in common. The network does not endorse a particular philosophy, method, or resource.
Preparatory Schools
Dublin School, Dublin. Grades 9-12. A coeducational college preparatory school in Dublin for 85 boarding and day students.
Mountain Shadows School, Dublin. Grades 1-8. An integrated day curriculum for 65 students who study in a family-farm setting, with all ages learning together.
The Well School, Peterborough, Pre-K–Grade 8. Program includes rigorous academics, music, art, yoga, meditation, communication, dance, theater, competitive sports, and daily jobs to enrich both mind and heart.
Waldorf Schools
Waldorf Schools Home
Cobb Meadow School, Dublin. Waldorf-inspired preschool and kindergarten.
Monadnock Waldorf School, Keene
Young nursery for children ages 2 years, 9 months to 3½; Nursery, for children 3½ - 5 years; Kindergarten, for children aged 5 and 6. Grades 1 – 8: Waldorf curriculum that balances academics and arts.
Pine Hill Waldorf School, Wilton
Children's Garden, birth to 3 years; Nursery, 3 – 4½ years; Kindergarten, 4½ - 6 years.
Grades 1- 8: The Waldorf curriculum is designed around the concept that every individual, as he or she grows, passes through stages parallel to the stages of human history.
High Mowing School, Wilton. Boarding and Day Waldorf High School. High Mowing is the oldest Waldorf High School in North America and the only one to offer a boarding program.
Antioch University New England, Keene. Waldorf Teacher Training Program offers a Waldorf Certificate for class teaching or an MEd in Waldorf Elementary Specialization.
Christian Schools
Dublin Christian Academy, Dublin. K-12. Coeducational. Offers boarding and day programs. 140 students; 40 boarding; 95 in junior and senior high.
St. Joseph's Regional School, Keene. Pre-K–8. Coeducational Catholic day school, enrolls 140 students. Offers before and after-school child care. Operates under Roman Catholic Diocese of Manchester.
St. Patrick School, Jaffrey, K–8. Catholic day school of 165 students. Affiliated with St. Patrick Church in Jaffrey.
Trinity Christian School, Keene. Pre-K–High School. Affiliated with Trinity Lutheran Church. New school building includes full-sized gymnasium.
Heritage Christian School, Rindge. K–8. 180 students.
Victory High School, Jaffrey. An alternative Christian school, offering flexible schedules and individual instruction with an enrollment of 35 - 50 students.
Home Schooling
Monadnock Home School Network. Affiliation of families in southwestern New Hampshire who have homeschooling in common. The network does not endorse a particular philosophy, method, or resource.
Colleges and Universities
Franklin Pierce University
A private, four-year, coeducational, university with a curriculum that is a blend of traditional liberal arts, pre-professional study, and teacher preparation programs. The main campus in Rindge, is situated on 1,200 acres on Pearly Pond. Graduate and Professional Studies are offered at five campuses, in Concord, Keene, Lebanon, Manchester and Portsmouth, and online. The university enrolls 3,200 students at its undergraduate campus, satellite sites and through online degree programs.
Keene State College
New Hampshire's foremost public liberal arts college, celebrates its centennial in 2009 as a dynamic institution offering nearly 40 majors in the liberal arts and sciences, professional programs, and selected graduate degrees. The attractive residential campus is located in the heart of Keene.
Antioch University New England
A pioneer in innovative adult learning, Antioch offers practitioner-oriented Masters and Doctoral programs for the working professional. Degree programs include Masters in education, environmental education, Waldorf education, environmental studies, applied psychology and management; and Doctoral programs in clinical psychology and environmental studies.
Franklin Pierce University
A private, four-year, coeducational, university with a curriculum that is a blend of traditional liberal arts, pre-professional study, and teacher preparation programs. The main campus in Rindge, is situated on 1,200 acres on Pearly Pond. Graduate and Professional Studies are offered at five campuses, in Concord, Keene, Lebanon, Manchester and Portsmouth, and online. The university enrolls 3,200 students at its undergraduate campus, satellite sites and through online degree programs.
Keene State College
New Hampshire's foremost public liberal arts college, celebrates its centennial in 2009 as a dynamic institution offering nearly 40 majors in the liberal arts and sciences, professional programs, and selected graduate degrees. The attractive residential campus is located in the heart of Keene.
Antioch University New England
A pioneer in innovative adult learning, Antioch offers practitioner-oriented Masters and Doctoral programs for the working professional. Degree programs include Masters in education, environmental education, Waldorf education, environmental studies, applied psychology and management; and Doctoral programs in clinical psychology and environmental studies.