Portsmouth Christian Academy Photo - Our beautiful 50 acre campus sits along the Bellamy River in Dover, NH, a suburb an hour outside Boston.

Best Dover Private Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 9 private schools serving 1,649 students in Dover, NH (there are 7 public schools, serving 3,935 public students). 30% of all K-12 students in Dover, NH are educated in private schools (compared to the NH state average of 16%).
The top-ranked private schools in Dover, NH include Happy Helpers Preschool Education C, Portsmouth Christian Academy, and St. Mary Academy.
The average acceptance rate is 52%, which is lower than the New Hampshire private school average acceptance rate of 73%.
44% of private schools in Dover, NH are religiously affiliated (most commonly Catholic and Christian).

Top-Ranked Dover Private Schools (2026)

School
Location
Quick Facts
Happy Helpers Preschool Education C
Daycare / Preschool
6 Heather Lane
Dover, NH 03820
(603) 742-3910
Gr: PK-K | 137 students Avg. class size: 15 students Tuition & acceptance rate listed
My School
Special Program Emphasis
(18)
118 Locust Street
Dover, NH 03820
(603) 742-0321
Gr: PK-2 | 80 students Avg. class size: 12 students Extracurrculars: 2 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Portsmouth Christian Academy
Portsmouth Christian Academy Photo - Our beautiful 50 acre campus sits along the Bellamy River in Dover, NH, a suburb an hour outside Boston.
(Christian)
(12)
20 Seaborne Dr
Dover, NH 03820
(603) 742-3617
Gr: PK-12 | 673 students Avg. class size: 15 students Sports: 9 | Extracurrculars: 16 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
St. Mary Academy
(Catholic)
(2)
222 Central Ave
Dover, NH 03820
(603) 742-3299
Gr: PK-8 | 266 students
St. Thomas Aquinas High School
(Catholic)
(1)
197 Dover Point Rd
Dover, NH 03820
(603) 742-3206
Gr: 9-12 | 414 students Sports: 16 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Wdh Early Learning Center
Daycare / Preschool
789 Central Avenue
Dover, NH 03820
(603) 740-2612
Gr: NS | 38 students Avg. class size: 15 students Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Children In Motion
Daycare / Preschool
274 County Farm Rd
Dover, NH 03820
(603) 743-3312
Gr: K | 4 students
Cross Road Kindergarten & School
(Christian)
18 French Cross Rd
Dover, NH 03820
(603) 749-4278
Gr: K-3 | 30 students
Dover Children's Center
Special Program Emphasis
43 Back River Rd
Dover, NH 03820
(603) 742-7637
Gr: PK-7 | 76 students

Overview

This Town (Dover)
This State (NH)
# Schools
9 Schools

Student Body:

# Students
1,649 Students
31,853 Students
% Average Students of Color
11%
18%

Academics and Faculty:

# Teachers
118 Teachers
3,214 Teachers
Average Student-Teacher Ratio
13:1
10:1
% Average Faculty w/Advanced Degree
72%
55%
Average Class Size
14 students
13 students
Average Number of AP Courses
13 courses
22 courses
Average SAT score
1186
(Out of 1600)
1242
Average ACT score
25
(Out of 36)
28

Tuition and Acceptance Rate:

Average Yearly Tuition Cost
$21,472
$19,990
Average % on Financial Aid
57%
36%
Average Acceptance Rate
52%
73%
Average Endowment Size
$38 million
$55.89 million

Students by Ethnicity:

0.49
0.57
# American Indian Students
2 Students
103 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
n/a
# Asian Students
67 Students
1,248 Students
% Asian Students
4%
4%
# Hispanic Students
47 Students
834 Students
% Hispanic Students
3%
3%
# Black Students
17 Students
708 Students
% Black Students
1%
2%
# White Students
1,104 Students
16,763 Students
% White Students
67%
55%
# Hawaiian Students
2 Students
8 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
n/a
n/a
% of Two or more races Students
n/a
n/a
# Others Students
410 Students
10,763 Students
% of Others Students
25%
36%
All Ethnic Groups

Extracurriculars and Sports:

Average Number of Extracurriculars
9 extracurriculars
10 extracurriculars
Average Number of Sports
13 sports
9 sports

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked private schools in Dover, NH?
The top-ranked private schools in Dover, NH include Happy Helpers Preschool Education C, Portsmouth Christian Academy, and St. Mary Academy.
How many private schools are located in Dover?
9 private schools are located in Dover.
How diverse are private schools in Dover?
Dover private schools are approximately 11% minority students, which is lower than the New Hampshire private school average of 18%.
What percentage of students in Dover go to private school?
30% of all K-12 students in Dover are educated in private schools (compared to the NH state average of 16%).
What percentage of private schools are religiously affiliated in Dover?
44% of private schools in Dover are religiously affiliated (most commonly Catholic and Christian).
Which private schools in Dover are often viewed compared to one another?

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