Board of DirectorsWilliam H. Dunlap, Chair

David Alukonis

Eric Herr

Dianne Mercier

James Putnam

Todd I. Selig

Michael Whitney

Daniel Wolf

Martin L. Gross, Chair Emeritus

Directors Emeritus Sheila T. Francoeur

Stuart V. Smith, Jr.

Donna Sytek

Brian F. Walsh

Kimon S. Zachos “…to raise new ideas and improve policy debates through quality information and analysis on issues shaping New Hampshire’s future.”

Trends in New Hampshire’s

Student Demographics

August 28, 2014

Daniel BarrickNH Center for Public Policy Studies

Child poverty growing in NH

7.8%

17.6%

15.6%

22.6%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

NH US

Child Poverty Rate, US and New Hampshire

2007 2012

Steady rise in low-income students

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

Percent of New Hampshire students eligible for Free/Reduced Lunch

Geographic disparities are stark

Variation by district

1% 1%

18%19%

27%

33%30%

35%

45%

3%6%

28%

37%

42%

48%51%

57%

61%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

Hanover Bedford NH Concord Nashua Coos Cty. Manchester Laconia Franklin

Percent of students eligible for Free/Reduced Lunch, by District (2004-05 and 2013-14)

2004-05

2013-14

Births to unwed mothers

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Percent of New Hampshire births to unmarried women, 1995-2012

Unwed mothers, regional differences

38%

43%

39%

48%

34% 35% 35%

28%

36%

45%

35%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Percent of births to unwed mothers, 2012

Economic status and student achievement

Manchester elementary schools, relationship between poverty and test scores

R2 = 0.6623

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Pct. of students eligible for Free or reduced price lunches

Pc

t. o

f 3

rd G

r.s

tud

en

ts s

co

rin

g

pro

fic

ien

t o

n N

EC

AP

ma

th

Student outcome disparities

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

Perc

ent

of s

tude

nts

scor

ing

"pro

ficie

nt"

or h

ighe

r

3rd Grade Reading NECAP scores, 2005-2013

NOT FRL

FRL

Disparities, continued

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

Perc

ent o

f stu

dent

s sc

orin

g "p

rofic

ient

" or

hig

her

7th Grade Math NECAP scores, 2005-2013

NOT FRL

FRL

Graduation rates and economic status

86%

74%

84%80%

94%

80%

73%

57%

74%

66%

83%

72%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

NH Manchester Nashua Berlin Londonderry US

2012 High School Graduation Rate, by Student Subgroup

All Low Income

Questions

• Low-income status: Do you focus on where kids are, or where the rate is highest?

• Regional variations matter. How can a statewide policy acknowledge geographic disparities?

• How does this policy fit into broader problem of socio-economic variation in education outcomes?

New Hampshire Center for Public Policy Studies

Want to learn more?• Online: nhpolicy.org• Facebook: facebook.com/nhpolicy• Twitter: @nhpublicpolicy• Our blog: policyblognh.org• (603) 226-2500

Board of DirectorsSheila T. Francoeur, Chair

David Alukonis

William H. Dunlap

Eric Herr

Dianne Mercier

Richard Ober

James Putnam

Stephen J. Reno

Stuart V. Smith, Jr.

Donna Sytek

Brian F. Walsh

Michael Whitney

Martin L. Gross, Chair Emeritus

Todd I. Selig

Kimon S. Zachos

Directors Emeritus“…to raise new ideas and improve policy debates through quality information and analysis on issues shaping New Hampshire’s future.”