Lebanon Colleges and Universities, Lebanon Education and Schools, Lebanon Public Education

Enter your ZIP or Postal code to find schools near you. Your dream major may be just around the corner!

Education

Five elementary schools, one junior high school and one high school serve the children of Lebanon, West Lebanon, Grantham (7-12 only) and Plainfield (9-12 only), under the leadership of School Administrative Union (SAU) 88. With a current enrollment of 1,742 children, student performance is measured in a variety of ways: the New England Common Assessment Program (NECAP) at grades 3 through 8 and grade 11; the TerraNova Achievement Test at grades 2, 5 and 8; SATs (Scholastic Aptitude Test) and AP (Advanced Placement) tests for college-bound high school students; and ongoing district-wide assessment measuring a variety of outcomes at various grade levels. While Lebanon students generally score at or above state and national averages on standardized assessments, increasing achievement is a constant goal of SAU 88.

The total budget for the public schools of Lebanon is approximately $32.5 million, 29 percent provided by the state and federal governments, leaving 71 percent provided by local resources. With over 130 classroom teachers employed, the student-to-classroom teacher ratio is one teacher for every 15.7 students. Of the high school graduating class of 2008, 71 percent continued on to college. Home schooling is common in the Upper Valley, and schools work in concert with families of home-schooled children to include them in sports and other extracurricular activities.

Private schooling is also an option, with Cardigan Mountain School (Canaan), Crossroads Academy (Lyme) and Kimball Union Academy (Meriden) among the choices.

Crossroads Academy is an elementary and middle school that combines a rich academic curriculum with a broad concern for character formation. Cardigan Mountain is a junior boarding and day school for boys in grades 6-9, and Kimball Union Academy (KUA) is a private high school offering more than 100 courses including an AP program. Other, even smaller, private schools may be found throughout Lebanon and the surrounding communities, gearing their curriculum around religious beliefs or featuring particular teaching techniques, such as the Montessori method.

Dartmouth College, an Ivy League College, is just 10 minutes away in Hanover. Colby Sawyer College, a four-year, undergraduate college for men and women, is 30 minutes south in New London.

Lebanon College on the mall in downtown Lebanon offers programs and courses designed to benefit the entire community. Serving the Upper Valley for over 50 years, Lebanon College offers additional programs at various schools, galleries and museums throughout the area.

The College for Lifelong Learning (CLL), one of the four institutions in the State’s public university system, has served adult learners since 1972. Located in Lebanon, CLL offers adults local access to bachelor’s and associate degrees and access to Plymouth State University’s MBA and M.Ed. programs. Students can tailor their degree programs to their own personal and professional interests. CLL also offers accredited courses through the University of New Hampshire.

Franklin Pierce University offers a full range of education options to community members—certificates, associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees. Degree programs start at several points throughout the year and financial aid is available to qualified individuals. Courses are available evenings, weekends and online for maximum flexibility. Located conveniently in the Trade Center Building on Airport Road in West Lebanon, faculty and staff are always accessible and dedicated to working in partnership with Upper Valley employers and the community.

River Valley Community College is a fully accredited two-year college providing comprehensive programs of higher education in a student-centered environment. The college offers 37 diverse associate degree, diploma and certificate programs, as well as transfer pathways to four-year colleges and universities. Continuing education opportunities are also available that respond to individual business and community needs. The main campus is in Claremont with the academic center in Keene.

The New England School of Hair Design (NESHD) has been educating the area’s top stylists since 1976. NESHD features a 42-station hairstyling salon and offers a full range of hair, skin and nail services to the public at reduced prices. Services are performed by well-trained students under professional supervision. NESHD is accredited by the National Accrediting Commission of Cosmetology Arts and Sciences and offers federal financial aid to eligible students.

Signal Aviation’s flight school is a great place to earn your wings and learn how to fly! The school operates a Cessna Pilot Center and offers FAA-approved private pilot and instrument training courses with a focus on safety, efficiency of training and service. Signal offers students the best instruction available with FAA-certified professional flight instructors and a late-model Cessna 172 SkyHawk—the industry standard in training aircraft.

In 1992, the Greater Lebanon Chamber of Commerce established a fund (with money raised by gifts and fundraising events) to support scholarships for adult learners in the Upper Valley. Since then, the Chamber has awarded nearly $60,000. For more information about the scholarships, contact the Chamber office.