Our History
From a bold idea to one of New Hampshire's most recognized public schools, ASD's story is still being written.
From Vision to Reality
In 2007, a group of educators, business leaders, and community members came together with a bold vision: to create a world-class STEM-focused public school that would prepare New Hampshire students to lead advancements in science and technology. They saw the state’s economy shifting from its textile industry roots toward high-tech innovation, particularly along the I-93 corridor from Concord to Nashua. New Hampshire needed a pipeline of students inspired and equipped to pursue STEM fields, and the Academy for Science and Design was born.
We started small, just 30 students meeting in a hotel conference room in Merrimack. But from day one, the culture was clear: curiosity drives learning, students deserve to be challenged, and everyone belongs to a community committed to growth.
Building Momentum
As word spread about what was happening at ASD, enrollment grew rapidly. We moved to an office building at 316 Daniel Webster Highway, then to 486 Amherst Street as we continued expanding. By our tenth anniversary in 2017, we were serving over 525 students from 34 different New Hampshire communities, proof that families across the state were hungry for what we offered.
Those early years shaped who we are today. We developed our signature middle school exploration model, where every student gets hands-on exposure to aerospace, physics, engineering, computer science, biology, and chemistry. We established our high school specialization program, where students dive deep into fields they’re passionate about and complete capstone projects paired with real industry internships. We launched SPARK Conferences to connect students with professionals and expose them to cutting-edge work in STEM fields. And we built a culture where 100% of graduates go on to higher education, most in STEM majors.
A School of Our Own
For years, we made it work in leased spaces, adapting, renovating, and creating the innovation labs and learning environments our students needed. But in summer 2023, we reached a major milestone: we purchased our own building at 9 Townsend West. For the first time in our history, ASD had a permanent home designed around our vision for student-centered, project-based STEM learning.
Recognition and Growth
Along the way, national recognition followed. We earned designation as a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence, the state’s top-performing public school. We became leaders in breaking down barriers for underrepresented students in STEM, with nearly half our student body speaking languages other than English at home and 25% born outside the United States. We proved that rigorous academics and inclusive access aren’t competing goals. They strengthen each other.
Looking Forward
Today, ASD serves over 700 students in grades 5-12. We’re still the school that started in a hotel conference room, still driven by the same mission our founders wrote in 2007. But we’ve evolved into something even more dynamic than they imagined… a place where students don’t just learn STEM, they use it to tackle real problems, connect with industry partners, and discover who they want to become.
The next chapter of our story is still being written, by our students, our teachers, our families, and our community partners who believe in the power of curiosity, innovation, and hard work to change the world.