Portsmouth, NH High School Principal

Principal / High School Principal

• Date Posted :

10 / 29 / 2025

• Location :

SAU #52 - Portsmouth School Department

• Date Available :

07 / 01 / 2026

• Closing Date :

01 / 01 / 2026

EXECUTIVE OPPORTUNITY

AN INVITATION TO APPLY FOR THE POSITION OF

PRINCIPAL PORTSMOUTH HIGH SCHOOL

PORTSMOUTH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT NEW HAMPSHIRE

The Portsmouth School Department is actively seeking a highly qualified community-minded and student-centered leader to serve as the next Principal of Portsmouth High School .

About the City of Portsmouth

Portsmouth New Hampshire is a historic and vibrant seacoast community of about 25000 residents. Located along the Piscataqua River it blends a deep colonial heritage with a thriving arts and cultural scene. The city is home to Strawbery Banke a walkable downtown and a strong economic base that includes the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard technology companies local businesses and a wide range of restaurants galleries and performance spaces. Residents enjoy proximity to beaches hiking trails and year-round recreation. Portsmouth is approximately 20 minutes from the University of New Hampshire and within an hour of Boston the Lakes Region and the White Mountains. It is widely regarded as one of the most desirable places to live in New England.

About the Portsmouth School Department

The Portsmouth School Department serves 2394 students across three elementary schools one middle school one high school one alternative high school program and a districtwide PreK program. The district is in the second year of a five-year Strategic Plan centered on the communitys Portrait of a Graduate. The six pillars of the Portrait emphasize Passion for Knowledge Global Awareness and Community Contribution Collaboration and Communication Transferable Skills Personal Well-Being and Empathy and Kindness. Portsmouth schools are consistently ranked among the strongest in New Hampshire. Two district schools have been recognized as National Blue Ribbon Schools within the past five years. The districts FY26 operating budget is $.

About Portsmouth High School

Portsmouth High School is a comprehensive public high school with an enrollment of approximately 990 students from Portsmouth Rye Greenland New Castle and Newington. The school employs about 150 staff members and 90 percent of the faculty hold advanced degrees. PHS is fully accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. Portsmouth High School is recognized for its strong academics inclusive school culture and extensive extracurricular and co-curricular programs. The schools athletics program is a point of pride for the wider community and remains one of the most visible expressions of Clipper Pride. Over the past five years PHS teams have earned 12 state championships across multiple sports a reflection of both student dedication and strong community support. The school regularly exceeds state and national academic benchmarks. Recent graduating classes include National Merit Finalists National Merit Semi-Finalists National Merit Special Scholarship recipients and students recognized by the U.S. Presidential Scholars program. PHS graduates continue on to selective colleges and universities throughout the country and abroad.

Signature Program Highlights

Dual Enrollment Pathways

PHS offers an extensive set of dual enrollment courses through partnerships with Great Bay Community College Lakes Region Community College Manchester Community College and Southern New Hampshire University. These courses give students the opportunity to earn meaningful early college credit in several disciplines.

Global Connect Program

The Global Connect Program encourages students to build global awareness examine international issues and develop the intercultural skills needed to thrive in a diverse and interconnected world.

International Exchanges

Portsmouth High School maintains long-standing international relationships with communities in Japan Italy Puerto Rico and Tanzania. These exchanges offer students immersive cultural experiences and strengthen the schools commitment to global citizenship.

Career and Technical Education Center

PHS serves as a regional Career and Technical Education hub with multi-year pathways in Automotive Technology Business Computer Science Culinary Arts Health Science Technology Careers in Education and Welding. These programs provide hands-on industry-aligned learning and prepare students for high-demand career fields.

Performing Arts Excellence

The Performing Arts program is a defining feature of the school. Students participate in drama productions band and choral ensembles jazz studies and music technology courses. Performers regularly take part in state and regional festivals and the schools artistic programming plays a significant role in shaping the overall culture of the building.

About the Position of Principal

The Portsmouth School Department seeks an approachable and community-minded leader to serve as the next Principal of Portsmouth High School. This individual will be a transparent and consistent communicator who listens carefully to students staff and families makes thoughtful and fair decisions and explains them with clarity. The ideal candidate will lead with integrity and empathy valuing diverse voices fostering a sense of belonging and striving to create an environment where every student feels supported challenged and known within a safe and inclusive school environment. Portsmouth seeks a principal who will strengthen a culture of Clipper Pride by building strong partnerships across the school district and community. This leader will be a strategic thinker who inspires confidence through collaboration visibility and follow-through while also celebrating the achievements of both students and staff. Above all the next principal will bring a genuine appreciation of student growth a commitment to relationships and the vision to sustain and enhance Portsmouth High Schools tradition of academic excellence inclusion and civic pride.

Qualifications

Applicants must hold New Hampshire principal certification or be eligible for certification through the New Hampshire Department of Education. A minimum of three years of administrative experience is preferred. A masters degree is required; an advanced degree is preferred.

Compensation

The district offers a regionally competitive salary (negotiable in the range of $158000 - $169000 annually) and benefits package commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Timeline

The application deadline is January 1 2026 . Review of materials will begin immediately after the deadline. The expected start date for the successful candidate is July 1 2026 .

For more information please contact : NESDEC Search Office Portsmouth High School Principal Search NESDEC 28 Lord Road Marlborough MA 01752; Phone : ; Email :

Key Skills

Events,IT Audit,Land Survey,Accountancy,Contract

Employment Type : Full-Time

Experience : years

Vacancy : 1

Yearly Salary Salary : 158000 - 169000