MAINE PUBLIC SCHOOL ENROLLMENT
Public school enrollment in Maine has experienced a decline over the past ten years, with a significant drop observed in the 2020-21 school year due to the pandemic and declining population.
Key takeaways:
- There is a gap of 6,000 students that exists compared to pre-pandemic levels. The decline in student enrollment in public schools will have long-term fiscal implications for schools despite policymakers helping to facilitate short-term fiscal solutions for enrollment declines.
- Maine’s student body continues to become more diverse. The racial/ethnic groups that have seen the biggest increases over the past 10 years are those identifying as two or more races, Hispanic/Latino, and Black/African American.
- Approximately 37% of Maine’s public school students are considered economically disadvantaged. This figure has continued to trend down over time from a high of over 46% in 2015; however, the method for calculating this number has changed slightly.