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:
  1. There are nearly 10,000 fewer students enrolled in Maine public schools compared to pre-pandemic averages (~180,000). The decline in student enrollment will have long-term fiscal implications for schools despite policymakers helping to facilitate short-term fiscal solutions for enrollment declines.
  2. 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.
  3. Approximately 45% of Maine’s public school students are considered economically disadvantaged. The method for calculating this has changed over time, but the trend has demonstrated that nearly half (46%) of students were economically disadvantaged 10 years ago, poverty fell (to 35%), and then increased again to its former rate a few years after the height of the pandemic.

Source: Maine Department of Education Data Warehouse

PRE-K TO GRADE 12 PUBLIC SCHOOL ENROLLMENT IN MAINE (2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR)

Total public school enrollment in Pre-K to grade 12 in the 2024-2025 school year is 171,059 students.

To see changes in enrollment over time by demographics and student subgroups, you can click through detailed enrollment data HERE.

ECONOMIC STATUS

  • 45% Economically Disadvantaged

  • 55% Not Economically Disadvantaged  

The percentage of students considered economically disadvantaged is increasing.

RACE/ETHNICITY

  • Less than 1% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander

  • Less than 1% American Indian/Alaska Native

  • 1% Asian

  • 6% Black or African American

  • 4% Hispanic/Latino

  • 4% Two or More Races

  • 85% White

The percentage of students identifying as people of color across Maine is increasing.

LEGAL SEX

  • 48% Female

  • 52% Male 

ENGLISH LEARNER STATUS

  • 95% English Speakers

  • 5% Multilingual Learners

 

For more information on multilingual learner students in Maine, see page 36 of the 2024 KIDS Count Data Book.

Source: Maine Department of Education Data Warehouse.

LEARN MORE

Maine Department of Education Data Warehouse

The Data Warehouse contains detailed data on student enrollment over time disaggregated by the categories above as well as by migrant status, foster care status, homelessness, and military affiliation. Data is based on certified data sets for October 1 of the 2024 school year.

Educate Maine Policy Briefs

Student enrollment is important when it comes to determining funding for school districts. Read our policy brief How Is Public Education Funded in Maine? to learn more.