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 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.
  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 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.

Source: Maine Department of Education Data Warehouse

PRE-K TO 12 PUBLIC SCHOOL ENROLLMENT IN MAINE (FALL 2022)

Total public school enrollment in Pre-K-12 in the fall of 2022 was 173,907 students.

ECONOMIC STATUS

  • 37% Economically Disadvantaged

  • 63% Not Economically Disadvantaged  

RACE/ETHNICITY

  • Less than 1% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander

  • 2% American Indian/Alaska Native

  • 2% Asian/Pacific Islander

  • 3% Black or African American

  • 3% Hispanic/Latino

  • 3% Two or More Races

  • 85% White

LEGAL SEX

  • 48% Female

  • 52% Male 

ENGLISH LEARNER STATUS

  • 96% English Speakers

  • 4% Multilingual Learners

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 October 1 of the 2022 school year. Data will be updated for October 2023 once it’s available.

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.