MEMaine rankings

Towns with the best public schools in Maine

Ranked by how far each town's public schools score above or below the Maine average in math and reading proficiency, weighted by enrollment. 133 towns with 2,500+ residents.

U.S. Census ACS 2020–2024 5-yearTest scores SY2020–21

Maine · Best schools

Kennebunk ranks #9 of 133

+10.3 pts vs. the ME average in math + reading · Visit Kennebunk →

1 Cape Elizabeth Cumberland County +14.1 pts Math 97.1% · Reading 97.6%

2 Bar Harbor Hancock County +14.0 pts Math 97.3% · Reading 97.3%

3 Falmouth Cumberland County +13.2 pts Math 96.5% · Reading 96.5%

#Townvs. state averageMathReading

Cape ElizabethCumberland County · Cape Elizabeth Public Schools +14.1 pts 97.1% 97.6%

Bar HarborHancock County · Mt Desert CSD +14.0 pts 97.3% 97.3%

FalmouthCumberland County · Falmouth Public Schools +13.2 pts 96.5% 96.5%

FreeportCumberland County · RSU 05 +12.2 pts 94.8% 96.1%

YarmouthCumberland County · Yarmouth Schools +12.0 pts 95.6% 95%

6 HampdenPenobscot County · RSU 22 +11.7 pts 94.9% 95.1%

ArundelYork County · RSU 21 +11.5 pts 97.5% 92%

RockportKnox County · Five Town CSD +10.9 pts 94.2% 94.2%

KennebunkYork County · RSU 21 +10.3 pts 93.7% 93.5%

GrayCumberland County · RSU 15/MSAD 15 +9.9 pts 91.5% 94.9%

11 CamdenKnox County · RSU 28/MSAD 28 +9.7 pts 91% 95%

WinthropKennebec County · Winthrop Public Schools +9.6 pts 92.9% 92.9%

13 YorkYork County · York Public Schools +9.5 pts 92.1% 93.5%

DurhamAndroscoggin County · RSU 05 +9.2 pts 91% 94%

SidneyKennebec County · RSU 18 +9.0 pts 87% 97.5%

16 BristolLincoln County · Bristol Public Schools +8.7 pts 92% 92%

KitteryYork County · Kittery Public Schools +8.5 pts 90.3% 93.3%

StandishCumberland County · RSU 06/MSAD 06 +8.4 pts 90.2% 93.1%

EliotYork County · RSU 35/MSAD 35 +7.5 pts 89.5% 92%

ReadfieldKennebec County · RSU 38 +7.3 pts 91% 90.3%

21 FarmingdaleKennebec County · RSU 02 +7.2 pts 89% 92%

WellsYork County · Wells-Ogunquit CSD +7.1 pts 89.8% 91%

OaklandKennebec County · RSU 18 +7.0 pts 89.9% 90.8%

GorhamCumberland County · Gorham Public Schools +6.9 pts 89.3% 91%

CumberlandCumberland County · RSU 51/MSAD 51 +6.8 pts 89.6% 90.7%

OronoPenobscot County · RSU 26 +6.7 pts 90% 90%

27 ChinaKennebec County · RSU 18 +6.2 pts 89.9% 89.1%

28 BowdoinSagadahoc County · RSU 75/MSAD 75 +6.2 pts 92% 87%

Blue HillHancock County · Blue Hill Public Schools +6.2 pts 87% 92%

BrunswickCumberland County · Brunswick Public Schools +6.1 pts 87.2% 91.5%

BathRSU 01 - LKRSU +5.9 pts 86.8% 91.5%

BrewerBrewer Public Schools +5.7 pts 87.7% 90.4%

33 TurnerAndroscoggin County · RSU 52/MSAD 52 +5.6 pts 86.9% 90.9%

34 Fort KentAroostook County · MSAD 27 +5.5 pts 88.8% 88.8%

ScarboroughCumberland County · Scarborough Public Schools +4.9 pts 91.7% 84.7%

36 GardinerRSU 11/MSAD 11 +4.5 pts 86.3% 89.3%

BangorBangor Public Schools +4.2 pts 87.7% 87.3%

SacoSaco Public Schools +4.1 pts 86.9% 87.9%

39 GlenburnPenobscot County · Glenburn Public Schools +3.7 pts 84% 90%

LymanYork County · RSU 57/MSAD 57 +3.7 pts 87% 87%

41 OrringtonPenobscot County · Orrington Public Schools +3.7 pts 86% 88%

KennebunkportYork County · RSU 21 +3.7 pts 87% 87%

ActonYork County · Acton Public Schools +3.7 pts 87% 87%

WindsorKennebec County · RSU 12 +3.7 pts 87% 87%

JeffersonLincoln County · Jefferson Public Schools +3.7 pts 82% 92%

St. GeorgeKnox County · St George Public Schools +3.7 pts 87% 87%

47 FairfieldSomerset County · RSU 49/MSAD 49 +3.5 pts 88.1% 85.4%

48 CalaisCalais Public Schools +3.5 pts 86.6% 87%

49 BethelOxford County · RSU 44/MSAD 44 +3.4 pts 82.7% 90.7%

50 HoultonAroostook County · RSU 29/MSAD 29 +3.2 pts 84.9% 88%

51 MonmouthKennebec County · RSU 02 +3.2 pts 85.5% 87.4%

South PortlandSouth Portland Public Schools +3.0 pts 85.6% 87%

53 WinterportWaldo County · RSU 22 +3.0 pts 84.6% 87.9%

54 HermonPenobscot County · Hermon Public Schools +2.9 pts 85.2% 87.2%

55 WaldoboroLincoln County · RSU 40/MSAD 40 +2.9 pts 84.3% 88.1%

Old TownRSU 34 +2.8 pts 84% 88.3%

57 WinslowKennebec County · Winslow Schools +2.4 pts 83.3% 88.2%

South BerwickYork County · RSU 35/MSAD 35 +2.4 pts 85.2% 86.3%

CaribouRSU 39 +2.4 pts 85% 86.3%

LisbonAndroscoggin County · Lisbon Public Schools +2.3 pts 84.4% 86.8%

61 HoldenPenobscot County · RSU 63/MSAD 63 +2.3 pts 85.4% 85.8%

Presque IsleRSU 79/MSAD 01 +2.1 pts 84.7% 86.1%

EllsworthEllsworth Public Schools +2.1 pts 84.4% 86.4%

FarmingtonFranklin County · RSU 09 +1.7 pts 82.4% 87.5%

New GloucesterCumberland County · RSU 15/MSAD 15 +1.7 pts 82% 88%

66 TopshamSagadahoc County · RSU 75/MSAD 75 +1.6 pts 83.6% 86.2%

Old Orchard BeachYork County · RSU 23 +1.6 pts 84.7% 85.2%

68 BucksportHancock County · RSU 25 +1.3 pts 83.3% 86%

GreeneAndroscoggin County · RSU 52/MSAD 52 +1.2 pts 82% 87%

70 LimingtonYork County · RSU 06/MSAD 06 +1.2 pts 87% 82%

71 BelgradeKennebec County · RSU 18 +1.2 pts 87% 82%

Fort FairfieldAroostook County · RSU 86/MSAD 20 +1.2 pts 82% 87%

73 BowdoinhamSagadahoc County · RSU 75/MSAD 75 +1.2 pts 87% 82%

AlfredYork County · RSU 57/MSAD 57 +1.2 pts 82% 87%

75 MilfordPenobscot County · Milford Public Schools +1.2 pts 82% 87%

76 ShapleighYork County · RSU 57/MSAD 57 +1.2 pts 82% 87%

77 CarmelPenobscot County · RSU 87/MSAD 23 +1.2 pts 83.1% 85.9%

MinotAndroscoggin County · RSU 16 +1.2 pts 82% 87%

79 NorwayOxford County · RSU 17/MSAD 17 +0.7 pts 82.8% 85.2%

80 WaterboroYork County · RSU 57/MSAD 57 +0.4 pts 84.5% 83%

81 PolandAndroscoggin County · RSU 16 +0.4 pts 81.8% 85.6%

North BerwickYork County · RSU 60/MSAD 60 +0.4 pts 84.4% 82.9%

83 MadawaskaAroostook County · Madawaska Public Schools +0.1 pts 84.8% 82%

84 BelfastRSU 71 −0.1 pts 83.2% 83.2%

85 BentonKennebec County · RSU 49/MSAD 49 −0.3 pts 82% 84%

JayFranklin County · RSU 73 −0.6 pts 78.9% 86.5%

LebanonYork County · RSU 60/MSAD 60 −1.3 pts 77% 87%

88 HollisYork County · RSU 06/MSAD 06 −1.3 pts 77% 87%

Dover-FoxcroftPiscataquis County · RSU 68/MSAD 68 −1.3 pts 80.1% 83.9%

West GardinerKennebec County · RSU 11/MSAD 11 −1.3 pts 82% 82%

NorridgewockSomerset County · RSU 54/MSAD 54 −1.3 pts 82% 82%

92 WoolwichSagadahoc County · RSU 01 - LKRSU −1.3 pts 82% 82%

93 ChelseaKennebec County · RSU 12 −1.3 pts 82% 82%

94 LincolnPenobscot County · RSU 67 −1.5 pts 79% 84.7%

WindhamCumberland County · RSU 14 −1.7 pts 86.7% 76.5%

RocklandRSU 13 −1.7 pts 78.1% 85.1%

NewportPenobscot County · RSU 19 −1.8 pts 77.9% 85.1%

98 MillinocketPenobscot County · Millinocket Public Schools −2.3 pts 79.8% 82.2%

99 ThomastonKnox County · RSU 13 −2.6 pts 75% 86.3%

100

SanfordSanford Public Schools −2.7 pts 80% 81.3%

101

BerwickYork County · RSU 60/MSAD 60 −2.8 pts 77.7% 83.3%

102 CorinthPenobscot County · RSU 64/MSAD 64 −3.0 pts 77.9% 82.7%

103 FryeburgOxford County · RSU 72/MSAD 72 −3.3 pts 76% 84%

104

BuxtonYork County · RSU 06/MSAD 06 −3.4 pts 76.3% 83.5%

105 WatervilleWaterville Public Schools −3.7 pts 77.7% 81.5%

106 BridgtonCumberland County · RSU 61/MSAD 61 −3.8 pts 77% 82%

107

VassalboroKennebec County · Vassalboro Public Schools −3.8 pts 77% 82%

108 WiscassetLincoln County · Wiscasset Public Schools −3.8 pts 72% 87%

109

SearsportWaldo County · RSU 20 −3.8 pts 76.8% 82.3%

110

AuburnAuburn Public Schools −4.1 pts 75.7% 82.7%

111

BiddefordBiddeford Public Schools −4.3 pts 74.6% 83.4%

112

RaymondCumberland County · RSU 14 −5.0 pts 77.8% 78.8%

113

DexterPenobscot County · MSAD 46 −5.2 pts 75.8% 80.4%

114

ParisOxford County · RSU 17/MSAD 17 −5.9 pts 74.1% 80.6%

115

WestbrookWestbrook Public Schools −6.2 pts 74.7% 79.6%

116

ClintonKennebec County · RSU 49/MSAD 49 −6.3 pts 77% 77%

117 HancockHancock County · Hancock Public Schools −6.3 pts 72% 82%

118

NaplesCumberland County · RSU 61/MSAD 61 −7.3 pts 74.3% 77.7%

119

AugustaAugusta Public Schools −7.6 pts 70.8% 80.6%

120

WarrenKnox County · RSU 40/MSAD 40 −8.8 pts 72% 77%

121 WiltonFranklin County · RSU 09 −8.8 pts 67% 82%

122 Mechanic FallsAndroscoggin County · RSU 16 −8.8 pts 72% 77%

123 PittstonKennebec County · RSU 11/MSAD 11 −8.8 pts 72% 77%

124 LevantPenobscot County · RSU 87/MSAD 23 −8.8 pts 72% 77%

125 PittsfieldSomerset County · RSU 53/MSAD 53 −8.9 pts 72.7% 76.2%

126 RumfordOxford County · RSU 10 −9.3 pts 69.9% 78.1%

127

OxfordOxford County · RSU 17/MSAD 17 −11.3 pts 67% 77%

128 SkowheganSomerset County · RSU 54/MSAD 54 −11.6 pts 71.3% 72.2%

129 SabattusAndroscoggin County · RSU 04 −13.3 pts 67% 73%

130 MexicoOxford County · RSU 10 −14.5 pts 64.1% 73.5%

131

LitchfieldKennebec County · RSU 04 −16.3 pts 66% 68%

132

LewistonLewiston Public Schools −20.2 pts 58.2% 67.9%

133

PortlandPortland Public Schools −22.1 pts 58.6% 63.7%

How this ranking works

For every public school in a town we take its latest math and reading proficiency and subtract the Maine average for the same test. The town’s score is the average of those gaps, weighted by each school’s enrollment, so a big high school counts more than a small annex. Private schools aren’t included.

Each state writes its own tests, so these scores compare towns within Maine only. We don’t rank a town unless at least 150 students in its schools were tested. Test data: EDFacts via Urban Institute Education Data Portal (SY2020-21).

Only towns with at least 2,500 residents are ranked; Census estimates for smaller places are too uncertain. Population and income: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates. Town photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each town’s page.

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