2024 Best Elementary Schools in Maine

The Complete Guide to Elementary Schools in Maine

There are 465 elementary schools spread across the state of Maine, predominantly in the larger cities of Portland, Auburn and Bangor. That’s a full 38% more than the typical state, although on a per capita basis, Maine actually ranks #8 in the nation. The state is home to numerous excellent schools and has a wide range of options for parents to choose from.

On average, elementary schools in the state earn a B grade, which is equal to the national average. However, of the 465 elementary schools, just 35% are rated above average. This still leaves 163 school options in Maine that rank above average in quality - which can be very helpful when narrowing down your search. Narrowing that total down further, if you include only schools that rank in the top 25% of the nation, that total slims to 103.

Are public elementary schools in Maine a good option?

Maine has 380 total public elementary schools, and of that total, traditional public schools comprise 99% or about 375 of them. It's a significant quantity, but only about 38% have a score above the national average. That leaves only 144 traditional public school options for parents who are looking for excellence.

What is the best public elementary school in Maine?

Based in Bar Harbor, the best public elementary school in Maine is Conners-Emerson School. With 329 students and a student to teacher ratio of 8:1, the school has a 43% lower ratio than the typical US elementary school, which means there's likely a significantly greater focus on each individual student. Although not guaranteed, this added focus typically helps improve learning outcomes for students. Conners-Emerson School wins out amongst nearly 4,000 other traditional public schools in the state (375). About 38% of all such schools are rated above the national average.

Key statistics about charter elementary schools in Maine

Are charter schools in Maine a good option? This really depends on your preference and needs, but with 4 different options, there are few potential fits for your kids. Although far less common than traditional public schools, charter elementary schools typically score a C grade due to their limited number and scope - even though per capita it’s 69% below average nationally.

What is the best charter elementary school in Maine?

The top ranked charter elementary school in Maine is Fiddlehead School of Arts & Science located in Gray. It’s home to 172 students and as you’d expect, it scores a B– grade - which is still quite good given its limited size and scope compared to traditional public schools in the state. The student-teacher ratio at Fiddlehead School of Arts & Science is 14:1 which is right around what you would expect for an elementary school.

Everything you need to know about magnet elementary schools in Maine

Despite being such a small state by comparison, there are actually 1 magnet elementary schools in Maine placing it 44th in the nation for such schools on a per capita basis - although this doesn’t tell us much about quality necessarily given its limited sample size. Of note, Islesboro Central School is ranked as one of America’s best magnet elementary schools earning an impressive B+ grade - one of only three such grades nationwide - topping all other magnet elementary schools within its own state as well as nationally! The student-teacher ratio at Islesboro Central School varies but typically sits around 10:1, which is a 28% lower than the elementary school national average, so you can expect some added focus per student.