James Otis Kaler Elementary School

165 South Kelsey Street
South Portland, ME 04106
(School attendance zone shown in map)
Rating
2/
10
Bottom 50%
James Otis Kaler Elementary School serves 217 students in grades Prekindergarten-5.
James Otis Kaler Elementary School placed in the bottom 50% of all schools in Maine for overall test scores (math proficiency is bottom 50%, and reading proficiency is bottom 50%) for the 2020-21 school year.
The percentage of students achieving proficiency in math is 70-74% (which is lower than the Maine state average of 81%) for the 2020-21 school year. The percentage of students achieving proficiency in reading/language arts is 75-79% (which is lower than the Maine state average of 85%) for the 2020-21 school year.
The student:teacher ratio of 10:1 is lower than the Maine state level of 11:1.
Minority enrollment is 30% of the student body (majority Black and Hispanic), which is higher than the Maine state average of 12% (majority Black and Hispanic).

Quick Stats (2023)

  • Grades: Prekindergarten-5
  • Enrollment: 217 students
  • Student:Teacher Ratio: 10:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 30%
  • Overall Testing Rank
    : Bottom 50% in ME
  • Math Proficiency
    : 70-74% (Btm 50%)
  • Reading Proficiency
    : 75-79% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), ME Dept. of Education

Top Rankings

James Otis Kaler Elementary School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Maine for:

Category
Attribute

School Overview

James Otis Kaler Elementary School's student population of 217 students has declined by 6% over five school years.
The teacher population of 21 teachers has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
Grades Offered
Grades Prekindergarten-5
Total Students
217 students
This chart display total students of James Otis Kaler Elementary School by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Gender %
This chart display gender of James Otis Kaler Elementary School
Total Classroom Teachers
21 teachers
This chart display the total teachers of James Otis Kaler Elementary School by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Students by Grade
This chart display the students of James Otis Kaler Elementary School by grade.

School Rankings

James Otis Kaler Elementary School is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 508 schools in Maine (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2020-21 school year.
The diversity score of James Otis Kaler Elementary School is 0.49, which is more than the diversity score at state average of 0.23. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
Definition of Terms 2020-2021 School Year Data
This School
State Level (ME)
Overall Testing Rank
#425 out of 508 schools
(Bottom 50%)
This chart display the overall school rank of James Otis Kaler Elementary School, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
70-74%
81%
This chart display the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of James Otis Kaler Elementary School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of public schools in Maine by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
75-79%
85%
This chart display the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of James Otis Kaler Elementary School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Maine by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Student : Teacher Ratio
10:1
11:1
This chart display the student teacher ratio of James Otis Kaler Elementary School and the public school average student teacher ratio of Maine by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
American Indian
1%
1%
This chart display the percentage of American Indian students in James Otis Kaler Elementary School and percentage of American Indian public school students in Maine by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Asian
6%
1%
This chart display the percentage of Asian students in James Otis Kaler Elementary School and the percentage of Asian public school students in Maine by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Hispanic
6%
3%
This chart display the percentage of Hispanic students in James Otis Kaler Elementary School and the percentage of Hispanic public school students in Maine by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Black
11%
4%
This chart display the percentage of Black students in James Otis Kaler Elementary School and the percentage of Black public school students in Maine by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
White
70%
88%
This chart display the percentage of White students in James Otis Kaler Elementary School and the percentage of White public school students in Maine by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
Two or more races
6%
3%
This chart display the percentage of students of two or more races in James Otis Kaler Elementary School and the percentage of public school students of two or more races in Maine by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
All Ethnic Groups
This chart display the percentage breakdown of students of all ethnic groups in James Otis Kaler Elementary School.
This chart display the percentage breakdown of public school students of all ethnic groups in ME.
Diversity Score
0.49
This chart display the diversity score of James Otis Kaler Elementary School and the public school average diversity score of Maine by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Participates in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP)
Yes
Eligible for Free Lunch
37%
34%
This chart display the percentage of students who is eligible for free lunch in James Otis Kaler Elementary School and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for free lunch in Maine by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Eligible for Reduced Lunch
8%
6%
This chart display the percentage of students who is eligible for reduced lunch in James Otis Kaler Elementary School and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for reduced lunch in Maine by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Source: 2020-2021 (latest school year available) National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), ME Dept. of Education

Frequently Asked Questions

What is James Otis Kaler Elementary School's ranking?
James Otis Kaler Elementary School is ranked #425 out of 508 schools, which ranks it among the bottom 50% of public schools in Maine.
What schools are James Otis Kaler Elementary School often compared to?
James Otis Kaler Elementary Schoolis often viewed alongside schools like Dora L Small Elementary School, Frank I Brown Elementary School by visitors of our site.
What percent of students have achieved state testing proficiency in math and reading?
70-74% of students have achieved math proficiency (compared to the 81% ME state average), while 75-79% of students have achieved reading proficiency (compared to the 85% ME state average).
How many students attend James Otis Kaler Elementary School?
217 students attend James Otis Kaler Elementary School.
What is the racial composition of the student body?
70% of James Otis Kaler Elementary School students are White, 11% of students are Black, 6% of students are Asian, 6% of students are Hispanic, 6% of students are Two or more races, and 1% of students are American Indian.
What is the student:teacher ratio of James Otis Kaler Elementary School?
James Otis Kaler Elementary School has a student ration of 10:1, which is lower than the Maine state average of 11:1.
What grades does James Otis Kaler Elementary School offer ?
James Otis Kaler Elementary School offers enrollment in grades Prekindergarten-5
What school district is James Otis Kaler Elementary School part of?
James Otis Kaler Elementary School is part of South Portland Public Schools School District.

School Reviews

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Quick Stats (2023)

  • Grades: Prekindergarten-5
  • Enrollment: 217 students
  • Student:Teacher Ratio: 10:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 30%
  • Overall Testing Rank
    : Bottom 50%
  • Math Proficiency
    : 70-74% (Btm 50%)
  • Reading Proficiency
    : 75-79% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), ME Dept. of Education

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