Top Rankings
RSU 71 School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Maine for:
Category
Attribute
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 20%)
For the 2025 school year, there are 6 public elementary schools serving 935 students in RSU 71 School District. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 3/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public elementary schools in Maine.
Public Elementary Schools in RSU 71 School District have an average math proficiency score of 79% (versus the Maine public elementary school average of 81%), and reading proficiency score of 79% (versus the 84% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 9% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Maine public elementary school average of 14% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (ME)
# Schools
7 Schools
442 Schools
# Students
1,413 Students
112,991 Students
# Teachers
128 Teachers
10,443 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
11:1
11:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
RSU 71 School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 191 school districts in Maine (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 87% has increased from 80-84% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#157 out of 222 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
80%
82%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
79%
84%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
36%
37%
Graduation Rate
87%
86%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.19
0.26
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
1%
1%
% Hispanic
3%
3%
% Black
n/a
5%
% White
90%
86%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
6%
4%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $21,597 in this school district is less than the state median of $21,600. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $22,546 is higher than the state median of $21,191. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$31 MM
$3,617 MM
Spending
$32 MM
$3,549 MM
Revenue / Student
$21,597
$21,600
Spending / Student
$22,546
$21,191
Best RSU 71 School District Public Elementary Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Ames Elementary School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 90-94%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
165 New England Road
Searsmont, ME 04973
(207) 342-5100
Searsmont, ME 04973
(207) 342-5100
Grades: 2-5
| 129 students
Rank: #22.
Kermit S Nickerson School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
18 Townhouse Road
Belfast, ME 04915
(207) 338-1858
Belfast, ME 04915
(207) 338-1858
Grades: 3-5
| 57 students
Rank: #33.
Captain Albert W. Stevens School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
31 Elementary Avenue
Belfast, ME 04915
(207) 338-3510
Belfast, ME 04915
(207) 338-3510
Grades: PK-5
| 247 students
Rank: #44.
Troy A Howard Middle School
(Math: 78% | Reading: 76%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
173 Lincolnville Avenue
Belfast, ME 04915
(207) 338-3320
Belfast, ME 04915
(207) 338-3320
Grades: 6-8
| 343 students
Rank: n/an/a
14 Swan Lake Avenue
Belfast, ME 04915
(207) 338-4420
Belfast, ME 04915
(207) 338-4420
Grades: PK-2
| 87 students
Rank: n/an/a
2 South Main Street
Morrill, ME 04952
(207) 342-5300
Morrill, ME 04952
(207) 342-5300
Grades: PK-1
| 72 students
Recent Articles
What is Project-Based Learning?
Project-based learning has been highly touted by some educators as a viable option to traditional learning models. We’ll take a look at what project-based learning is and why it is getting so much attention today.
What is an Online High School
Find information about Online High Schools - what they are and how they work.
“Smart Snacks” Standards Coming to School Vending Machines Nationwide
We explore new federal regulations that will ban junk food from public schools. This means no more sweets and soda in cafeteria lines, vending machines and snacks sold in other locations around the schools.
