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 2026-27 school year, there are 6 public elementary schools serving 920 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 49% (versus the Maine public elementary school average of 51%), 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 15% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (ME)
# Schools
7 Schools
438 Schools
# Students
1,396 Students
112,312 Students
# Teachers
128 Teachers
10,362 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 182 school districts in Maine (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 87% has increased from 80-84% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#129 out of 189 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
49%
49%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
79%
84%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
36%
37%
Graduation Rate
87%
87.3%
Chronically Absent Students
(2022-23)38.4%
28.5%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.20
0.27
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
1%
1%
% Hispanic
3%
4%
% Black
1%
5%
% White
89%
85%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
6%
4%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $22,318 is higher than the state median of $22,146. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $20,473 is less than the state median of $22,012. The school district spending/student has declined by 6% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$31 MM
$3,685 MM
Spending
$29 MM
$3,663 MM
Revenue / Student
$22,318
$22,146
Spending / Student
$20,473
$22,012
Best RSU 71 School District Public Elementary Schools (2026-27)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Ames Elementary School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 90-94%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
165 New England Road
Searsmont, ME 04973
(207) 342-5100
Searsmont, ME 04973
(207) 342-5100
Gr: 2-5 | 122 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 6%
Rank: #22.
Captain Albert W. Stevens School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
31 Elementary Avenue
Belfast, ME 04915
(207) 338-3510
Belfast, ME 04915
(207) 338-3510
Gr: PK-5 | 232 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 13%
Rank: #33.
Kermit S Nickerson School
(Math: 40-49% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
18 Townhouse Road
Belfast, ME 04915
(207) 338-1858
Belfast, ME 04915
(207) 338-1858
Gr: 3-5 | 58 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 5%
Rank: #44.
Troy A Howard Middle School
(Math: 35% | Reading: 76%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
173 Lincolnville Avenue
Belfast, ME 04915
(207) 338-3320
Belfast, ME 04915
(207) 338-3320
Gr: 6-8 | 330 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 8%
Rank: n/an/a
14 Swan Lake Avenue
Belfast, ME 04915
(207) 338-4420
Belfast, ME 04915
(207) 338-4420
Gr: PK-2 | 99 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 11%
Rank: n/an/a
2 South Main Street
Morrill, ME 04952
(207) 342-5300
Morrill, ME 04952
(207) 342-5300
Gr: PK-1 | 79 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 10%
Recent Articles
When Your Child Gets a Teacher You Didn't Request
Learn what parents can do when a child is assigned to an unexpected teacher, including when to wait, communicate, document concerns, request support, and seek reassignment appropriately.
Before Accepting a Public School Seat: 15 Checks
Before accepting a public school seat, parents should verify enrollment terms, transportation, staffing, academics, safety, support services, schedules, attendance rules, extracurriculars, costs, and long-term placement details carefully.
Will This Public School Offer the Same Programs Next Year?
Learn how parents can determine whether public school programs will continue next year by checking budgets, enrollment, staffing, board documents, grants, course schedules, and district priorities before enrolling.
