The ranking below is based on the percentage of schools within a town or city which have placed in the top 10% of all schools statewide.
A school's overall rank is based on its combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking. Schools are ranked and compared within their own state only.
Statewide Range: 60%
75%
Avg. Statewide: 67%
Top-Ranked Cities With Best Public Schools in Maine (2026)
City
% of Schools in
Top 10% Statewide
Top 10% Statewide
Top-Ranked Schools
(Math Proficiency % | Reading Proficiency %)
(Math Proficiency % | Reading Proficiency %)
Rank: #11.
75%
(3 out of 4)
(3 out of 4)
Rank: #22.
60%
(3 out of 5)
(3 out of 5)
- Bristol Consolidated School
Rank: #47 of 500 (Top 5%)
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 90-94%) - Nobleboro Central School
Rank: #47 of 500 (Top 5%)
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 90-94%) - South Bristol Elementary School
Rank: #114 of 500 (Top 10%)
(Math: 70-79% | Reading: ≥90%) - View Full List of Top-Ranked Damariscotta, ME Schools
Recent Articles
Media Literacy as a Core Skill: How to Tell if a School Teaches It Well
Learn how to evaluate whether a public school teaches media literacy effectively, from fact-checking and source evaluation to digital citizenship and critical thinking.
Screen Time, Paper Learning, and the New Back-to-Basics Debate
Explore why some public schools are reducing screen time, bringing back paper learning, and rethinking the balance between technology and traditional instruction.
Student Data, AI Tools, and Privacy: Questions to Ask Your District
Learn how public schools use AI, protect student data, and the key privacy questions every parent should ask their school district in 2026.