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ENROLLMENT TRENDS · MAINE

Maine schools in decline

Maine public schools with the largest enrollment loss from 2017-18 to 2024-25.

Schools in this report
50
steepest declines in state
Largest drop
-72%
Lebanon Elementary School
Range
-72% to -21%
2017-18 → 2024-25
TOP 50 ME PUBLIC SCHOOLS BY ENROLLMENT LOSS · 2017-18 → 2024-25
SchoolCityDistrict2017-182024-25% change ↑
Lebanon Elementary SchoolLEBANONRSU 60/MSAD 60482135-72.0%
Eric L Knowlton SchoolBERWICKRSU 60/MSAD 60634204-67.8%
Peninsula SchPROSPECT HARBORRSU 2417265-62.2%
Carrie Ricker SchoolLITCHFIELDRSU 04325174-46.5%
Songo Locks SchoolNAPLESRSU 61/MSAD 61450249-44.7%
Earl C McGraw SchoolHAMPDENRSU 22349203-41.8%
Morse Memorial SchoolBROOKSRSU 03/MSAD 0312070-41.7%
Houlton Junior High SchoolHOULTONRSU 29/MSAD 29304186-38.8%
Wiscasset Elementary SchoolWISCASSETWiscasset Public Schools271166-38.7%
Walton SchoolAUBURNAuburn Public Schools249156-37.3%
Perry Elementary SchoolPERRYPerry Public Schools11573-36.5%
Oxford-Cumberland Canal SchoolWESTBROOKWestbrook Public Schools296188-36.5%
Dora L Small Elementary SchoolSOUTH PORTLANDSouth Portland Public Schools303193-36.3%
Mountain View SchSULLIVANRSU 24238152-36.1%
Sedgwick Elementary SchoolSEDGWICKSedgwick Public Schools10467-35.6%
Winslow Junior High SchoolWINSLOWWinslow Schools275178-35.3%
ConyAUGUSTAAugusta Public Schools1,013662-34.6%
Manson Park SchoolPITTSFIELDRSU 53/MSAD 5312280-34.4%
John F Kennedy Memorial SchoolBIDDEFORDBiddeford Public Schools236157-33.5%
Woodstock SchoolBRYANT PONDRSU 44/MSAD 4410067-33.0%
Beech Hill SchoolOTISOtis Public Schools10370-32.0%
Canaan Elementary SchoolCANAANRSU 54/MSAD 54234160-31.6%
Sherwood Heights Elementary SchAUBURNAuburn Public Schools425291-31.5%
Thomas J McMahon Elementary SchLEWISTONLewiston Public Schools685474-30.8%
Houlton Elementary SchoolHOULTONRSU 29/MSAD 29406282-30.5%
Piscataquis Community ElementaryGUILFORDRSU 80/MSAD 04378264-30.2%
Searsport ElementarySEARSPORTRSU 20239167-30.1%
Ella Lewis SchSTEUBENRSU 2411379-30.1%
Holbrook SchoolHOLDENRSU 63/MSAD 63254178-29.9%
Mt View High SchoolTHORNDIKERSU 03/MSAD 03384271-29.4%
ME Sch of Science & MathematicsLIMESTONEME Sch of Science & Mathematics13696-29.4%
Frank H Harrison Middle SchoolYARMOUTHYarmouth Schools536379-29.3%
Gladys Weymouth Elem SchoolMORRILLRSU 7110979-27.5%
Searsport District High SchoolSEARSPORTRSU 20166121-27.1%
Lincoln Middle SchoolPORTLANDPortland Public Schools522382-26.8%
Rumford ElementaryRUMFORDRSU 10290213-26.6%
North Elementary SchoolSKOWHEGANRSU 54/MSAD 54159118-25.8%
Waterford Memorial SchoolWATERFORDRSU 17/MSAD 1710377-25.2%
Fort Fairfield Elementary SchoolFORT FAIRFIELDRSU 86/MSAD 20250188-24.8%
Loranger Memorial SchoolOLD ORCHARD BEACHRSU 23333251-24.6%
Old Orchard Beach High SchoolOLD ORCHARD BEACHRSU 23245186-24.1%
Longfellow School-PortlandPORTLANDPortland Public Schools346263-24.0%
Madawaska Elementary SchoolMADAWASKAMadawaska Public Schools213162-23.9%
Reeds Brook Middle SchoolHAMPDENRSU 22392304-22.4%
Manchester SchoolWINDHAMRSU 14459357-22.2%
Hope Elementary SchoolHOPEHope Public Schools180140-22.2%
Jonesport Elementary SchoolJONESPORTJonesport Public Schools129101-21.7%
James Otis Kaler Elementary SchoolSOUTH PORTLANDSouth Portland Public Schools228179-21.5%
George E Jack SchoolSTANDISHRSU 06/MSAD 06178140-21.3%
Mt Vernon Elementary SchoolMOUNT VERNONRSU 3811893-21.2%
50 of 50 rows · Brick-and-mortar only. Virtual, online, and cyber schools excluded. Schools must have had ≥100 students in 2017-18 and be open in both school years.↓ Download schools-in-decline-by-state-me.csv

How this list was built

Every Maine public school that reported total enrollment in both the NCES SY 2017-18 and SY 2024-25 vintages was scored on percent change in enrollment. Schools needed at least 100 students in 2017-18 to qualify, and must have been open in both school years. Schools that closed entirely are tracked in the separate school closures report. Virtual academies, cyber charters, and online schools are excluded so the list reflects neighborhood schools that families have moved away from rather than program-design changes.

Enrollment loss is not a verdict on a school. Schools shrink because catchment populations shrink, because new schools open nearby, because a magnet program elsewhere pulls transfers, because districts redraw boundaries, or because the building physically aged out. Use this list as a starting point for understanding which Maine schools are operating with substantially fewer students than they were seven years ago.

Source data

NCES Common Core of Data, EDGE_ADMINDATA_PUBLICSCH MapServer, vintages 2017-18 and 2024-25. Refreshed yearly when NCES publishes a new admin-data release. School names, slugs, and current district affiliation come from the 2024-25 snapshot.

HOW TO CITE THIS REPORT

Anyone is welcome to cite or republish these findings. Please credit allk12.com and link back to this page so readers can verify the underlying data.

allk12 (2026). "Maine schools in decline: enrollment loss 2017–2024." Retrieved from https://allk12.com/reports/in-decline/maine
For interview requests or custom data pulls: [email protected]
DOWNLOAD THE DATA
↓ schools-in-decline-by-state-me.csv
RELATED
Maine schools on the rise · All Maine schools · Best Maine schools · All states
DATA NOTICE

allk12 is independent and not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by NCES, the US Census Bureau, any state education agency or assessment program, or any other government agency. Source data is compiled from public records and provided "as is," without warranty of accuracy or completeness. You rely on it, and any analysis derived from it, at your own risk. See the full disclaimer.