Total enrollment
18,595
-1,248 (-6%) vs SY 2017-18
Penobscot County
Maine · Public K-12
The 69 public K-12 schools in Penobscot County cover all standard grade bands (40 elementary, 14 middle, and 14 high), with combined enrollment around 18,646.
7-year change in Penobscot County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
64
-1 (-2%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
89%
was 92%
% Hispanic
4%
was 2%
% Black
2%
was 1%
% Asian
1%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
69
27 districts
Enrollment
18,646
NCES CCD
Median income
$66,356
Below Maine avg
Free/reduced lunch
47.6%
Below Maine avg
Elementary
40
9,097 students
Middle
14
3,493 students
High
14
6,056 students
Combined / other
1
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Bangor Public Schools
3,436 students · 27 districts in Penobscot County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Penobscot County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".
County residents
School enrollment
Bachelor's+
30.1%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
8.5%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
3.6%
civilian labor
Median age
43
17.6% under 18
Test scores in Penobscot County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 45 schools ranked. Maine state average: 64.1%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Reeds Brook Middle School· 83.1%
- Asa C Adams School· 78.1%
- Orono Middle School· 76.4%
- Holbrook School· 76.3%
- Mt Jefferson Jr High School· 70.4%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bangor High School | Bangor | High | 09-12 | 1,068 | · |
| Brewer Community School | Brewer | Elementary | PK-08 | 800 | · |
| Hampden Academy | Hampden | High | 09-12 | 767 | · |
| Brewer High School | Brewer | High | 09-12 | 690 | · |
| Nokomis Regional High School | Newport | High | 09-12 | 610 | · |
| Hermon High School | Hermon | High | 09-12 | 567 | · |
| Old Town High School | Old Town | High | 09-12 | 531 | · |
| Ridge View Community School | Dexter | Elementary | PK-08 | 528 | · |
| Nokomis Regional Middle School | Newport | Middle | 05-08 | 524 | · |
| Central Community Elementary School | Corinth | Elementary | PK-05 | 488 | · |
| Old Town Elementary School | Old Town | Elementary | KG-05 | 488 | · |
| Patricia A Duran School | Hermon | Elementary | PK-04 | 459 | · |
| George B Weatherbee School | Hampden | Elementary | 02-05 | 381 | · |
| Glenburn Elementary School | Glenburn | Elementary | PK-08 | 381 | · |
| William S. Cohen School | Bangor | Middle | 06-08 | 372 | · |
| Center Drive School | Orrington | Elementary | PK-08 | 346 | · |
| James F. Doughty School | Bangor | Middle | 06-08 | 346 | · |
| Orono High School | Orono | High | 09-12 | 337 | · |
| Asa C Adams School | Orono | Elementary | PK-05 | 336 | · |
| Sebasticook Valley Elementary School | Newport | Elementary | PK-04 | 333 | · |
| Ella P Burr School | Lincoln | Elementary | PK-03 | 324 | · |
| Hermon Middle School | Hermon | Middle | 05-08 | 319 | · |
| Mattanawcook Academy | Lincoln | High | 09-12 | 313 | · |
| Fruit Street School | Bangor | Elementary | PK-03 | 310 | · |
| Mattanawcook Jr High School | Lincoln | Middle | 04-08 | 304 | · |
| Reeds Brook Middle School | Hampden | Middle | 06-08 | 304 | · |
| Central High School | Corinth | High | 09-12 | 303 | · |
| Downeast School | Bangor | Elementary | PK-03 | 288 | · |
| Leonard Middle School | Old Town | Middle | 06-08 | 278 | · |
| Dexter Regional High School | Dexter | High | 09-12 | 277 | · |
| Dr Lewis S Libby School | Milford | Elementary | PK-08 | 273 | · |
| Mary Snow School | Bangor | Elementary | 04-05 | 266 | · |
| Fairmount School | Bangor | Elementary | 04-05 | 259 | · |
| Central Middle School | Corinth | Middle | 06-08 | 230 | · |
| Stearns Jr-Sr High School | Millinocket | High | 06-12 | 229 | · |
| Suzanne M Smith Elementary School | Levant | Elementary | PK-05 | 222 | · |
| Enfield Station Elementary School | West Enfield | Elementary | PK-05 | 210 | · |
| Granite Street School | Millinocket | Elementary | PK-05 | 209 | · |
| Caravel Middle School | Carmel | Middle | 05-08 | 204 | · |
| Earl C McGraw School | Hampden | Elementary | PK-01 | 203 | · |
| Vine Street School | Bangor | Elementary | PK-03 | 190 | · |
| Etna-Dixmont School | Etna | Elementary | PK-04 | 185 | · |
| Abraham Lincoln School | Bangor | Elementary | PK-03 | 184 | · |
| Holbrook School | Holden | Middle | 05-08 | 178 | · |
| Veazie Community School | Veazie | Elementary | PK-08 | 167 | · |
| Carmel Elementary School | Carmel | Elementary | PK-04 | 158 | · |
| Orono Middle School | Orono | Middle | 06-08 | 154 | · |
| Fourteenth Street School | Bangor | Elementary | PK-03 | 153 | · |
| Holden School | Holden | Elementary | 02-04 | 149 | · |
| Katahdin Elementary School | Stacyville | Elementary | PK-05 | 136 | · |
| Helen S Dunn Elementary School | Greenbush | Elementary | PK-08 | 131 | · |
| Katahdin Middle/High School | Stacyville | High | 06-12 | 128 | · |
| Penobscot Valley High School | Howland | High | 09-12 | 127 | · |
| Opal Myrick Elementary School | East Millinocket | Elementary | PK-04 | 121 | · |
| Eddington School | Eddington | Elementary | PK-01 | 116 | · |
| Schenck High School | East Millinocket | High | 09-12 | 109 | · |
| Medway Middle School | Medway | Middle | 05-08 | 107 | · |
| Hichborn Middle School | Howland | Middle | 06-08 | 98 | · |
| Lee/Winn School | Winn | Elementary | PK-04 | 85 | · |
| Indian Island School | Indian Island | Elementary | KG-08 | 81 | · |
| Mt Jefferson Jr High School | Lee | Middle | 05-08 | 75 | · |
| Newburgh Elementary School | Newburgh | Elementary | PK-PK | 51 | · |
| Alton Elementary School | Alton | Elementary | PK-02 | 40 | · |
| Viola Rand Sch | Bradley | Elementary | PK-PK | 32 | · |
| Kingman Elementary School | Kingman | Elementary | PK-06 | 14 | · |
| No Penobscot Tech-Region 3 | Lincoln | Elementary | N-N | · | · |
| Tri-County Technical Center | Dexter | Elementary | N-N | · | · |
| United Technologies Ctr-Region 4 | Bangor | Elementary | N-N | · | · |
| Viola Rand School | Bradley | Combined | M-M | · | · |
Cities in Penobscot County
Bangor11 schoolsHampden4 schoolsLincoln4 schoolsCorinth3 schoolsDexter3 schoolsHermon3 schoolsNewport3 schoolsOld Town3 schoolsOrono3 schoolsBradley2 schoolsBrewer2 schoolsCarmel2 schoolsEast Millinocket2 schoolsHolden2 schoolsHowland2 schoolsMillinocket2 schoolsStacyville2 schoolsAlton1 schoolEddington1 schoolEtna1 schoolGlenburn1 schoolGreenbush1 schoolIndian Island1 schoolKingman1 schoolLee1 schoolLevant1 schoolMedway1 schoolMilford1 schoolNewburgh1 schoolOrrington1 schoolVeazie1 schoolWest Enfield1 schoolWinn1 school
About Penobscot County
Penobscot County is a middle-population Maine county of about 154,710 residents, home to 69 public schools and roughly 18,646 students.
Zooming out, census numbers show the median household earns about $66,356 a year, 30% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and roughly 9% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 5% noticeably below the Maine median.
Looking at the level breakdown, Penobscot County is made up of 40 elementary schools (9,097 students), 14 middle schools (3,493), 14 high schools (6,056), and 1 combined or other schools.
The largest single district in Penobscot County is Bangor Public Schools, which alone enrolls about 3,436 students.
Looking at the last 7 years. Combined enrollment now sits at 18,595 students, contracted 6% from the 19,843 reported in SY 2017-18. Penobscot County now counts 64 public schools, down from 65 in SY 2017-18.
On this page, the community for Penobscot County discusses enrollment trends, district policy changes, and bus-route updates. Members of the local community share what they see day-to-day.
Frequently asked questions
Penobscot County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data