Hichborn Middle School

Hichborn Middle School, a tiny middle school in Howland, Maine, part of RSU 31/MSAD 31, caters to 98 students, covering grades 6 through 8. Enrollment runs roughly 73% below the state mean of about 364.

Within RSU 31/MSAD 31, which oversees 3 schools and 435 students, Hichborn Middle School is one campus in the system.

In terms of who attends, Hichborn Middle School reports that nearly all students (97%) are White.

On the income-and-resources front, On paper, Hichborn Middle School has 13 full-time-equivalent teachers, translating to a class-load average of around 7.8:1. That figure is tighter than the state norm's 11.2:1 average. Roughly 69% of students at Hichborn Middle School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a commonly cited indicator of low-income enrollment. Set against Penobscot County (around 48%), the school's rate is somewhat above typical.

Across the wider county, ACS estimates for Penobscot County put median household income runs about $66,356, roughly 30% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and the poverty rate sits near 9%. In all, Penobscot County runs 69 public schools (combined enrollment of about 18,646 students), of which Hichborn Middle School is one.

Nearest neighbor: Penobscot Valley High School, around 0.0 miles off. Counting just inside five miles, 2 other public schools cluster around Hichborn Middle School.

The campus sits in a countryside setting.

Trend over the last 7 years. Over the past 7-year window, the student count edged down 6%: 104 students in 2018 compared to 98 in 2025. Over the same period, the White share ticked up from 88% to 97%.

On allk12, the page collects discussion, questions, and updates around school events, parent volunteer needs, and clubs. Members of the school community can share what they know.