Laura E Richards School

Laura E Richards School is an average-sized elementary school in Gardiner, Maine, part of RSU 11/MSAD 11. The school works with 219 students in grades pre-K through 2.

Within RSU 11/MSAD 11, which oversees 6 schools and 1,846 students, Laura E Richards School is one campus in the system.

In terms of who attends, Laura E Richards School logs that 92% of students identify as White, making the school strongly White-majority. Other groups include 4% Hispanic, 3% Black. That composition is broadly in line with Kennebec County as a whole.

On the resource side, On paper, Laura E Richards School has 16 full-time-equivalent teachers, translating to a class-load average of around 13.8:1. The state averages around 10.5:1, so this campus is higher than the state norm typical. An estimated 41% of students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, a commonly cited indicator of low-income enrollment.

Around the school, Kennebec County reports that the typical household earns roughly $69,077 per year, about 32% of the adult population holds a bachelor's degree or above, and roughly 7% of residents live below the federal poverty line. Laura E Richards School is one of 53 public schools in Kennebec County (combined enrollment of about 15,649 students).

Gardiner Area High School is the nearest neighboring public school, about 0.7 miles from this campus. Within five miles, there are 6 other public schools.

The campus sits in a town-based setting.

Over the past 7-year window. Laura E Richards School's enrollment has fell 13% since 2018, when it stood at 253 (now 219). Class-load math has narrowed: from 15.4:1 in 2018 to 13.8:1 in 2025.

In the discussion threads here, posts here usually surface around school events, parent volunteer needs, and clubs. Parents, students, alumni, and staff are welcome to weigh in.