📊 What this ranking measures
Rankings are based on academic achievement — the share of students scoring proficient or above on state reading and math assessments (NCES EDFacts, 2021–22 for most districts), ranked against other districts in the same state — not on spending, district size, or staffing. See full methodology →
Top 25 Districts Maine
Sorted by rating — highest first
| # | District | City | Rating | State Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Cape Elizabeth Public Schools | Cape Elizabeth | 10/10 Excellent | 99th |
| #2 | Falmouth Public Schools | Falmouth | 10/10 Excellent | 99th |
| #3 | Athens Public Schools | Athens | 10/10 Excellent | 98th |
| #4 | South Bristol Public Schools | South Bristol | 10/10 Excellent | 98th |
| #5 | Bristol Public Schools | Bristol | 10/10 Excellent | 97th |
| #6 | Mount Desert Community School District | Bar Harbor | 10/10 Excellent | 97th |
| #7 | Dedham Public Schools | Holden | 10/10 Excellent | 96th |
| #8 | Yarmouth School Department | Yarmouth | 10/10 Excellent | 95th |
| #9 | York Public Schools | Cape Neddick | 10/10 Excellent | 95th |
| #10 | School Administrative District 51 | Cumberland Center | 10/10 Excellent | 94th |
| #11 | Five Town Community School District | Camden | 10/10 Excellent | 93th |
| #12 | Regional School Unit 78 | Rangeley | 10/10 Excellent | 93th |
| #13 | Regional School Unit 05 | Freeport | 10/10 Excellent | 92th |
| #14 | Scarborough School Department | Scarborough | 10/10 Excellent | 92th |
| #15 | Regional School Unit 21 | Kennebunk | 10/10 Excellent | 91th |
| #16 | Gorham Public Schools | Gorham | 10/10 Excellent | 90th |
| #17 | Wells-Ogunquit Community School District | Ogunquit | 10/10 Excellent | 90th |
| #18 | Carrabassett Valley Public Schools | Kingfield | 9/10 Excellent | 89th |
| #19 | School Administrative District 07 | North Haven | 9/10 Excellent | 88th |
| #20 | School Administrative District 76 | Swans Island | 9/10 Excellent | 88th |
| #21 | Brooklin Public Schools | Brooklin | 9/10 Excellent | 87th |
| #22 | Jonesboro Public Schools | Jonesboro | 9/10 Excellent | 87th |
| #23 | Moosabec Community School District | Beals | 9/10 Excellent | 86th |
| #24 | Regional School Unit 26 | Orono | 9/10 Excellent | 85th |
| #25 | Southport Public Schools | Squirrel Island | 9/10 Excellent | 85th |
Best School Districts in Maine (2026)
This ranking covers 159 rated public school districts in Maine, scored using NCES EDFacts state assessment data (2021–22 for 90% of districts, 2017–18 fallback for the rest). Each district's reading and math proficiency rates are averaged, then ranked against other districts in the same state to produce a 1–10 score.
A district's score reflects how its students perform on state assessments relative to same-state peers — it is not a direct measure of teaching quality, school culture, or individual student outcomes. Always visit schools, talk to local families, and contact districts directly before making decisions. Learn how ratings are calculated →
Maine School Districts at a Glance
- 160 of the 256 regular school districts operating in Maine have a published rating on this site.
- 49 districts score 8/10 or higher, the top three rating bands.
- Ratings come from NCES EDFacts, and every district is ranked against other districts in Maine only — never against districts in another state, because the tests differ.
- The highest-rated district is Cape Elizabeth Public Schools in Cape Elizabeth, rated 10/10.
- Almost every district in Maine is unified, meaning one district runs kindergarten through 12th grade for an address.
How to Use This List
Click any district name to see its zip code page and confirm your exact assignment with the district office. Boundaries don't always follow city or neighborhood lines — the zip code search gives you the most accurate result.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best school district in Maine? ▼
Based on state reading and math assessment proficiency (NCES EDFacts, 2021–22 or 2017–18 fallback), the top-rated district is Cape Elizabeth Public Schools in Cape Elizabeth, rated 10/10 (Excellent).
How are these rankings calculated? ▼
Rankings use the share of students scoring proficient or above on state reading and math assessments (NCES EDFacts, 2021–22 for most districts), ranked against other districts in the same state, then converted to a 1–10 scale. Full methodology here.
Are ratings based on test scores? ▼
Yes. Ratings are based directly on state reading and math assessment proficiency rates, not on enrollment, spending, or school count. They are a starting point for research, not a final verdict on school quality.
How many school districts are in Maine? ▼
Maine has 256 regular school districts operating in the 2024–25 school year, according to the NCES Common Core of Data. 160 of them have enough state assessment data to carry a rating on this site.
What test are Maine school district ratings based on? ▼
NCES EDFacts. The rating is the share of students scoring proficient or above in reading and math, converted to a percentile against other districts in Maine and then to a 1–10 scale. Spending, staffing and district size are not part of it.
How many districts in Maine are rated 8 out of 10 or higher? ▼
49 of the 160 rated districts in Maine score 8/10 or above. Because the scale is a within-state percentile, a high rating means the district outperforms most other districts in Maine, not the country.
Does one district cover all grades in Maine? ▼
In Maine nearly every district is unified, so the same district runs elementary, middle and high school for an address. A few states split those into separate districts; Maine is not one of them.