📊 Data: NCES CCD 2024–2025·🔄 Updated: May 2026·Editorial standards
🏆 Rankings · State Test Data (EDFacts 2017–18)

Best School Districts
in Maine

Maine has 143 rated public school districts. Rankings reflect state reading & math assessment proficiency, percentile-ranked within each state. Use the zip code search to find and compare districts near your address.

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📊 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, 2017–18), 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
#DistrictCityRatingState Percentile
#1Cape ElizabethCape Elizabeth10/10  Excellent99th
#2CastineCastine10/10  Excellent99th
#3FalmouthFalmouth10/10  Excellent99th
#4Winterville Plantation Public SchoolsEagle Lake10/10  Excellent99th
#5Yarmouth School DepartmentYarmouth10/10  Excellent99th
#6Five Town Community School DistrictCamden9/10  Excellent83th
#7Mount Desert Community School DistrictBar Harbor9/10  Excellent83th
#8NewcastleNewcastle9/10  Excellent83th
#9Regional School Unit 21Kennebunk9/10  Excellent83th
#10Scarborough School DepartmentScarborough9/10  Excellent83th
#11YorkCape Neddick9/10  Excellent83th
#12Bangor School DepartmentBangor7/10  Good67th
#13BristolBristol7/10  Good67th
#14Regional School Unit 05Freeport7/10  Good67th
#15Regional School Unit 26Orono7/10  Good67th
#16School Administrative District 35Eliot7/10  Good67th
#17ActonActon5/10  Average50th
#18Andover Public SchoolsEast Andover5/10  Average50th
#19AthensAthens5/10  Average50th
#20Blue HillBlue Hill5/10  Average50th
#21Boothbay-Boothbay Harbor Community School DistrictBoothbay5/10  Average50th
#22BrewerBrewer5/10  Average50th
#23BrooklinBrooklin5/10  Average50th
#24Burlington Public SchoolsBurlington5/10  Average50th
#25Carrabassett ValleyKingfield5/10  Average50th

Best School Districts in Maine (2026)

This ranking covers 143 rated public school districts in Maine, scored using NCES EDFacts state assessment data for the 2017–18 school year — the most recent district-level federal collection we have processed. 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 →

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, 2017–18), the top-rated district is Cape Elizabeth 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, 2017–18), 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.