📊 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 →
All 20 Rated Districts in Penobscot County, ME
Sorted by rating, then state percentile
| County Rank | District | District Office | Rating | State Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Dedham Public Schools | Orrington | 10/10 Excellent | 96th |
| #2 | Regional School Unit 26 | Orono | 9/10 Excellent | 85th |
| #3 | Regional School Unit 22 | Hampden | 9/10 Excellent | 84th |
| #4 | Milford Public Schools | Milford | 8/10 Good | 73rd |
| #5 | School Administrative District 31 | Lagrange | 8/10 Good | 73rd |
| #6 | School Administrative District 63 | Holden | 8/10 Good | 72nd |
| #7 | Orrington Public Schools | Orrington | 8/10 Good | 70th |
| #8 | Brewer Public Schools | Brewer | 7/10 Good | 69th |
| #9 | Bangor School Department | Bangor | 7/10 Good | 67th |
| #10 | School Administrative District 23 | Carmel | 5/10 Average | 46th |
| #11 | School Administrative District 30 | Lee | 5/10 Average | 42nd |
| #12 | Regional School Unit 34 | Old Town | 4/10 Below Average | 37th |
| #13 | Regional School Unit 67 | Lincoln | 4/10 Below Average | 30th |
| #14 | School Administrative District 64 | East Corinth | 3/10 Below Average | 27th |
| #15 | Regional School Unit 19 | Newport | 3/10 Below Average | 25th |
| #16 | School Administrative District 46 | Dexter | 3/10 Below Average | 23rd |
| #17 | East Millinocket Public Schools | East Millinocket | 2/10 Poor | 10th |
| #18 | Medway Public Schools | Medway | 2/10 Poor | 10th |
| #19 | School Administrative District 41 | Lagrange | 1/10 Poor | 8th |
| #20 | Burlington Public Schools | Medway | 1/10 Poor | 3rd |
Best School Districts in Penobscot County, Maine (2026)
This page lists the 20 public school districts headquartered in Penobscot County, Maine that have a SchoolDistrictFinder rating, scored using EDFacts 2021–22 state assessment data. The county rank is simply their order here; the state percentile compares each district with every rated district in Maine, which is how the 1–10 rating is set. Ratings are not comparable with districts in other states.
Districts are placed in the county of their NCES directory listing. A district's boundaries can cross county lines, and a home in Penobscot County may be served by a district headquartered next door — search your address or zip code to confirm.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best-rated school district in Penobscot County, Maine? ▼
Among the 20 rated districts in Penobscot County, Maine, the highest-rated is Dedham Public Schools (Orrington), rated 10/10 (Excellent) and in the 96th percentile of Maine districts on EDFacts 2021–22 reading and math proficiency.
How are these rankings calculated? ▼
Each district's rating comes from the share of its students scoring proficient or above on state reading and math assessments (EDFacts 2021–22), percentile-ranked against all rated districts in Maine and converted to a 1–10 scale. Full methodology here.