Scarborough School Department operates 5 schools (grades KG–12). Individual school names, addresses, and attendance zone boundaries are available directly from the district.
| Metric | Scarborough School Department | National Average | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student Enrollment | 3,500 | 3,700 | ≈ Near average |
| Number of Schools | 5 | 6 | Varies by district |
| Per-Pupil Spending | $14,000/yr | $13,700/yr | ≈ Near avg |
| District Type | Suburban | Public District | — |
| Overall Rating | 8/10 — Good | — | Above average |
About Scarborough School Department
If you live in ZIP 04074 — Scarborough, Maine in Cumberland County — your assigned public schools are operated by Scarborough School Department. Its 8/10 rating sits above the typical Maine district on the funding and enrollment measures NCES reports. The district operates 5 schools and serves roughly 3,500 students (a mid-sized district), covering Kindergarten – 12th. Check the rating breakdown and map above, and confirm your specific school assignment directly with the district — boundaries and open-enrollment rules change year to year.
Funding and Resources
Scarborough School Department reports per-pupil expenditure of approximately $14,000 per year, placing it 10% below the Maine state average of approximately $15,500 and near the national average nationally (U.S. average: $13,700/year). Near-average districts typically provide core academic programs with adequate staffing, though program breadth may be more limited than in higher-funded systems. Per-pupil spending directly affects teacher compensation, class sizes, elective course offerings, technology access, and the depth of student support services — making it one of the most meaningful structural indicators of district capacity.
District Scale and Program Breadth
With 5 schools, Scarborough School Department operates as a mid-sized district serving students from Kindergarten – 12th. The district enrolls approximately 3,500 students in total. Mid-sized districts strike a balance between community-scale relationships and sufficient program breadth. Most offer core academic tracks, basic extracurricular programs, and adequate student support services.
Understanding the 8/10 Rating
Scarborough School Department has earned an overall SchoolDistrictFinder rating of 8/10, placing it in the above average tier. Our ratings are built from NCES Common Core of Data and measure structural factors: per-pupil expenditure, student-teacher ratio, enrollment stability, and school count. They do not incorporate test scores or graduation rates, which are not consistently available across all 13,500+ US districts in the NCES dataset.
Scarborough School Department earns an above-average rating, reflecting stronger-than-typical resource levels and stable enrollment trends for Maine. Above-average districts generally offer solid program variety, adequate staffing, and a track record of organizational stability. Families considering this area will find a district with meaningful strengths. Research the specific schools assigned to your address — even above-average districts have variation between individual buildings.
Enrollment for Families in Zip Code 04074
Children in zip code 04074 are assigned to Scarborough School Department for public school enrollment, covering grades Kindergarten – 12th. School assignments are address-specific — your elementary, middle, and high school placements depend on your exact street address within zip code 04074, not just your neighborhood. Two homes on opposite ends of the same zip code may be assigned to different schools within the same district.
To confirm your specific school assignments, contact Scarborough School Department at (207)730-4100 or visit sites.google.com/a/scarboroughschools.org/sps/. Typical enrollment documents include proof of residency (lease or deed plus a utility bill), your child’s birth certificate, current immunization records, and prior school records. If your child has an IEP or 504 plan, bring that documentation to enrollment — Maine districts are required to continue services within a reasonable period. Fall enrollment windows typically open in late winter or early spring; contact the district for exact dates and required steps.
School Districts and Home Values in Scarborough
School district quality is one of the most consistent factors in residential home pricing. Because Scarborough School Department serves zip code 04074, homes in and around zip code 04074 often carry a measurable premium over comparable properties in adjacent lower-rated districts. District boundaries are address-specific — verify the exact district assignment for any property you’re seriously considering rather than assuming based on the neighborhood. A single block can place two adjacent homes in different districts with different ratings and different annual property tax implications.
Use the property tax estimator on this page to calculate estimated annual tax obligations based on your target purchase price. In Maine, property taxes are a primary funding source for public schools — your tax payments directly support Scarborough School Department programs and staff. Understanding both district quality and the associated tax burden is essential financial due diligence before committing to any home in zip code 04074.
Data Sources and Accuracy
All district information on this page is sourced from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024–2025, the U.S. Department of Education’s annual census of all public school districts — the same dataset used by researchers, journalists, and policymakers to analyze American public education. District boundaries, school assignments, phone numbers, and per-pupil expenditure figures are updated annually when NCES publishes new data, typically in spring. Always verify your specific school assignment and enrollment requirements directly with Scarborough School Department before making any housing or enrollment decision based on zip code 04074 data.