The 13 Largest Schools in Maine Are Massive

Maine is a beautiful state that captivates its residents and visitors with stunning coastlines, breathtaking nature trails, picturesque lighthouses, and charming small towns. The state is an appealing destination for those seeking to escape the hustle and bustle of city life. 

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Maine experienced modest population growth over the last decade, with a 2.6% increase of 34,000 people. The official 2020 population for the state was 1,362,359. The Maine Department of Education oversees the public education system, with 278 operating districts serving over 173,215 K-12 students. 

The state is also home to some of the largest schools in the nation. This post explores Maine’s thirteen biggest learning institutions, from elementary to college. Keep reading to discover their unique academic offerings, faculty size, class sizes, extracurricular opportunities, and more. 

Windham Primary School

404 Gray Road, Windham, ME 04062

Windham Primary is an average-performing public elementary school serving pre-kindergarten through third-grade kids. The school falls under the Windham School Department, with a student population of roughly 777 students. Windham Primary has a minority enrollment of 8.1%, and 26% of all students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunches. 

The school offers a comprehensive curriculum for developing the whole child using diverse teaching, learning, and assessment strategies. Students benefit from a firm academic foundation, with 52% attaining proficiency in English and 42% in math. Windham Primary also offers enrichment programs in art, physical education, and music. 

The school has roughly 56 full-time instructors, with one teacher for every 14 kids. All full-time teachers are certified, and 72% have over three years of teaching experience. Windham Primary also has a full-time counselor. 

Falmouth Elementary School

58 Woodville Road, Falmouth, ME 04105

Falmouth Elementary is a top elementary school within the Falmouth Public Schools District. It is home to over 843 students in kindergarten through fifth grade. The school’s minority enrollment is 11%, and 7% of students come from economically challenged backgrounds. 

The school performs excellently in state assessment tests, with 68% of the students attaining proficiency in math, 75% in English, and 77% in science. Falmouth Elementary also has a gifted and talented program that supports gifted kids who wish to accelerate their learning. 

The school also offers multilingual learning services as well as special education services. Students can participate in various extracurricular activities, including the math team, band, chorus, theater, civil rights team, chess club, and book club. 

The school district employs over 74 full-time teachers, with one teacher for every eleven kids. The teachers are highly qualified, with all having three years of teaching experience and holding state certifications. Falmouth Elementary also has a law enforcement officer, social worker, psychologist, and nurse among its support staff. 

Ellsworth Elementary-Middle School

20 Forest Ave, Ellsworth, ME 04605

Ellsworth Elementary-Middle School is a public school that serves pre-kindergarten through eighth-grade kids. It is home to over 896 students and belongs to the Ellsworth Public Schools District. 

The school’s performance is about the same as the state average. 38% of the students perform at or above their grade’s proficiency level in math, while 57% attain proficiency in English. Science has a 68% proficiency rate. 

The school offers a gifted and talented program per the district’s philosophy and vision statements. Teachers help identify students that exceed or have the potential to exceed the standards set in the regular curriculum, providing them with differentiated educational opportunities to help realize and maximize their abilities. 

Ellsworth Elementary has roughly 66 full-time teachers. This translates to approximately one teacher for every 12 kids. The teachers are highly experienced, with all holding professional certifications and 90% having taught for over three years. The school also has a full-time counselor, nurse, and law enforcement officer. 

Brewer Community School

92 Pendleton St, Brewer, ME 04412

Brewer Community School is a public school under the Brewer Public Schools District. It is the largest elementary school in the state, serving over 976 students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. The school sits on a 156,000-square-foot campus with 71 classrooms, three playgrounds, and a 488-seat performance arts center. 

Students at Brewer Community School perform relatively the same as their peers across the state. 38% of students attain proficiency in math, 56% in English, and 78% in science. Kids interested in STEM can enroll in the Project Lead The Way (PLTW) Launch curriculum. 

13% of the student body comes from minority backgrounds. Additionally, 40% of students are from low-income families and are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. The school employs over 71 full-time teachers, and all are state certified. 93% of the faculty team has also taught for over three years. 

Lewiston Middle School

75 Central Ave, Lewiston, ME 04240

Lewiston Middle is a public school in the Lewiston Public Schools District. The school is home to roughly 776 students in seventh and eighth grades. The minority enrollment at the school is 50%, and 64% of students come from low-income backgrounds. 

The school offers a comprehensive curriculum focusing on flexible pathways, authentic projects, and challenging real-world exploration. Lewiston Middle’s performance is far below the state average. According to state assessments, only 19% of students attain proficiency in math and 32% in English. 

The school also offers a gifted and talented program that allows gifted kids to maximize their potential. Students can also participate in various extracurricular activities, including sports, clubs, and organizations. Lewiston Middle offers basketball, baseball, field hockey, lacrosse, softball, soccer, and track. 

Lewiston Middle employs over 64 full-time teachers. Consequently, the school has an average student-teacher ratio of 12:1. 93% of the full-time instructors are certified, and 81% of the faculty team has over three years of teaching experience. 

Bonny Eagle Middle School

92 Sokokis Trail, Buxton, ME 04093

Bonny Eagle Middle is a public school in the MSAD 06 Buxton School District. The school serves roughly 809 sixth, seventh, and eighth graders. 10% of the students come from minorities, and 37% are economically disadvantaged. 

The school’s academic performance is below the state average, with Bonny Eagle earning a 2/10 overall rating from GreatSchools.org. State assessment tests show that 22% of the students gained proficiency in math, 42% in English, and 62% in science. The school also runs a robust gifted program for gifted children who wish to accelerate their learning. 

Bonny Eagle Middle offers numerous extracurricular opportunities. Students can participate in lacrosse, baseball, softball, basketball, and track. The school also has a drama club, chess club, archery, civil rights club, and 19 other clubs and organizations. 

Bonny Eagle Middle has one teacher for every twelve kids. All full-time teachers at the school are certified. Additionally, 90% have taught for over three years. The school also has a nurse, psychologist, and social worker among its staff. 

Sanford Middle School

52 Spartan Drive, Sanford, ME 04073

Sanford Middle is the largest middle school in the state, serving roughly 962 fifth through eighth-grade students. The school is under the Sanford Public Schools District. 55% of the students come from low-income families, and 12% from minority populations. 

Students at Sanford Middle are performing worse than most of their peers across the state. 25% of the students attained proficiency in math and 48% in English. The school also offers numerous enrichment programs in arts, music, band, physical education, and STEM. 

The school offers sports opportunities for baseball, softball, lacrosse, and track. Sanford Middle also has several clubs and organizations, such as chess club, drama club, math team, and book club, among others, available to all grade levels. 

Sanford Middle has roughly 78 full-time teachers, with an average student-teacher ratio of 12:1. All full-time teachers are state certified, and 95% have over three years of teaching experience. The school also has two full-time counselors. 

Bangor High School

885 Broadway, Bangor, ME 04401

Bangor High School is a top-rated public school within the Bangor Public Schools District. It is the only high school in Bangor. Bangor High serves roughly 1,151 students in ninth through twelfth grade, making it the third-largest K-12 school in Maine. 

The school is also among the best-performing K-12 schools in the state, with a state-leading number of National Merit Semifinalists and dozens of AP scholars. The school comprises four academies offering dozens of college preparatory programs, such as the STEM Academy, Humanities Academy, Fine Arts Academy, and Business Academy. 

Bangor High School offers 24 Advanced Placement courses, eight art courses, five music courses, three performance art courses, and four world language programs. 21% of the students participate in the AP program. Additionally, 6% enroll in dual credit classes, getting an opportunity to earn college credits. 

The school has 85 full-time equivalent teachers, with a student-teacher ratio of 14:1. All teachers are state certified and have over three years of teaching experience. Bangor High School also has over 120 co- and extracurricular offerings that allow students to explore their interests and talents outside the classroom. 

Noble High School

100 Noble Way, North Berwick, ME 03906

Noble High is a public school under the MSAD 60 North Berwick School District. It is home to roughly 1,197 “Knights” in eighth through twelfth grade. The school serves the towns of North Berwick, Berwick, and Lebanon, whose acronym gives the school its name. 

Noble High is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. The school offers numerous academic offerings, including 10 AP courses, dual credit classes, and honor programs. The school also has an Excel gifted and talented arts program that provides accelerated art, writing, theater, music, and dance classes. 

Students must earn a minimum of 24 credits to graduate. 89% of the students graduate after four years in high school, with 55% of the graduates proceeding to college or vocational training. 18% of the students participate in AP courses, while 4% join dual enrollment classes. 

The school has a teaching staff of 96. 76% of the teachers have taught for over three years. Besides, all full-time teachers have state certifications. The school also has a full-time law enforcement officer, nurse, social worker, and psychologist. 

Lewiston High School

156 East Ave, Lewiston, ME 04240

The largest K-12 school in Maine is Lewiston High School which hosts over 1,561 students. The school was founded in 1850 and moved to its current location in 1973. Lewiston High is part of the Lewiston Public Schools District. 

Lewiston operates on an eight-period schedule on a four-by-four block schedule every two days. The school requires students to earn at least 24 credits to graduate; 74% of the students graduate. 59% of the graduates proceeded to college or vocational training. 

The school offers 10 Advanced Placement courses, with 8% of the students enrolling. The school also has a dual credit program in partnership with the Lewiston Regional Technical Center. 2% of the students participate in the dual enrollment program. 

Lewiston High has a student-to-faculty ratio of 13:1. 78% of the teachers at the school have over three years of teaching experience, while 88% are state certified. 

University of New England

Biddeford, Maine

The University of New England is a four-year, private, not-for-profit university with three campuses, one in Biddeford and Portland in Maine, and one in Tangier, Morocco. The school serves over 6,642 students. 

The university is classified as “R2: Doctoral Universities High Research Activities” under the Carnegie Classification. The school has a 90% acceptance rate, and interested students have a high chance of admission if they meet the admission requirements. 

The annual tuition cost is roughly $38,420. The figure may rise to over $59,620 when you factor in boarding, books, and other expenses. All enrolled students receive some form of financial aid, with an average of $20,372 per student. 

Notable University of New England Alumni

Notable University of New England alumni include:

• “Doctor ER”, a doctor and YouTuber known for his medical advice and reaction videos
• Guy Azouri, head coach for the Israeli National Women's Football team
• Charlotte Warren, member of the Maine House of Representatives
• Lori Gramlich, member of the Maine House of Representatives
• Michael F. Brennan, 87th Mayor of Portland, Maine
• Kelsey Earley, Miss Maine 2015
• Donald Pilon, a former member of the Maine House of Representatives
• William Diamond, Maine Senator

University of Southern Maine

96 Falmouth St, Portland, ME 04103

The University of Southern Maine is a four-year public research university. The school has campuses in Portland, Gorham, and Lewiston and serves roughly 7,996 students. The school is designated a “Master’s College and University: Larger Programs” under the Carnegie Classification. 

The university has an acceptance rate of 87% and ranks 11th amongst the lowest acceptance rates in Maine. The school typically accepts students who score in the top 56% on standardized admission tests and have an average GPA of 3.33.  

Maine residents can expect to pay roughly $8,064 in yearly tuition fees. Out-of-state students spend an average of $22,064 in tuition fees. Luckily, 95% of the students receive financial aid, with an average of $8,882 per student. 

Notable University of Southern Maine Alumni

Notable University of Southern Maine alumni include:

• Kate Chappell, founder of Tom's of Maine
• Kathleen Chase, former member of the Maine House of Representatives
• John Currier, 28th Vice Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard
• Hannah Holmes, journalist
• Kevan Jones, member of the British Parliament
• Lois Lowry, author
• Tony Shalhoub, actor
• John Cleveland, former member of the Maine Senate
• Spencer Albee, musician

University of Maine

168 College Ave, Orono, ME 04469

The largest learning institution in Maine is the University of Maine. It is a public,four-year university that educates over 12,657 students. The school is classified as an “R1: Doctoral University: Very High Research Activity” under the Carnegie Classification.

The land grant university has a 96.5% acceptance rate, ranking 14th on Maine’s lowest acceptance rates. The school is easy to get into for applicants that meet the admission requirements. The school typically admits students that can score in the top 43% on standard admission tests and have an average GPA of 3.42. 

In-state Maine residents pay $11,640 in annual tuition fees, while out-of-state students spend an average of $33,240. 99% of full-time undergraduates receive financial aid, averaging $10,842 per student. 

Notable University of Maine Alumni

Notable University of Maine alumni include:

• Lawrence Bender, Academy Award-winning producer
• Timothy Simons, comedian, and actor
• Wallace Rider Farrington, 6th Governor of Hawaii
• Nick Di Paolo, comedian, podcaster, and actor
• Joseph E. Brennan, 70th Governor of Maine
• Stephen King, bestselling author
• Bernard Lown, inventor of the direct current defibrillator and winner of a Nobel Prize

Finding The Right School For Your Child

Maine is famous for its natural landscapes, rugged coastlines, and small rural towns. The state has a robust education system, which includes numerous large schools that serve thousands of Maine kids.

Some of the large schools in the state have rigorous academic programs and perform excellently in state assessments. They also offer numerous extracurricular opportunities and would be an excellent fit for your child. Remember that the ideal school should meet your kid’s unique learning needs and abilities.

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